One of the first questions that people ask me is what notebook do you use to journal in? The choice of notebook is super personal to each artist. Right now I'm art journaling in four notebooks: a super large watercolor Moleskine, a Strathmore wire bound visual journal, a Hand Book watercolor journal, and a coptic bound watercolor journal I bought from Elvie Studio on Etsy. Why so many? Well, I've been trying to find my perfect journal for a while and so I bought a bunch of books to try out.
Have you found your perfect book?
Well, I'm so delighted to have Ilse Hobbelen as our guest today to help us on the quest for that perfect art journal. She's going to show us how to make our very own leather journal!
Tutorial for a Leather Journal
In this tutorial I will show you how to make a leather journal.
We start with the materials: you need a needle, cutting device, thread, paper, and something to punch a hole, and leather. I use leather because I like the look of it, but any material will do.
The journals I made before I made with watercolor paper, but for this project I used drawing paper. You can use any paper you like, but use some thick paper.
I made 5 signatures (you can see two in the photo above). "Signature" is the name for the folded and stacked sheets of paper you will sew into your journal. I used 5 folded sheets of A4 sized paper per signature.
To create the signature: fold each sheet in half and then stack the sheets together so that the folds line up. The amount of sheets depends on the thickness of the paper you use.
I cut out a piece of leather for my cover. Each of the large rectangles is slightly larger than my signatures. I cut the leather a little bit larger than the paper, because I like the paper to be in the cover and not showing outside. For the spine I held the signatures together and I decided how thick it needed to be. I made it 2 cm. I freehand cut the extra part on the right (the rounded flap), so I can wrap it on top of the journal as a closure. I put some cardstock on the inside so it will give the leather a bit more strength.
Then we take one signature and we are going to make 4 holes in order to do long stitch bookbinding. The holes do not have to be equally spaced. I made the space between the two middle holes bigger, and the two outer holes less far away. While you can make the holes anywhere you like them to be, be sure to punch them the same on every signature. (Either make a template or line the signatures up in order to do this.)
When you punch the holes, put the pages on the cardstock/leather cover. As you can see I drew lines on the cardstock, which are matching with the signature’s holes. I put on the line some points. Every point is going to be a hole in the leather for the thread for when we stitch the book together. I have 5 signatures so on every line I put 5 points.
Now we are going to punch some holes in the leather, be careful!
Now we start the binding, start with the last hole in the paper of one of the signatures. I took a piece of thread twice the length of the journal. Go with the needle through the hole in the paper, and then through the hole in the leather (the hole most on the most right of the five holes you punched in the cover's spine).
Keep a tail of thread inside the journal, for making a knot later on. As you can see the thread is through the leather by number 1.
Now we are going back through the leather, back through the paper, back into the journal, but this time through hole 2.
As you can see the thread comes out by number 2 and goes back out through number 3 (through the paper and the leather).
The thread comes out by number 3 and goes back in number 4.
This is how it looks inside. The thread comes in through number 4 and now we are going back to hole 3 (which I've marked in the picture as stitch #5). The thread goes in where you see the number 5, back through the paper and leather to the outside of the book.
The thread comes out by the number 5 and goes back into the journal by number 6 (these are holes 3&2). Make sure to keep your thread tight.
Now we are almost done, the thread comes out by number 6 (hole 2) and make a knot at the end, with the thread tail extending from hole number 1, marked here by the number 7 (7th stitch).
And this is what it looks like when you are finished, with a little knot at the end. I made a regular knot, but when you use a thin thread you can make a double knot.
This is how it looks on the outside of the journal. First signature done. Now you can do the rest of the signatures the same way.
This is how it looks when you are finished, l like it!! We are almost finished
To close the journal I use a crop-a-dile, and some suede lace, beads you can use anything you like.
I put a hole and an eyelet in the middle of the hand cut piece of leather (that curved flap). If you don’t have a crop-a-dile you can cut a slice in the leather and make a knot in the lace, that will do fine too.
As you can see I put a bead on the end of the lace, and put it through the hole.
This is how it looks inside.
This is how it looks like when it’s finished, I hope you liked my tutorial.
Regards,
Ilse Hobbelen
Hi, I’m Ilse from the Netherlands.
I live with my 2 children, who are 11 and 14, in Tilburg. I work at an insurance company 3 days a week.
I started scrapbooking 2.5 years ago, when I had a hard time. It helps me to clear my mind and to focus on creative things and that works great. Little by little I looked further than scrapbooking and I saw an Art Journal, and I was hooked! Ha ha. I like to do a lot of different things, so the Art Journal was my new inspiration. The only problem I have now is “time” ;-)
My blog: Artist in Training
Great tutorial, Ilse!!! I think I’m gonna try to make one this weekend! Good to see you here too but you already knew that.
