Personalizing Journals – A Crafty Butterfly Theme

If you’re like me, you have a stash of scrapbooking and crafty materials collected from various shopping trips to craft stores and flea markets. This journal is an example of how I like to cover existing hardback paper journals using some of these embellishments. You can find hardback journals that look like a book as this one, or are spiral bound. Either type work great, as long as the cover is thick enough that it doesn’t bend. I also look at the inner pages to check the quality, and I like ones with thicker paper that may have lines for writing or small designs around the edges.

For gluing, I prefer a large glue stick. I make sure to spread the glue past the edge of the embellishment, and use scrap paper underneath to protect the surface. The glue makes a strong bond on the cover and dries completely flat. I also have a brayer (a small roller) to seal the bond. For light dimensional embellishments like the faux flowers with tiny beads in this example, I like to use glitter glue. They have a clear base and contain sparkles in gold, silver or bright colors. The little dabs of glue are both subtle and add a little sparkle at the same time.

I like looking for vintage Little Golden Books at flea markets and use the illustration images in my work. They have a certain 1960s quality that I admire. It brings me back to the time when computer illustrations didn’t exist and artists were hired to create a series of images for each book. Many can be framed as a set for a baby’s room or even for vintage themed home décor.

I also include pieces of handmade paper that I’ve made over the years from a mini crafty business I had with my friend. We had a booth selling handmade paper stationery and journals for 10 years – didn’t make a lot of money, but had fun spending time together making our crafty creations. I will share more of our work soon!

For this butterfly theme, I created a tree from a cut and painted book page, added artificial flower petals with beads in the center, and felt leaves. Then as the main embellishments, butterfly stickers (think groups of odd numbers to make pleasing to the eye), and the stamped text.

These journals are an easy way to experiment with scrapbook materials and embellishments you may already have, and can be made in any theme. They can be large or small and be given as gifts for friends, family and teachers with themes for travel, gardening, school and many more!

Have fun crafting one for yourself!