When Julie asked me to help celebrate her blogiversary, I was super excited. A chance to trawl through the archives and find a fun project to redo – sign me up for that! But let me tell you, settling on just one post was not easy. So I cheated, and chose two! I’ve combined Julie’s gorgeous file folder project Tutorial: Upcycling Blank Newsprint and her great use of recycled newsprint Sometimes You Just Have to Create to create this fun & funky journal.
A quick and easy project, this took under an hour to complete, with very few supplies.
Supplies:
- File folder
- Newsprint – blank, recycled packaging etc.
- Matte Medium
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Needle
- Thread – twine or waxed linen is best
- Paper piercer
- Bulldog clips
- Scrap cardstock same height as your folder
Start by covering your file folder with some newsprint. I’m using a messy piece that was previously protecting my desk, so its covered in painty goodness. Leave it as is, or dress it up a little – whatever tickles your fancy.
Trim newsprint to size and fold in half. I went with 10 sheets (giving 20 pages once folded). No hard and fast measurements, just make your pages a little smaller than your folder. Nest the papers inside each other (this is called a signature), and then place inside the file folder.
Fold your scrap cardstock in half, creating a template to guide your binding. Mark the center of your template, as well as 7-8cms above and below the center mark, numbering them 1 through 3. Place the template inside your signature and folder, holding everything in place with bulldog clips. Using your paper piercer, punch holes through all layers, at each three markings. Remove the template, and reattach clips.
Prepare the needle with thread roughly three times the height of your folder. For example, if your folder is 20cm tall, you will need around 60cm of thread. We will be binding our journal using a super simple pamphlet stitch, perfect for a single signature booklet.
Starting from the inside of your journal, take your needle out through hole #2, leaving a 10cm tail.
Pass your needle in through hole #1, and then back out through hole #3.
Thread your needle in through hole #2. Pull gently, ensuring there is no slack, tie off and trim ends.
Your pages should now be nice and secure and ready to go. Super simple journals like this make great gifts or travel journals. I would love to see any journals you create, so be sure to tag me on social media so I can take a peek. Happy arting!
Melita Bloomer is a mixed media artist from Melbourne, Australia. As an avid art journaler, Melita’s work has been published in Somerset’s Art Journaling Magazine, Somerset Digital and featured in A World of Artist Journal Pages by Dawn Devries Sokol. Sharing her love of art, Melita teaches stamp carving, mixed media, and art journaling.
Find Melita Online:
Site: http://melitabloomer.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/melitabloomer
Twitter: http://twitter.com/melitabloomer
Facebook: http://facebook.com/melitabloomer
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/litabells
Very cool project!
Very cool project!
Very cool project!
Very cool project!
Very cool project!
Very cool project!
Really fun project. I once found some plastic portfolio folders at my local discount store marked down to ten cents each. I bough as many as I could find, then took them home and made journals out of them to give to children. I covered some with cloth scraps and made pouches for art supplies. This is so much fun to give as a gift.
I have really enjoyed looking back at the past tutorials.
Really fun project. I once found some plastic portfolio folders at my local discount store marked down to ten cents each. I bough as many as I could find, then took them home and made journals out of them to give to children. I covered some with cloth scraps and made pouches for art supplies. This is so much fun to give as a gift.
I have really enjoyed looking back at the past tutorials.
Really fun project. I once found some plastic portfolio folders at my local discount store marked down to ten cents each. I bough as many as I could find, then took them home and made journals out of them to give to children. I covered some with cloth scraps and made pouches for art supplies. This is so much fun to give as a gift.
I have really enjoyed looking back at the past tutorials.
Really fun project. I once found some plastic portfolio folders at my local discount store marked down to ten cents each. I bough as many as I could find, then took them home and made journals out of them to give to children. I covered some with cloth scraps and made pouches for art supplies. This is so much fun to give as a gift.
I have really enjoyed looking back at the past tutorials.
Really fun project. I once found some plastic portfolio folders at my local discount store marked down to ten cents each. I bough as many as I could find, then took them home and made journals out of them to give to children. I covered some with cloth scraps and made pouches for art supplies. This is so much fun to give as a gift.
I have really enjoyed looking back at the past tutorials.
Really fun project. I once found some plastic portfolio folders at my local discount store marked down to ten cents each. I bough as many as I could find, then took them home and made journals out of them to give to children. I covered some with cloth scraps and made pouches for art supplies. This is so much fun to give as a gift.
I have really enjoyed looking back at the past tutorials.
Great redo – I love making journals – any kind. This is a fun way to recycle paper that is just hanging around.
Great redo – I love making journals – any kind. This is a fun way to recycle paper that is just hanging around.
Great redo – I love making journals – any kind. This is a fun way to recycle paper that is just hanging around.
Great redo – I love making journals – any kind. This is a fun way to recycle paper that is just hanging around.
Great redo – I love making journals – any kind. This is a fun way to recycle paper that is just hanging around.
Great redo – I love making journals – any kind. This is a fun way to recycle paper that is just hanging around.
Love Melita!! Looks fun and something even I could do!
Love Melita!! Looks fun and something even I could do!
Love Melita!! Looks fun and something even I could do!
Love Melita!! Looks fun and something even I could do!
Love Melita!! Looks fun and something even I could do!
Love Melita!! Looks fun and something even I could do!