Nursery Rhyme Journal - Part 2

 Hi Crafty Friends,

This is my cover ready from Part 1, which you can find here: Nursery Rhyme Journal Part 1

I hope you are having some creative fun, playing along, and you are ready for the next step.......  

 I started pulling papers from my stash and found my heap of children's book pages I'd kept to make a journal. It has a lot of Nursery Rhymes from my childhood, plus other images to include. My best option was to make the signatures first, then decide on a cover. This makes it easier to know how big I will need the spine. 

As you can see above, I like to include a good variety of pages in my journals. Whether I add things over them to journal on, or add photos, pockets, tags, and things I make. For this one, I have included: book, music, old ledger, index, and botanical pages. As well as paper grocery bags, lovely florist and gift wrap paper that I cut to size. I usually add some scrapbook paper. I also love to add daily ephemera, like receipts, business cards, clothes tags, postcards, etc. You can add them as is or alter them to match your project. There is so much "free" stuff around when you look...... Thrift shops, garage sales and markets are a great way to start junk journaling.

I love making ephemera from the book pages, as they are too lovely not to add. My fave things are pockets, tags, flip-outs, envelopes, belly bands and corner tucks. I fold my paper different ways to get unique looks. I also, if needed, hinge extra pages and add them for more room. I do love a "chunky monkey" journal......

I decided to have three signatures with approx 15 pages in each. To allow for the journal to expand, with a three-inch spine.

Inside the front cover, I like to have a pocket with a few pieces of ephemera in it. This one has a couple of envelopes made from scrapbook paper and book pages. A paper/fabric doily is a great place to tuck things into.

 I have always had a sewing machine, as my mum and her best friend Helen taught me when I was a teenager.  I love decorating my pieces and also sew pages together if I need a different size. I do tend to make larger journals. You do not need a sewing machine to make journals; everything can be glued. Here, I used a book page to make a belly band with a journaling card underneath it.

There are so many options for what you can add to your journal. I have made a slanted pocket on the left and a paper bag covered with a napkin on the right.

The pages I kept from the small book, I made a waterfall, so I had all the rhymes. It adds an interactive element.

Scrap pieces of paper; make a pocket on the bottom and a book image for a tuck spot at the top of the page. 

I loved the book page from Aristocats; I decided to fold it over, so I kept the rest of the story. I made another tuck spot on the left, from part of another book page.

A white envelope on the left, covered the front with scrap paper, and added some ink and a paper napkin to the back. I attached it to the book page by the flap and left it open. I had a small pocket, so I added that on the right with the rabbit coming out of the top. A nice place to add journaling or small items.

For the back pocket, I also made it from fabric and added aed a vellum pocket, so I can see what is in there. A great place to keep items; I haven't yet decided where they will go.

Last but not least for our Journal adventure is the decorating. You can go over the top or minimalist as you like. I am a little in between, I think. I like adding extra pieces like fabric and paper ruffles, page tabs, etc. I have also added a few small pieces of doily and a couple of bits of lace as belly bands.

Snippets are made from continuous pieces of paper/fabric to the width you like. Then embellish with what you like. They are great to have ready-made to add to your projects.

 

My paper and fabric snippet rolls live on my Vintage spools. I cut pieces off them and use them in my journals. They all give your projects a textured feel..... 

Now, you can decorate your journal any way you like. I hope you have enjoyed a look at my project and playing along. 

Have a great week,

Kerri x