Eileen Hull - Journal for Creativation

Hello Friends

During the month of March Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team are sharing details of Eileen's latest release for Sizzix - Heartfelt Collection. The collection was showcased at Creativation (CHA) in January 2017.  You can see the whole release HERE.

The collection includes the fabulous new Journal that Eileen has designed (Sizzix 661906).  This is a Scoreboard XL die which creates a Journal measuring 8.1/2" x 4.1/2".  It will take the popular Midori inserts, or you can easily make up your own inserts, using items from your stash.  A few people have asked me what they could use a journal for and I have put some ideas at the end of this post.**

This is the first journal I made for Creativation.

The Journal covers were die cut from Matboard (you can also use Mount Board).  The die cuts the holes at the sides and also provides the score lines to fold the sides.  The die also comes with two 'closures' and a label.

To create the journal I used Paper Leather, a wonderfully strong product by Sizzix, which I embossed using one of Eileen's embossing folders (Sunburst #659879).  It is a great folder as it has a repeat pattern, so I was able to match up the pattern to cover the whole of the front and back of my journal cover.  If you line it up carefully, you cannot see the join at all - result!!

After cutting the cover to size I used a strong wet glue to adhere it to my journal blank and put it to one side for the glue to dry.   

For the inside, I created three signatures and  I added a handmade envelope at the back. I lined the insides of the cover with grey card to match the leather paper on the outside.

I used a traditional bookbinding method to attach the signatures to the Journal.  It is called the 3 hole pamphlet stitch and you can see how it is done in a tutorial HERE.

You can, if you wish, add a simple elastic type closure, which is much easier to achieve and allows signatures to be removed and new ones added.  I like the bookbinding method as it creates a nice neat appearance on the outside of the Journal.

Next I created a closure.  I decided to do one by using Eileen's Twist & Style Tool and some soft metallic string from my stash.  Once twisted I made a button shape and stitched it in several places so that it would hold its shape.  I also stitched it to the Journal cover.  I twisted a further piece to use as the closure, which you can see above.

I die cut the word Journal using one of Tim's thinlit dies and I added some pearls and gems to an Ideaology Hinge Clip as a decoration.  Finally I added some sparkly stars to 'bling' up the front.

I have made a few of these Journals now, the second one I made also went to Creativation.  This one was covered in some fabric from my stash.

Covering it with fabric is very easy to achieve.  The insert you can see here is a purchased Midori insert and I added a couple more made from manila card.

  There are endless possibilities for covering the Journal, whether it is card, fabric, leather, paint etc., whatever takes your fancy.

I hope you will find time to visit Eileen's blog to see the other projects my teamies have created with the new release.

Thanks so much for looking, I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xx

**  Potential uses for the Journal die

• Art Journal
• Travel Journal
• Diary
• Address Book
• Phone Book
• Wedding Planner
• Wedding Guest Book
• Wine Journal
• Meal Planner
• Gardening Journal
• Wine Lovers Journal
• Students Study Journal .... and so on!!