I need to make my first altered journal

[chanteuse]

For some reason these have never appealed to me but I had an Etsy customer (who's bought from me several times) request one and I would like to do it for her. Can someone please tell me what to do, or direct me to the right threads? Specifically I want to know...

Where do I get the journal? (I know SU sells them but I'm not sure I can charge that much.) ... or ...

Do I want to just invest in a Bind-It-All because I'm going to love making them so much that I will want to make more? ;)

I assume with the SU journal, I need the spiral punch? Do I need it for other journals?

Do I need any other special supplies?

Please treat me like I'm eight and have never done this before, because I haven't. LOL. Thank you!!

[TheAfricanQueen]

You could possible use a three ring binder to alter for the customers journal. I'm going to an altered book class on August 8th. But the altered book we are doing is one of those board books that children's books are made of.

You could possible e-mail [email protected] to see if she could help you via e-mail. One of the journals that I saw in Bobbi's shop was hinged together with a pipe cleaner that acted like a spiral notebook.

Let me talk with another friend of mine to see if she knows of any good books that you may be able to check out at your local library.

Stampingly yours

[Angelnorth]

Bookrings can make great journals without you needing to invest in a Bind It All. They're the ring that has a hinge half way round and click together at the top. There are also D shaped ones available in Tim Holtz's Idealogogy range.

The other thing you can do is get an artist sketch pad (assuming you want plain pages) that has a wire binding. Choose one that you can gently prise apart rather than one that's a full spiral. You can then open up the spine and take off the covers, add papers and embellies, punch through (using the existing holes as a guide) and then put the covers back on. I've attached a pic of a garden journal I did with that technique so hopefully you can see it gives a the covers a neat, finished look.

HTH!

[sharron246]

I've just looked at your blog, looks really good.

what sort of journal do you want to make?

One with lined pages ... look in walmart...

One with plain pages. you could do it like a bound book and use coptic stich to bind it.

[chanteuse]

Joanne, that is beautiful!

I checked with the customer and she actually wanted the SU one and was willing to pay what I was asking - since it's a $10 journal just to start off with I was unsure if that would fly with her. But that's the one she wants. She is a return customer and I guess a happy one!

[Angelnorth]

Always nice to have returning customers - have fun making the journal, Lori!