Great tutorial, Ilse!!! I think I’m gonna try to make one this weekend! Good to see you here too but you already knew that.
Great tutorial, Ilse!!! I think I’m gonna try to make one this weekend! Good to see you here too but you already knew that.
Great tutorial, Ilse!!! I think I’m gonna try to make one this weekend! Good to see you here too but you already knew that.
Loved this tutorial! Thanks Julie!
Much Love,
Paula aka Journalartista
Loved this tutorial! Thanks Julie!
Much Love,
Paula aka Journalartista
Loved this tutorial! Thanks Julie!
Much Love,
Paula aka Journalartista
Loved this tutorial! Thanks Julie!
Much Love,
Paula aka Journalartista
This is awesome- thanks Ilse!
This is awesome- thanks Ilse!
This is awesome- thanks Ilse!
This is awesome- thanks Ilse!
Thanks for the detailed tutorial Ilse.
Beautiful journal!
Thanks for the detailed tutorial Ilse.
Beautiful journal!
Thanks for the detailed tutorial Ilse.
Beautiful journal!
Thanks for the detailed tutorial Ilse.
Beautiful journal!
Thanks, Julie, for bringing Ilse’s work to us. We can count on you to keep things fabulous! I’ve found several great artist blogs via you, including Artist in Training. Thank you.
Thanks, Julie, for bringing Ilse’s work to us. We can count on you to keep things fabulous! I’ve found several great artist blogs via you, including Artist in Training. Thank you.
Thanks, Julie, for bringing Ilse’s work to us. We can count on you to keep things fabulous! I’ve found several great artist blogs via you, including Artist in Training. Thank you.
Thanks, Julie, for bringing Ilse’s work to us. We can count on you to keep things fabulous! I’ve found several great artist blogs via you, including Artist in Training. Thank you.
Thanks, Julie, for taking the time to post this info. The stepped-out instructions and photos are very helpful!
Thanks, Julie, for taking the time to post this info. The stepped-out instructions and photos are very helpful!
Thanks, Julie, for taking the time to post this info. The stepped-out instructions and photos are very helpful!
Thanks, Julie, for taking the time to post this info. The stepped-out instructions and photos are very helpful!
Wonderful Tutorial Ilse!!
Julie, thanks for sharing her with us!
xxdaniella
Wonderful Tutorial Ilse!!
Julie, thanks for sharing her with us!
xxdaniella
Wonderful Tutorial Ilse!!
Julie, thanks for sharing her with us!
xxdaniella
Wonderful Tutorial Ilse!!
Julie, thanks for sharing her with us!
xxdaniella
I’ve never done any bookbinding and thought the tutorial was very clear and easy to follow. I’d like to try this! Thanks Ilse. Great guest, Julie.
Mandy
I’ve never done any bookbinding and thought the tutorial was very clear and easy to follow. I’d like to try this! Thanks Ilse. Great guest, Julie.
Mandy
I’ve never done any bookbinding and thought the tutorial was very clear and easy to follow. I’d like to try this! Thanks Ilse. Great guest, Julie.
Mandy
I’ve never done any bookbinding and thought the tutorial was very clear and easy to follow. I’d like to try this! Thanks Ilse. Great guest, Julie.
Mandy
Julie, Thank you for sharing your talent and thank you for sharing the talent of others too. Here is a link to the New Friend Friday post. I truly love the project. Kind regards Niki Meiners
http://365daysofcrafts.com/new-friend-friday-julie-fei-fan-balzers-fabric-atcs/
Julie, Thank you for sharing your talent and thank you for sharing the talent of others too. Here is a link to the New Friend Friday post. I truly love the project. Kind regards Niki Meiners
http://365daysofcrafts.com/new-friend-friday-julie-fei-fan-balzers-fabric-atcs/
Julie, Thank you for sharing your talent and thank you for sharing the talent of others too. Here is a link to the New Friend Friday post. I truly love the project. Kind regards Niki Meiners
http://365daysofcrafts.com/new-friend-friday-julie-fei-fan-balzers-fabric-atcs/
Julie, Thank you for sharing your talent and thank you for sharing the talent of others too. Here is a link to the New Friend Friday post. I truly love the project. Kind regards Niki Meiners
http://365daysofcrafts.com/new-friend-friday-julie-fei-fan-balzers-fabric-atcs/
thanks for the tutorial and the journal link, for Elvie Studio. Happy Friday.
thanks for the tutorial and the journal link, for Elvie Studio. Happy Friday.
thanks for the tutorial and the journal link, for Elvie Studio. Happy Friday.
thanks for the tutorial and the journal link, for Elvie Studio. Happy Friday.
