travelers journal | Julie Dawn Designs

July 16, 2018July 16, 2018

Faux Leather Travelers Journals With a Twist

I was fortunate enough to be gifted some very nice faux leather fabric samples a while back. At first I wasn’t sure what to do with them, until I came across a journal in a craft store that give me an idea of how to put them to use. This is one of the first ones I made.

I recently decided that it was time to make a few more. After sewing the covers together, I decided that I wanted to do something besides a plain cover, so I decided to create some vignettes on each one.

Here is how they turned out.

faux leather travelers journals — Faux Leather Travelers Journals

To say I love them is indeed an understatement!

May 27, 2018

Altered Book Cover

This is the start of the cover art for my next hand painted travelers journal made from an upcycled book.

I started with creating background layers created from magazine text and gel medium. After that layer, I repeated the process with colored images. Next came the paint and stenciled image.

altered book travelers journal — Cover in Progress

Once the outside cover is complete, it’s time to add signatures, pockets and envelopes.

April 28, 2018

Faux Leather Travelers Journal

A while ago, I received several smaller faux leather upholstery fabric samples. During one of my many trips to my local craft store, I came upon a small travelers journal they were selling for $10. It was made of really cheap plastic that mimicked leather and had two notebooks made from kraft paper and one folder also made from kraft paper. All of these were held inside by very thin, cheap elastic. I purchased it, took it home and made a much better version of it.

I really love the size. It’s more compact than the other travelers journals I make. I have this fabric in lots of other great colors, so I will definitely be making more just like it.

January 22, 2018April 27, 2018

Ripped & Stitched

I took an online workshop from Roben Marie called “Ripped and Stitched.” In it, we learned to make a journal from strips of fabric previously used for wiping off brushes and cleaning up paint.

The fabric created from this is quite beautiful.

handmade travelers journal — Travelers Journal made from painted fabric strips

I made a different type of journal than was taught in the workshop, but the technique is quite versatile, so you could make a variety of journal types with it.

The inside is full of handmade notebooks and a hand painted envelopes for stashing treasures.

I ended up liking this one so much that I made another one for myself!