IN OUR OWN VOICES
                 
How to Make a Book Style Journal


Materials in this picture, left to right:
green self healing mat; quilter's ruler; waxed paper;
Yes! brand glue; artist's trowel; awl; bone folder;
 waxed thread; wallpaper roller; rotary cutter; Bogus paper

 Day 1
Using 4 sheets of Bogus paper, cut each sheet into
3 sections, each section 6" x 9".  Set aside.
Using the file folder*, cut four rectangles,
each rectangle 4 ¾ “ x 6 ¾
(*If using art board, cut two rectangles and
use a single thickness.)


Use the trowel to apply Yes! glue all over the rectangle, being careful to carry the glue past the edges of the rectangle.  Place the second file folder rectangle on top and press the two layers together.  Repeat and set aside.


Cut a 7 ¾ “ x 11 “ rectangle from your outside book cover paper.  Use your ruler and pencil to draw a line around the outside edge of your paper ½ “ from the edge.
Clip the corners of your paper just barely
(approximately 1/8“) outside the corners
you have drawn in pencil.


          Place the file folder rectangles on top of the glued side of
your cover paper, following the pencil lines.
 

Fold the outside edges of the cover paper in
and press firmly all around the edges.  Use your
bone folder or wallpaper roller to smooth the
layers and make sure they are flat.
 

Cut a 6 5/8 “ x 9 3/4 “ rectangle from your inside cover paper.  Place it onto a clean waxed paper surface and
apply glue.  Glue it into the inside of your book cover.
Use your bone folder or wallpaper roller to make sure
the layers are smooth and flat.
 

 

 


Place book cover between clean waxed paper sheets
and stack heavy books on top of it while it dries overnight.

 Day 2

Arrange your pages into three stacks, each stack
having 4 pages. On the top page of each stack, use
a ruler and pencil to make three faint dots along the
center of the page at 1” from the top, 3” from the top,
and 5” from the top.  (You will use these dots when
you sew the pages into your book.) 

                                                           

 


Use your ruler and bone folder to crease each book page
down the center.  Fold each page, matching the outer edges, and crease the page again.  Stack the pages again into 3 stacks of 4 pages, keeping the page with the pencil
dots at the top of each stack.

          

    

Use your awl to pierce the paper through
the dots you drew with pencil.

   
Pierce three holes along the center of your book cover, being careful to place the holes so they will match the
holes on your pages (approximately 1 ½ “, 3 ½ “, and
5 ½ “ from the top.)
Use a 48” piece of thick thread to sew the three sections
of pages into your book, one section at a time.  When you
first start sewing, leave a 10” tail hanging out so you will
have enough thread to tie your journal with.


 
Sew each section of pages separately. 

Loop the tails of the thread to
anchor them in the center of the
spine of your journal. 

The important thing to remember
is not to be afraid to use
your journal.  You made it, so
now you can make it
REALLY yours!!
You might want to add a bead
or two to finish off your journal.

This website was created and is maintained for use in classrooms dedicated to multicultural understanding. 
Material from and links to other sources have been chosen because of their relevance to this goal. 
For questions or comments, or to report problems with links, please contact:
Ann Ramsey ramseyakc@yahoo.com
 
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