easy journal cover

Call it a cover for your journal, sketch book or idea folder.  Whatever you call it it's great to have a place to jot down ideas, projects and sketches.  You know when you're out shopping and see something fabulous and think "I could make that".  Then you get home and promptly can't remember what you wanted to do.  Believe me the older you get the more it happens.  I devised an easy quick cover for a composition book you can but at the dollar store.  Fill up that one and the cover can be removed and put on a new book.  You can use any sturdy fabric for this as long as it's not too thick.  I used washed painters cloth and a mid weight fabric for the two shown here..
Cut a piece of fabric 13" longer than your book when it's open and 1" taller than the height.
Press and hem the 2 short ends.  match up the edges, folding over the short sides so when you sew it you will have a pocket on each side and it will fit the book.  You will have a short piece on the top and bottom that is not stitched.  Fold the raw edges in and hand stitch or use iron on fusing tape.(one of the greatest inventions ever).  If you are going to use sewn on decorations you will need to sew them on before putting the cover together, otherwise decorate afteryou're done sewing.  Add whatever you like to make it distinctive yours.
Now there's no more excuse for not remembering what that great idea, web site or recipe is.  Unless I forgot something.



You can buy these compositions books everywhere.




My sketch book.  Layers of lace.




Nifty pocket to put those clippings in.




I made this one for a friend who was complaining about not remembering a great idea after she got home.  See, I'm not the only one.  Carry a mini version in your purse, you'll be amazed at how much you use it.