DIY: Fabric Journal Cover

Wow. It is has been one crazy morning. I apologize that I am getting this post up so late in the day. My morning consisted of catching a squirrel in our attic. Yes, you did read that right..a freaking squirrel. He has made our attic his home for the past month and we have tried everything to get rid of him, including having professionals come out and "take care of the problem". Which did nothing to prevent our friend from continually waking us countless times a night from all the noise he'd make scampering around. So the hubs and I decided that the only way that squirrel would ever leave us alone was if we caught it...and we did. Hallelujah. Can't wait for my undisturbed sleep tonight.
Whew. Now that I got you all caught up on the random morning I've had, let's get to the tutorial shall we?

I am a journal/notebook LOVER. Always buying new ones just because how do you pass up a pretty item screaming your name? I can't. Something I should probably work on. New Year's Resolution. Check. Sometimes they don't even have to be pretty, just a great deal. Then, I get to make them pretty :) The other day I was at Office Max and they had their pocket composition notebooks for $1for a pack of TWO. So, they immediately went in my basket.

This tutorial is great because you can adjust it to fit any size notebook, book, or journal that you are wanting to beautify.

1. Because everyone will have different dimensions I have excluded what mine were.

Cut a rectangle. The length should be double the width of your journal open, and width just enough so you have extra fabric above and below your journal.

 

2. As you see above fold the top and bottom of your rectangle and make a crease. If needed use an iron to help the fabric stay flat.

 

3. Next fold over both the left and right side of your rectangle and crease again. Then, sew JUST these two sides that you JUST folded and creased.

 

4. Now place your journal back in the middle of your rectangle and fold over to make your flap for your cover...and then pin. Do this to both the top and bottom and then to the back cover as well.

 

5. After you have pinned both sides, carefully slip your journal out of the fabric and sew the whole width of the bottom and the entire width of the top, securing your flaps. (This is where in the very first step you folded and creased your fabric.)

 

6. Now slip your journal in on both sides and you are finished! Walah!