I have included some details about a few of my journals here, if you are interested to take a look...including some construction and usage information.
If you own a handmade journal or album, remember it is a fragile thing...made only from paper and adhesives, in the main. Things to remember if you want your little treasure to have a long life...
Always keep it out of direct sunlight, or away from any other heat source. A box is a good idea.
Keep it lying flat on it's back when storing - this will reduce stress on the adhesives used, particularly on the spine.
Avoid any rough handling, supervise children when looking through the album or journal.
Have clean hands when handling.
When adding photographs, particularly those that are old and fragile, be sure to store them using archival techniques...use copies for adhering into your album or journal.
If you have any questions, or are interested in purchasing one, please use the "Contact Me" button (link in the header above) and fill in the contact form...I will get back to you ASAP...
Enjoy!
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Pages...
Usually the pages I include in a journal are coffee or tea stained...this gives them a lovely "aged" appearance and a texture and bulkiness that is fabulous to journal on.
Papers can be plain white, coloured, lined, blank, textured, plain, fine textured for writing on, sturdy to adhere things onto or, (often the case in the journals I make for myself), a combination of different papers. Really, the sky is the limit. Knowing what the journal is intended for is important... Writing? Glueing? Photograph display? Think it through...what is your preference? |
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Journal Covers...
The colour, texture and composition of the covers and spine can directly enhance the theme of the journal...
The purpose of the journal dictates the practicalities of the cover, in general terms. Will it be kept safely on a shelf away from the knocks and stresses of normal life, or will it be tossed into a backpack each day to travel to work or school with it's owner? These considerations all contribute to the final outcome, along with any personal preferences of course! |
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Spine Treatments...
The way the journal spine is finished can enhance the theme and purpose of the journal considerably. It can certainly add interest and appeal to the journal. The attention to detail paid to the spine in particular adds considerably to the overall feel of the item. The regularity and straightness of the stitching, the choice of colour and type of thread used, along with the degree and quality of finish really sets a well made journal apart. |
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Journal Fasteners...
Fastening the journal is not compulsory, but a fastener does help keep a "loaded" journal, bulging with photographs, memorabilia, journalling and ephemera, together. It can add privacy ;)... Adds to the design... It also can help protect the journal, keeping it closed is a good way to prolong the life of what is essentially quite a fragile construction, especially if it is travelling about with you and not sitting quietly on a shelf... |
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Journal Pockets...
Pockets add a lot of additional real estate and dimension to an album... They can house ephemera, journaling tags, tags, photos, envelopes, cd's...you name it. Anything that needs to be included with the journal. They can be left open to increase the number of photograph spots available. They can add a real zip to an otherwise plain journal through the use of colour, texture and design. |
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Envelope Album...
This little album is sturdy and fairly plain, in muted browns with a "leather" spine binding and closure tab... It is just 13.5 x 16.5 cm, and is mainly composed of interactive pockets great for adding photographs and journalling tags It would be perfect for recording a special event, or a short holiday, where most of the interest of the occasion has been recorded in photographs, with small amounts of journalling added as aide memoirs... |
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Dangling Embellishments...
These are always individualised to suit the recipient, the purpose and the theme of the journal. I always make these so they can be unclipped easily if prefered... Dangles are a great opportunity to have some fun and search out meaningful objects for the project being undertaken... |
A Journal for a Child...
This journal was made for a child turning four... A place to record all the exciting events of a momentous day, from invitations, planning, guest list, food, games, gifts...all creating a special memento for the little one to look back on when she is older... And also to help mum with the planning for other parties in the future... The spine dangles include a photograph of the child on the big day, a few special silver charms and a favourite themed pony minature... |
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Recycled Food Packaging...
I often recycle cereal and other boxes to use in the covers of my journals...This remains one of my favourite methods of creating a cover for a journal... Simply a piece of packaging, brown paper, inks or paints adhesives and a sealer creates a lovely semi-matte finish that feels just right, warm and flexible, in your hand. |
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Journaling Cards and Tags...
Journalling cards and tags, and some ephemera with space for journalling, can add much visual interest to a journal or album. An album is generally more structured and has these components as part of the intrinsic design of the book, Journals can be much more freeform and varied. They give the owner a wonderful way to enhance a theme, and to be creative... |
Travelling Journal...
This little travelling journal has five signatures of plain paper (to reduce the bulk and allow more pages to be included... It has a "moleskin-type" elastic closure that holds the front and back covers firmly closed while the journal is in your bag or rucksack... it is low profile, with only very flat embellishments included, so nothing catches or pulls off while tossing about inside the bag... It has covers made from old sewing patterns...layered to give an interesting, warm and flexible cover treatment... |
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Gold Journal...
This album has an acrylic paint and tissue paper cover treatment.. I love the size and style of this chunky little journal, it feels great in the hand and is nice to journal in as it lays very flat when opened... Five signatures Coffee stained pages Gold stitching A metallic flower closure post... A small gilded silver "hand made" charm on the spine... Nice! |
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Silver Journal...
This sweet little journal has a cover treated with silver acrylic paint and tissue paper... It has five signatures... All in plain white paper No spine dangles, just a small silver hand and a crystal drop dangled from the fastening... A simple framed jewel embellishment on the front cover... Simple! |
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Envelope Wrap Journal...
This little journal would make a great thank you gift when filled with photographs and memorabilia from a special occasion or event...
Ideal for a young wedding attendant or the person organising a pre wedding or baby shower, as a memento of the occasion It has a ribbon closure which wraps around the outside of the journal... Infinitely variable in regards to colour and content, it needs to remain neat without dimensional embellishment on the inside in order for the design to work... |
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Little Darling Album...
This album has been specifically designed for adhering photographs with space for journaling, an ideal brag book! This album has four "pages"...each includes a top inserted tag, three 11cm x 16 cm photo pages and two 12.5 x 16 photo pages. In addition, each "page" has some sort of fold out additional space. All are held closed with magnets. There is a pocket inside both front and back covers, with some journalling cards, plus some tuck spots and a belly band throughout the album, to insert the journalling cards once completed. |
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A Masculine Brag Book...
This album is themed towards a proud papa or grandpa who wants to whip out a collection of photographs to show his mates.
It would also be great to fill and leave with an elderly relative so they can look through family photographs whenever the spirit moves them...it can be nice to have something tangible to show photographs to interested folk, rather than have to local small digital images on a device... Also useful to contain images of male relatives and their pursuits...where a more "girly" album is deemed less appropriate... |
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A Child's Journal...
.This journal was made for one of my grandsons...it has his initials on the front along with some instructions to his brothers ;)
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A Small Ring Binder Journal...
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This little journal is made from a recycled dishwasher tablet box...just the right size to hold file 4" x 6" file cards which can be added from time to time as they are completed.
They are also able to be removed simply whenever they are required... Some recycled containers are better than others to use for journal covers...look for sturdy, undamaged material and functional folds...although, even less than perfect items can be cut down and the used as components in a cover. |