Julie, you choose amazing Guests to feature!
I have not attempted bookbinding, but I’m going to now! Ilse, your instructions are so clear and concise – Thank you!!
Julie, you choose amazing Guests to feature!
I have not attempted bookbinding, but I’m going to now! Ilse, your instructions are so clear and concise – Thank you!!
Julie, you choose amazing Guests to feature!
I have not attempted bookbinding, but I’m going to now! Ilse, your instructions are so clear and concise – Thank you!!
Julie, you choose amazing Guests to feature!
I have not attempted bookbinding, but I’m going to now! Ilse, your instructions are so clear and concise – Thank you!!
what an awesome tutorial!!! thanks so much for sharing 🙂
what an awesome tutorial!!! thanks so much for sharing 🙂
what an awesome tutorial!!! thanks so much for sharing 🙂
what an awesome tutorial!!! thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Love the journal. I’ve just started to learn bookbinding, and I’ve been wanting to know how to do this.
I’ve seen leather journals using this stitch for sale in a couple of stores in my area. They were made using some very stiff leather (the sides were probably the same weight used for belts), so they didn’t need the extra support of the cardstock.
Now I’ll just need to go raid Tandyleather.com and see what I can find.
Love the journal. I’ve just started to learn bookbinding, and I’ve been wanting to know how to do this.
I’ve seen leather journals using this stitch for sale in a couple of stores in my area. They were made using some very stiff leather (the sides were probably the same weight used for belts), so they didn’t need the extra support of the cardstock.
Now I’ll just need to go raid Tandyleather.com and see what I can find.
Love the journal. I’ve just started to learn bookbinding, and I’ve been wanting to know how to do this.
I’ve seen leather journals using this stitch for sale in a couple of stores in my area. They were made using some very stiff leather (the sides were probably the same weight used for belts), so they didn’t need the extra support of the cardstock.
Now I’ll just need to go raid Tandyleather.com and see what I can find.
Love the journal. I’ve just started to learn bookbinding, and I’ve been wanting to know how to do this.
I’ve seen leather journals using this stitch for sale in a couple of stores in my area. They were made using some very stiff leather (the sides were probably the same weight used for belts), so they didn’t need the extra support of the cardstock.
Now I’ll just need to go raid Tandyleather.com and see what I can find.
Hy Judy,I used an old leather pants I bought in a second hands store, Or you can look for an old leather bag? good luck and thank you for the great support!!
Hy Judy,I used an old leather pants I bought in a second hands store, Or you can look for an old leather bag? good luck and thank you for the great support!!
Hy Judy,I used an old leather pants I bought in a second hands store, Or you can look for an old leather bag? good luck and thank you for the great support!!
Hy Judy,I used an old leather pants I bought in a second hands store, Or you can look for an old leather bag? good luck and thank you for the great support!!
Amazing job Ilse, tahnks to Julie for presenting it…one of the best tutorials out there! Will definitely be making one of these albums.
Amazing job Ilse, tahnks to Julie for presenting it…one of the best tutorials out there! Will definitely be making one of these albums.
Amazing job Ilse, tahnks to Julie for presenting it…one of the best tutorials out there! Will definitely be making one of these albums.
Amazing job Ilse, tahnks to Julie for presenting it…one of the best tutorials out there! Will definitely be making one of these albums.
Thanks for the tutorial. Been looking at others and was left a little confused about the stitching. You took the mystery out of the stitching and now I can complete my project. Thank you again.
Thanks for the tutorial. Been looking at others and was left a little confused about the stitching. You took the mystery out of the stitching and now I can complete my project. Thank you again.
Thanks for the tutorial. Been looking at others and was left a little confused about the stitching. You took the mystery out of the stitching and now I can complete my project. Thank you again.
Thanks for the tutorial. Been looking at others and was left a little confused about the stitching. You took the mystery out of the stitching and now I can complete my project. Thank you again.
Thank’s for the tutorial and for sharing her with us. Beautiful journal
Thank’s for the tutorial and for sharing her with us. Beautiful journal
Thank’s for the tutorial and for sharing her with us. Beautiful journal
Thank’s for the tutorial and for sharing her with us. Beautiful journal
Nice post.its really attractive.we also deals with leather journal.
Nice post.its really attractive.we also deals with leather journal.
Nice post.its really attractive.we also deals with leather journal.
Nice post.its really attractive.we also deals with leather journal.