Fabric Covered Composition Notebook Journal

I'm always on the lookout for good birthday gifts for friends. I came across this darling idea and had to give it a go. They're so simple and sweet. I ended up following two different tutorials to get the look and fit I wanted. Here's one, http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/bags-pillows/covered-journals_1.html and the other http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2012/08/tutorial-journal-covers.html.  Here's another tutorial I thought was pretty cute http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2011/09/fabric-covered-composition-notebook.html.

It's so fun to give a special friend a special something that you made personally. And a journal cover is something they can use again and again.

 

On projects like this when I'm trying out someone else's tutorial, I typically end up giving my first prototype to my daughter. My daughter calls it her "writers workshop" book. They have writers workshop in kindergarten and she loves to write stories. So now she has something to enjoy writing in at home. This project could easily be made as a doodle book for a child or a sketch book for a quilter. You can use the graph paper notebooks which you can find at Staples. Here's a picture of her book. Recognize the fabric? It's the same fabric I used for the scripture bag in a previous post. It's not the best quality but I got it on the clearance rack on the Stampin' Up! website. Pictured above are the Candy Cane Christmas Designer fabric and the darling Sweet Stitches Designer fabric. Each fabric pack comes with three coordinating fat quarters for only $0.99!  Normally, their fabric packs sell for much more.  Check it out! http://www.stampinup.com/home/