OK, I caved and sewed myself a cover!

After searching literally hours for a pretty handmade journal cover, I discover the perfect one!  I went to order it, but the difference between the dollar and whatever country it was in, it ended up costing too much. Still I thought I would order it.  Then suddenly I said to myself, "What the ???  is your problem, Julie"!!!  I have so much scrap fabric!!!!  I had to convince myself I could do it!  I jumped up, started measuring my journal, calculating, and picking out fabrics to coordinate.  This floral pink, white and black is flocked, and it was a blouse, that had pin tucking on front.  I decided my journal needed some interesting architectural details, so the pintucking would be on front.  The spine is a natural muslin, and the black jean material is a pocket.

The back.  The black jean material continues around the spine, and across the whole back, which can hold papers, or pens, paperclips, etc.

 The inside is entirely made of the beautiful floral material. If the book were removed you could see it.  I made flaps, so that the cover can be used on any A5 journal.

 I like how it turned out, with the use of the different textures of fabrics, and you know that pocket makes me very happy.  The pen I painted with nail polish goes with it perfectly!

This project was a bit scary for me, but I'm so glad I tried it!!
XOXO- Julie

Making a special journal

Hi everyone!  I just learned about bullet journals.  Have you ever seen or heard of this idea? Basically you just make a sort of list of whatever type you wish...it can be many things, such as THINGS TO DO, tracking things you have done, or recipes, DIY's, etc.  There are videos on You Tube to learn about this system.

Anyway, I was searching around the house for a notebook that I could do this with, and found an 8.25 x 5.5 basic paper bound notebook, that has graph paper inside.  I thought this could work OK for list making.

This journal will list all of the Korean dramas I have watched, by year and month.  I do love my dramas!  I got an idea to attach a monthly calendar page inside the front left side when I get up to a new month starting.  The person who did this, just uses pretty washy tapes to tape it in.  (The calendar is smaller than the page so there is room for the tape).  Here is her blog post about it.
******ZOOT BLOG******

This notebook had some spine issues, so I used E6000 to repair, and then used some of my homemade decorative tape to cover the old ugly black spine.  It is improved already, but I am wondering how I can decorate the front, and that is where I am looking for any ideas.  I can sew a lovely cover for it too, and maybe I will end up doing that anyway, but just wondered if there would be another way...

Here is a picture of my cute baby, Doozey, being all snuggly this morning, too.  Just for you!  See the shaved area on her arm where she had an IV in the pet hospital this past weekend?  Shes doing much better.  Still on antibiotics (2), and a probiotic,  A few more days to go, and she should be good as gold.  My poor sugar baby!  

xoxo- Julie

Well, hello again!

I wanted to pop in to show the washi tapes I have made so far.  These were my first tries, and far from perfection, but I am getting it down to a better look with time!  First though, is a wonderful pen I have that had a white barrel, (and drug name on the side).  It writes like a dream, but I wished it was prettier!  I saw where you can use mail polish to paint your pen, so I did a random dabbing kind of deal, and ended up with this!  Pink, gold, and lilac.  I really like it.

 So here are the thicker 1 inch washi tapes I made using "Cloth " tape from drugstore.  I liked this at first, but then graduated to the 1/2 inch PAPER tape (also from drugstore).  It tears more like actual washi tape, and has that same kind of feel.  I just realized I spelled your name wrong on this tape I made Bobbie Lynn!!!  So sorry! What a dummy!  Well, as I said I am learning, and I think I was a bit excited at my first tries!!!  Out of these the blue with flowers stamped turned out the best.

 I like the pink with suns too!  The purple one is kinda neat also.  These all have a shimmer, because I sprayed them all with a metallic alcohol ink.

 I decided that a yellow tape with suns was a more appropriate use of a sun stamp!  The light blue tape is stamped with a green ink in flowers.  I like the random prints best.

 How do you like this huge box of decorative tapes I found at Target.  Each one is 9 ft. long.  It only cost $9.99

 Here is my carousel of washi tapes...can you see the ones I made wrapped around a plastic straw???  Love this storage idea!

 My little book I write down what I eat in.  I decorate it a bit with tapes and stickers too.  A relaxing thing in the morning.

 Here is another washi tape made with 1/2 inch paper tape.  It is hand stamped with individual letters.  Tedious, and not anything I would want to do much of. I added strips of dotty pink on each edge, but have since removed it because it looked to sloppy.

 Picture of my well worn craft table.  Love it so much, can never part with it.  You can see the grands have splashed paint on the lamp...not only the base, but shade too!  How fun!  We don't play around here, we are serious crafters!!!  Hehe.

XOXO-----Julie