Christmas Journal

Hello friends,

I am continuing on with the inside of the canvas covered Christmas journal that I started in the last post. This time I will walk you through each of the three signatures. It is amazing to me what you can create with basically 4 idea-ology Christmas products: Backdrops, Layers, Collage Paper and a Sticker Book. Lets get started and I'll show you what I mean.

The journal is made with a package of Folio Folders. There are six folders in each package - three large and three small.

Each signature is made up of two folders of each size. Some folders are flipped to the backside like the small one here. 

Open the large folder and lay the small one inside. Stitch down the center to combine the two folders, creating one signature. Repeat this step for each set of folders to create three signatures.

I worked on (adding paper and embellishments) each signature after they were stitched together. Once I had all three signatures about 80-90% complete, I stitched them into the canvas cover I made (previous post) using very heavy black thread. I used an awl to punch the holes.

Signature two 

(the clip is only in the photo to keep the small folder closed for the photo)

Signature three

Cover and Page 1 - (first signature)

Page 1 - Backdrop paper + Layers Ephemera

NOTE: I used thin foam squares under almost all Layers ephemera and Paper Dolls throughout the book.

Pages 2-3

Page 2 - Paper Dolls colored with Distress Crayon

Page 3 - Pine Layer ephemera sewn before adding to the small Folio Folder with Scor-Tape and Cello Tape. The "FALALA" as well as all the other red and green word strips come from the Christmas Sticker Book.

Pages 4 - 5 (center of the first signature)

Page 5 - Backdrop Paper + Layers and Cello Tape.

Page 6 - 7

Page 6 - Backdrop paper + Collage Paper

Page 7 - Pocket made from a Layers Ephemera.

Stamped Tag (Polka Dot stamp) with Layers Ephemera and Clipping Stickers.

Page 8 - (end of first signature)

Backdrop paper  + Layers Ephemera + Clipping stickers and Cello Tape.

Page 9 - (first page of second signature)

Backdrop paper  + Layers Ephemera

The Layers Ephemera bird and sentiment is raised over the Collage Paper with thin foam squares. Clipping stickers added.

Page 10 - 11 

Page 10 - Backdrop paper + Collage Paper

Page 11 - closed pocket

I made a pocket from the small Folio Folder.

1.  Add the faux woodgrain frame to the front of the small Folio Folder with Collage Medium.

2.  Use a cutting knife to cut out the oval center of the frame (so you can see a tag that will be inserted).

3.  Add a strip of red stripe paper to the inside edge of the Folio Folder. 

4.  Use Scor-Tape to close up the small Folio Folder to create a pocket.

5.  Color a Paper Doll with Distress Crayons. Add to the pocket with thin Foam Squares.

6.  Make a tag and insert in pocket.

7.  Add a word strip to the Folio tab.

I used the Stampers Anonymous Curiosity Shop stamp to create the inked tag. 

NOTE: The number stamp is a series of numbers and YES, I did cut it apart to make the 2 and 5 individual stamps. I love the stamps and for me personally, I think I would use them more as individual stamps rather than a series. But you do you.

FAIL: I wish I would have added a larger piece of the red stripe paper so it covered the entire inside of the folder. Then when you pull the tag you would have seen the paper and not just the inside of the Folder (that was a fail on my part). I think I need to go back an add the paper!

Page 12 - 13 (center of second signature)

Page 13 - The Layers postcard is also a pocket. I used 1/8" Scor-Tape on three sides, leaving the right side open so I could slip a few things inside. I made the funny little holly tag by stamping a tag with the Polka Dot stamp, then adding Collage Paper over the top portion. Once the Collage Medium was dry, I colored it with Distress Crayons.

Page 14 - 15 

Page 14 - (end of second signature)

Folder has been sprayed with Antique Linen Spray stain and dried. Then Collage Paper was added with Collage Medium to create the background. Photo was tinted with Distress Crayon. Layers ephemera poinsettias were added behind and over the photo. The black Merry Christmas strip comes from the Christmas Sticker book.

Page 15 - (first page of the third signature)

Backdrop paper + Collage Paper + 25 from Layers Pack

Red string with word tag (tag has been filled in with a white Distress Crayon)

Pages 16 - 17

Page 16 - Backdrop Paper + Paper Dolls colored with Distress Crayons. 

The red color is Aged Mahogany. I colored directly on the Paper Doll, then rubbed the color with my index finger till it was thin enough to see the details of her clothes. The holly on her lapel was cut from a piece of Layers Ephemera and added. The holly beneath their feet was cut up so it would the needed horizontal shape.

Page 17 - Another closed pocket made from the small Folio Folder. Repeat of the last pocket (add the Ephemera frame, cut out the center to create a window, close pocket and add stamped tag).

