A Fresh Look for my Journal

Chubby with the finished journal

I keep a written journal of my inner life -- part writing practice, part sorting out my thoughts.  I try to write daily.  After reading The Muse Is In by Jill Badonsky, I was inspired to play with paints and create a splashy cover for the plain green spiral notebook I'm currently using to write in.  I used Dr. P.H. Martin's Liquid Watercolors -- I love the lusciously bright colors -- and just folded the painted paper around the journal, taping it in place with clear packing tape.  Simple!

Paints (in egg carton), paper & spiral.

The back of the journal

The finished front cover.

Upcycled Journals

I discovered this delicious gluten-free pasta made from garbanzo beans, and was taken by the beauty of the packaging.  Following the instructions on Gwen Diehn's blog Real Life Journals under the title Butter Box Tutorial.  I used a box of old computer paper with the spindle holes and perforations still on it -- something I had found long ago at a yard sale for 25 cents.

I gave the books to my dear friend Robin, who has been a life-long journal-keeper.  Write on!

 

I added a Velcro clasp on one of the journals. You could also use a button and string method to close the journal.

Small journals made from cereal box cardboard and 8 1/2" x 11" paper folded in half. I used a glue stick to glue decorative paper to the spines and the inside covers (to cover up the cereal box design).  These would make great travel journals.