Art Journal Every Day

Art Journal Every Day: Cool Covers & Beautiful Bindings

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleverydayIf you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here.  All of the previous posts can be found archived here.  Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day!  No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week, use the hashtag #artjournaleveryday so that we can all take a peek.  Even if you're not on social media, you can see everything (from twitter, pinterest, instagram, and facebook) that uses that hashtag here.

It's not secret that I love binding my own journals.  I rarely work in anything other than a hand bound journal these days.  It has become a personal preference.  

Most of the journals that I bind are done with very simple and basic stitches.  True bookbinders create magic with their creativity.  Today I thought I'd share a bit of bookbinding inspiration with you.

First, if you'd like a plain and simple primer on some different basic styles of bookbinding, check out this post from Hinged Strung Stretched.  The author describes several different book structures and provides photos of the finished results.  

Now, onto the eye candy!

Cool Covers

These live edge wooden covers are swoon worthy!  

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleverydaysource

Anika Kolesnikova is a polymer clay genius.  You absolutely must scroll through her gorgeous website to see all of her fantastic work.  You can order a custom journal from her.  She also has YouTube tutorials!

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleverydaysource

This journal cover created by weaving ribbons is gorgeous.  It's the sophisticated big sister of the old woven pot holders I remember making as a child.  Click through the link to see some other variations.

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday
source

Beautiful Bindings

This binder has managed to create words with the binding thread.  Amazing!

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleverydaysource

I have to share the blog Becca Making Faces.  Her creative Japanese Stab Binding ideas blew me away.  I particularly liked the animals:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleverydaysource

She has many tutorials on her blog that show how to create these super cool patterns as you bind.

Here's a binding that features an image of Wonder Woman!

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleverydaysource

If you're feeling inspired to bind your own book, here are some resources:

  • If you're looking for a good basic free bookbinding tutorial, I like this one.  
  • I have an online class that shares my favorite way to bind an art journal.  
  • If you're more of a book-learning person, I love this book on bookbinding, which has recently been re-released.  It's a one of my favorite resources!
  • Be sure to click through the links.  Many of these binders offer tutorials and classes!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

48 thoughts on “Art Journal Every Day: Cool Covers & Beautiful Bindings

  • WOW amazing. This is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks for sharing including all the links.

    Reply
  • WOW amazing. This is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks for sharing including all the links.

    Reply
  • WOW amazing. This is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks for sharing including all the links.

    Reply
  • WOW amazing. This is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks for sharing including all the links.

    Reply
  • WOW amazing. This is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks for sharing including all the links.

    Reply
  • WOW amazing. This is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks for sharing including all the links.

    Reply
  • Love it! Thanks so much for posting these amazing sites! I am addicted to making journals. There is something about sewing paper and using ribbon that I find so satisfying 😉

    Reply
  • Love it! Thanks so much for posting these amazing sites! I am addicted to making journals. There is something about sewing paper and using ribbon that I find so satisfying 😉

    Reply
  • Love it! Thanks so much for posting these amazing sites! I am addicted to making journals. There is something about sewing paper and using ribbon that I find so satisfying 😉

    Reply
  • Love it! Thanks so much for posting these amazing sites! I am addicted to making journals. There is something about sewing paper and using ribbon that I find so satisfying 😉

    Reply
  • Love it! Thanks so much for posting these amazing sites! I am addicted to making journals. There is something about sewing paper and using ribbon that I find so satisfying 😉

    Reply
  • Love it! Thanks so much for posting these amazing sites! I am addicted to making journals. There is something about sewing paper and using ribbon that I find so satisfying 😉

    Reply
  • Bookbinding is becoming one of my passions. I’ve made several travel journals for trips I’ve taken, and I’m starting to make my own art journals. Thank you for this great post and links!

    Reply
  • Bookbinding is becoming one of my passions. I’ve made several travel journals for trips I’ve taken, and I’m starting to make my own art journals. Thank you for this great post and links!

    Reply
  • Bookbinding is becoming one of my passions. I’ve made several travel journals for trips I’ve taken, and I’m starting to make my own art journals. Thank you for this great post and links!

