How did I miss this . . .

Did you ever have one of those duh moments?

Well, I did this past month.

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that at the moment,

I'm into Junque Journals.

So I've been joining Junque Journal groups on Facebook

to see how these gals put their books together.

And all of a sudden . . . this happens:

Boxes!

Why didn't I know about this?

For years I've been creating my own covers & spines from scratch.

Now I'm digging in the recycle bin.

To make your own book:

(a) eat all the snacks in a box (this is important!)

(b) The box is glued together at one of the sides.

Find that place and carefully open the box where it's glued together.

(c) Cut off the box top and box bottom.

(d) Cut off the glued together side.

And just like that you have a book!

And Pasta Boxes are the best because there's a built in window!

I then took paper and coffee dyed the paper.

Some I scrunched up and some I left with just the coffee splatters.

I made a template for my pamphlet stitch

and punched holes in the box spine.

3 signatures = 3 horizontal holes across

What's a signature?

It's a grouping of papers. Called a signature because back in the days of handwritten books,

each set of papers that was completed was signed by whomever wrote it.

Thus a signature.

For this book, I used 5 papers,

each paper folded in half

and then stacked on top of each other to create 10 pages.

Make sure the folds match in the center!

Then each signature is put together and I used the center hole template, 

punching 3 holes through each signature.

Once the holes are punched, remove the template and save for another book.

Using waxed linen thread and a heavy needle,

thread the needle but do not double and do not knot.

Start with one set of signatures.

Place the signatures into the book spine,

lining up the holes in the signature with one set of vertical holes in the spine.

(I clip mine in place with binder clips.)

Here's a video I found on You Tube that shows how to stitch a signature

(I can't do better than Lynn.)

The only exception is that I use waxed linen thread

as it's hard to break/tear and doesn't stretch

therefore, no doubling of the thread.

Once the signatures were sewn into the book spine,

decorating begins.

I left quite a few of the pages blank for journaling

and tried to decorate the pages that I crumpled.

The smooth pages will be easier to write on.

So much fun to work on these simple books.

And it can be a work in progress or a finish all at once project.

Hope you enjoyed this foray into

Junque Journaling.

Check out what my team mates have put together on the

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog

and join the fun for a chance to win an amazing gift certificate from

Catherine Moore's Character Constructions

Such a fun way to stamp!

Character Constructions $25 GC

Website: http://www.characterconstructions.com/

Blog: https://naturestudy.typepad.com/catherine_moore/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharacterConstructions

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/catherine_moore/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/catherine_moore/

Comments

[Cath]

You and me both, lol. What a brilliant idea 🤔
For b book is amazing - such a treat!
Cath x

[Anne R]

This is such a brilliant idea Nancy! I have seen where people say they used a box to make a journal but never quite understood how, so thank you for sharing such so much detail. Your completed journal is gorgeous and I have bookmarked your tutorial for future reference. Hugs, Anne xx

[Jennie Atkinson]

Wow what an amazing journal Nancy - such a fabulous tutorial for the signatures and yes .. the boxes .... a fabulous idea! Like Anne your tutorial is bookmarked for future reference!!! Jennie x

[butterfly]

A totally fabulous junk journal, Nancy - and now that you've discovered the box-cover, I'm sure you'll be turning out ever more wonderful box-journals! Love the coffee-dyed and splattered pages.
Alison x

[Tracey]

The delights that await us within our recycle bins is amazing, you have utilised those boxes magnificently Nancy. Such a lovely design with it's fixtures and fitting. A very beautiful piece to adore. Thanks so much for sharing the process, I hope you have many hours filling it with more bits and pieces of found junk & ephemera.
Hugs Tracey xx
P.S So sorry i'm late, I've been on my holidays xx

[Lynn Price]

So glad to have found you through the Mini Album Maker Challenge blog! Awesome little book, and great idea - I will certainly be saving my pasta boxes from here on out, lol! Really look forward to seeing more of your projects! - Lynn