Journals are intimate items where we put in writing our hopes, ambitions, dreams, fears or anything we could not express in words. There are millions of diaries in the market to choose from. However, it would never be as intimate if you hand-made your own journal. Handmade diary for your thoughts and feelings would be a superb way to watch your life charge forward.
In this handmade diary, we will utilize the Japanese stab binding as it is an easy and cheap way to bind a diary. There will be no pasting or cutting that makes the project simple. Even beginners, who have no background in binding, can bind a handmade journal perfectly.
For your handmade journal, you will need as many papers as you like, 2 identical paper covers, paper puncher and a ball of string or yarn.
Instructions:
Stack all the papers. If you will use colored papers, sort out the pages in order depending on your taste. You can group the papers by color or alternate the colors. Then, add on top the front cover and below, the back paper cover.
Punch holes in the paper using drill or puncher. Clip the papers together so that the holes will be in a perfect line. If you will use paper punchers, make holes by batches. Be certain that you will make holes on each batch the same way for uniformity.
Restack the pages and bind them together by threading the string or yarn through the holes. Use running stitch for sewing from top to bottom. Once you reach the end, loop to the other side of the handmade journal and begin stitching, this time from bottom to top.
When you reach the top, secure the stitches you made. Start another round of stitching, but this time at each hole, make a stitch that runs around the spine of the handmade diary. Continue making stitches all the way down. When done, secure the stitches by making a knot. The spine of the handmade diary will look like an E with lots of horizontal lines.
Tie off the yarn or string and you are done! You now have handmade journal. Decorate the front cover with anything you like or you just head on writing.
Additional ideas:
1. For an Asian look handmade diary, add sticks of bamboo or twig.
2. Use other materials for the cover of the handmade journal. You can make use of leather, fabric or wood.
3. Likewise, use other materials for putting the pieces of the handmade diary together.
4. Add texture to the paper. You can use specialty papers that are rough or corrugated.
5. Use different shape and size of the papers for your handmade journal.
This handmade journal will have deeper meaning and value not only because it is about you but also for the fact that you made it.
In this handmade diary, we will utilize the Japanese stab binding as it is an easy and cheap way to bind a diary. There will be no pasting or cutting that makes the project simple. Even beginners, who have no background in binding, can bind a handmade journal perfectly.
For your handmade journal, you will need as many papers as you like, 2 identical paper covers, paper puncher and a ball of string or yarn.
Instructions:
Stack all the papers. If you will use colored papers, sort out the pages in order depending on your taste. You can group the papers by color or alternate the colors. Then, add on top the front cover and below, the back paper cover.
Punch holes in the paper using drill or puncher. Clip the papers together so that the holes will be in a perfect line. If you will use paper punchers, make holes by batches. Be certain that you will make holes on each batch the same way for uniformity.
Restack the pages and bind them together by threading the string or yarn through the holes. Use running stitch for sewing from top to bottom. Once you reach the end, loop to the other side of the handmade journal and begin stitching, this time from bottom to top.
When you reach the top, secure the stitches you made. Start another round of stitching, but this time at each hole, make a stitch that runs around the spine of the handmade diary. Continue making stitches all the way down. When done, secure the stitches by making a knot. The spine of the handmade diary will look like an E with lots of horizontal lines.
Tie off the yarn or string and you are done! You now have handmade journal. Decorate the front cover with anything you like or you just head on writing.
Additional ideas:
1. For an Asian look handmade diary, add sticks of bamboo or twig.
2. Use other materials for the cover of the handmade journal. You can make use of leather, fabric or wood.
3. Likewise, use other materials for putting the pieces of the handmade diary together.
4. Add texture to the paper. You can use specialty papers that are rough or corrugated.
5. Use different shape and size of the papers for your handmade journal.
This handmade journal will have deeper meaning and value not only because it is about you but also for the fact that you made it.