    Reply
  • Bookbinding is becoming one of my passions. I’ve made several travel journals for trips I’ve taken, and I’m starting to make my own art journals. Thank you for this great post and links!

    Reply
  • Bookbinding is becoming one of my passions. I’ve made several travel journals for trips I’ve taken, and I’m starting to make my own art journals. Thank you for this great post and links!

    Reply
  • Bookbinding is becoming one of my passions. I’ve made several travel journals for trips I’ve taken, and I’m starting to make my own art journals. Thank you for this great post and links!

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing these wonderful journals!

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing these wonderful journals!

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing these wonderful journals!

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing these wonderful journals!

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing these wonderful journals!

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing these wonderful journals!

    Reply
  • thanks for the inspiration

    Reply
  • thanks for the inspiration

    Reply
  • thanks for the inspiration

    Reply
  • thanks for the inspiration

    Reply
  • thanks for the inspiration

    Reply
  • thanks for the inspiration

    Reply
  • Julie, are you psychic? I bound my first simple journal today (stitching) and have been making little minibooks with bookrings all week!

    Reply
  • Julie, are you psychic? I bound my first simple journal today (stitching) and have been making little minibooks with bookrings all week!

    Reply
  • Julie, are you psychic? I bound my first simple journal today (stitching) and have been making little minibooks with bookrings all week!

    Reply
  • Julie, are you psychic? I bound my first simple journal today (stitching) and have been making little minibooks with bookrings all week!

    Reply
  • Julie, are you psychic? I bound my first simple journal today (stitching) and have been making little minibooks with bookrings all week!

    Reply
  • Julie, are you psychic? I bound my first simple journal today (stitching) and have been making little minibooks with bookrings all week!

    Reply
  • I still really appreciate your Junque Journal class. Mine is by my side every night.

    Reply
  • I still really appreciate your Junque Journal class. Mine is by my side every night.

    Reply
  • I still really appreciate your Junque Journal class. Mine is by my side every night.

    Reply
  • I still really appreciate your Junque Journal class. Mine is by my side every night.

    Reply
  • I still really appreciate your Junque Journal class. Mine is by my side every night.

    Reply
  • I still really appreciate your Junque Journal class. Mine is by my side every night.

    Reply
  • Yes, love ribbon, love the ribbon weaving. I spent many a morning at the YMCA summer program as a child weaving potholders. Also an activity at my daughter’s birthday party when she was in grade school. I still give looms and loops as gifts.
    Will follow the link you provided to the video, too! Thanks.

    Reply
  • Yes, love ribbon, love the ribbon weaving. I spent many a morning at the YMCA summer program as a child weaving potholders. Also an activity at my daughter’s birthday party when she was in grade school. I still give looms and loops as gifts.
    Will follow the link you provided to the video, too! Thanks.

    Reply
  • Yes, love ribbon, love the ribbon weaving. I spent many a morning at the YMCA summer program as a child weaving potholders. Also an activity at my daughter’s birthday party when she was in grade school. I still give looms and loops as gifts.
    Will follow the link you provided to the video, too! Thanks.

    Reply
  • Yes, love ribbon, love the ribbon weaving. I spent many a morning at the YMCA summer program as a child weaving potholders. Also an activity at my daughter’s birthday party when she was in grade school. I still give looms and loops as gifts.
    Will follow the link you provided to the video, too! Thanks.

    Reply
  • Yes, love ribbon, love the ribbon weaving. I spent many a morning at the YMCA summer program as a child weaving potholders. Also an activity at my daughter’s birthday party when she was in grade school. I still give looms and loops as gifts.
    Will follow the link you provided to the video, too! Thanks.

    Reply
  • Yes, love ribbon, love the ribbon weaving. I spent many a morning at the YMCA summer program as a child weaving potholders. Also an activity at my daughter’s birthday party when she was in grade school. I still give looms and loops as gifts.
    Will follow the link you provided to the video, too! Thanks.

    Reply

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