Covered Art Journals--How to do it?
 

Hi: I love the new chipboard art journal in the SU catalog--the sample is beautiful and so is the one in August's Stampin' Success. Question: how do you get the journal covered right to the edge? Do you use a square punch for the holes for the coil binding? How do you get the holes to line up? Is there a pattern? Do you just eyeball it? I'd appreciate some help--I don't have a journal yet, but I love the samples on this site and from SU. Thank you!

I don't know about the SU variety but, I have altered journals from the dollar store and this is what I did. I took the cover off of the spiral binding, marked with a pencil (on the backside of the patterned paper I plan to use), the holes where the spiral goes through. Punch holes with my eylet setter tools. Adhere paper to the cover, decorate as desired and then re-thread the spiral binding back on. Hope that helps and good luck!

Thanks! I never thought of that! I appreciate your help.

I would like to try this. Do you have to take the spiral completely off? I just know it would take me forever to rethread that spiral through all the paper!!

I think I have done it both ways. The first time I think I took just the cover and back cover off and left the papers still bound. Last night, I took everything out so I could make dividers. It did take a little longer to put back on but, was still fairly quick once I figured out how to re thread it again...lol. It turned out awesome! Best of luck:)

Jen

It doesn't take that long. I use a huge safety pin (old diaper pin) to hold the pages together so the holes do not get off kilter.

Actually if you keep the holes all aligned they rethread really easily. You just twist it back on reverse of how you twisted it off. I use two large bulldog clips to hold the pages together while I am working on the covers. I clip the pages together close to the sprial before I take the covers off.

Did you have any problem with the wire? Did it become distorted in anyway?

The wire binding did not become distorted in anyway. I actually bent the piece I was rethreading so it would re-thread faster and go through at the right angle. Once it was back on, I just rebent it back the way it was. Looks perfect.

Actually, 7 Gypsies came out with a spiral book with dividers and the spiral is easy easy to take off and put on. It is $6.50 though, but if you want to save time, it is the best one that I have used so far.

I couldn't believe how easy it was to remove the front and back cover from the On Board Journal. I have a Journal Camp on August 18 and this will make designing the cover so much easier for everyone. Thanks again.