Hey there, fellow craft enthusiasts! Robert Kline here, and I’m thrilled to share a project that’s close to my heart: creating personalized fabric covered journals. There’s something truly magical about transforming simple notebooks into unique works of art. It’s a fantastic way to unleash your creativity, use up fabric scraps, and end up with a practical and beautiful handmade treasure. The best part? It takes less than 30 minutes to create a whole set!
Gather Your Supplies
Before we dive in, let’s gather everything we need. For this project, you’ll need:
- A pack of 3 Moleskine journals: I recommend the kraft brown covered ones, as other colors might show through the fabric.
- 3 scraps of fabric you love: This is where the fun begins! Choose fabrics that speak to you. Each piece should measure at least 11″ x 9″.
- 1″-1 1/2″ wide twill tape (optional): This is for adding a pen holder to the inside cover.
- Double-sided fusible webbing: You’ll need approximately the same amount as your fabric. I like to use Wonder Under, but there are many great brands out there.
- Iron and ironing board: These are essential for fusing the fabric to the journals.
- Good music and a dash of creativity: Because crafting is always better with a little rhythm and inspiration!
Crafting Your Masterpieces
Ready to transform those plain notebooks into eye-catching journals? Let’s get started!
Step 1: Prepare the Fusible Webbing
Cut a piece of fusible webbing slightly larger than your open journal. Following the package instructions, iron the webbing onto the wrong side of your fabric scrap. Once cooled, peel off the paper backing.
Step 2: Center and Adhere
Center the open journal on the wrong side of the fabric, ensuring it’s within the area covered by the fusible webbing. Close the journal, keeping the fabric folded around it.
Step 3: Ironing Magic
With the journal spine facing up, carefully iron the spine area to adhere the webbing. Once secure, open the journal and, working in small sections, iron the fabric to the cover. Be careful not to iron the fabric to your ironing board!
Step 4: Trim and Finish
Trim the fabric flush with the journal’s edges. Iron the corners and edges again to ensure everything is securely fused.
Personalize and Enjoy!
Congratulations, you’ve created your own fabric-covered journals! Now comes the fun part – making them uniquely yours. Consider adding a personalized nameplate using a small square of fabric. You can write or embroider on it before adhering it to the cover. Stitching around the edges is another way to add a decorative touch.
Sharing the Joy of Handmade
I’m always excited to see the creative results of fellow craft enthusiasts. Don’t hesitate to share your fabric-covered masterpieces with me and the Robert Kline Art community!
And remember, this is just the beginning. Explore different fabrics, experiment with embellishments, and let your imagination run wild. There’s a whole world of handcrafted possibilities waiting to be explored. Head over to the Robert Kline Art website for more inspiring DIY projects and unique handmade gifts for your loved ones!