Red eyelet added to tab. String has metal tag + small bell (white Distress Crayon added)

The black stitching for the third signature has been hidden inside the small Folio Folder when I made it into a pocket (that's why you can't see the black thread). I also added the Layers ephemera with the bell inside the window that I cut out.

The tag has been inked, then stamped with the Polka Dot stamp. Sentiment from the Sticker Book.

Pages 18 - 19 

Page 18 - You can see that the Santa page is combined with page 17 to make the pocket that pulls from the top. 

Page 19 - Backdrop paper + Layers Ephemera + Clippings.

All the words are from the Clippings portion of the Sticker Book. I also added Rock Candy to the candle light to make it sparkle.

Page 20 + back cover - (last page of third signature)

I kept this one simple with my favorite plaid Backdrop and the best ending Christmas message, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night"

Back cover

The hand stitching for the three signatures follows the three stitching lines that I sewed into the spine.

I found a public website that had a great graphic for the Pamphlet Stitch that I used - it is super easy to follow the graphic when you are a visual learner like me!

Hopefully this covers all the bases for the Christmas journal. I think the photos do all the talking in this tutorial!
Now carry on,

paula

Canvas Journal Cover

Hello Friends!

Happy to be here today sharing a Christmas Journal that I created. I am going to start with a post about creating the cover for the journal. I have had a lot of questions over the years about using Collage Paper over canvas or Duck Cloth. I buy mine at Joanns. It can be found in the back... the area that has ticking and outdoor fabric. You only need 1/4 yard to make a cover.

Lets get started so I can tell you how I created this one.

I cut a piece of canvas 6 1/4" x 10 1/2". I am going to use the idea-ology File Cards inside and they are 6", hence the 6 1/4" size.

I have added a good coat of Collage Medium to the canvas and have laid the Collage Paper image I chose over the top. You must have FULL coverage of the Collage Medium underneath the paper or it will never adhere to the cover correctly. So work quickly (so it does not dry on you) and methodically (so you don't miss any spots).

Then immediately add more Collage Medium over the top of the Collage Paper, working your way out from the center. This layer with allow the Collage Paper to become Transparent. 

*if by chance you have white spots, that means you do not have glue underneath that spot. To attempt to fix this, you can put Collage Medium on the tip of your index finger and rub it directly into the white spot, just beware not to rub the paper away.

So this is what it should look like when you are done. Don't worry about the edges of the paper, they will all be covered up later.

Dry the Collage Medium with a heat tool. Dry both the font and the back of the canvas. The canvas is porous so the back might feel cold or a bit damp until you dry it. You can continue to work on the cover after drying, but know that the cover will not be completely dry for 24 hours (even after using the heat tool). You will see and feel a difference the next day and it might shrink up just a bit where the Collage Medium has been added. If the edge curl up, I take it to the ironing board and just iron the BACK side.

NOTE: Once dry, you can color the Collage Paper with Distress Crayons or Distress Watercolor Pencils. I chose to leave mine as is since I am adding plaid binding around the edges.

I'm working on my ironing board for these next few photos:

Cut a piece of Christmas Clippings Fabric and Heat N Bond the same size as the canvas so you can add the Clipping fabric to the back of the canvas cover. The ironing will not effect the cover side (just don't iron the front cover directly...only the back).

Double check that the words are right side up before ironing the two pieces together!

Cut a 2" x 6 1/2" piece of Holidays Past Fabric (Berry Branch) to use on the spine.

Fold and iron the long sides flat so the piece is 1 1/2" wide. As you can see by the measuring guide - the spine fabric is 4 1/2" from the front edge.

Clip or pin fabric to the cover before sewing.

Go to the sewing machine and sew the two outside edges to stabilize the fabric.

Then sew a center line.

Then sew a line on each side of the center stitch line.

Trim off the top and bottom edge.

You can choose to bind the cover any way you like. I wanted a bias cut plaid (Lodge). Which means I had to cut the fabric across the grain (diagonal) to make plaid on the bias.

I stitched the plaid to the cover using a basic binding technique. The corners are challenging so I always watch this You Tube video to help me remember how to do it. Its not hard to do, just takes watching part of the video to remind me. and it works like a charm.

This is what it looks like once the binding has been sewn on. It's ready to be rolled over the the inside and stitched down. I still do that part by hand but many people sew it by machine.

And here is the finished cover!

The three middle stitching lines will be your guide when you sew the File Folders into place. So don't change that part of the project!

Here is a look at the inside cover.

There is our stitching lines on the inside.

I think the plaid edge really makes it!

Stay tuned! 

I will be back soon sharing all the interior signatures. As well as how I put everything together!

Now carry on,

paula