#5dayjournalchallenge

After we’d finished the Five Day Fabric Journal Challenge with Ali Manning (@vintagepagedesigns), she suggested that we make another book right away so as to go over all the steps again and reinforce them in our mind. I certainly didn’t need any convincing! This wee book is around 4.5” x 5.75”, and I went with a black, white, and grey theme (the cover fabric looks rather blue in this pic, but it's actually black on white) with alternating colours around each white signature, thicker covers than my previous books, and some silver and black beads on the spine. It has a few flaws, but nevertheless I absolutely love this little book!

Day 5 of the 5-day “Coptic Gratitude Journal Challenge” with Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs was all about the stitching - and with that, my little journal is complete! This was such a fun experience - it reminded me just how much I enjoy making books, and that I need to make time to do this more often. Thank you to Ali and the entire team at Vintage Page Designs for a wonderful time!

Day 4 of the 5-day “Coptic Gratitude Journal Challenge” with Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs involved punching holes in our covers and signatures, getting them them ready for sewing tomorrow. This was my first opportunity to use my new punching cradle from Ali’s shop, and it was so much more convenient and streamlined than the way I used to punch my books!

Day 3 of the 5-day “Coptic Gratitude Journal Challenge” with Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs was all about making our front and back covers with ribbon closures and then pressing them overnight. I absolutely love these patterns! 🥰

Day 2 of the 5-day “Coptic Gratitude Journal Challenge” with Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs involved cutting and folding signatures, cutting and folding decorative signature wrappers, and assembling the signatures and wrappers with the envelopes from yesterday. I ended up making two more envelope signature wrappers - I’d only done four yesterday, but decided to do six signatures total, so needed additional envelopes. Now everything will be pressed overnight under a stack of heavy books. Onward!

I’m so excited to be participating in the 5-day “Coptic Gratitude Journal Challenge” with Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs! Our task for Day 1 was to cut and fold paper of our choice into envelope signature wrappers, which will now be pressed overnight under a stack of my heaviest books. For my envelopes I used some gorgeous Tuttle Publishing “Shimmering Silver” wrapping paper, and I absolutely love the various designs in combinations of black, grey, pink, and yes, silver. Looking forward to seeing how my project turns out - watch this space!

Thanks for a wonderful project, Ali, and for the opportunity to be a guest artist - I had great fun! 💕

A wee bookmaking bonus, post-Five Day Fabric Journal Challenge with Ali Manning @vintagepagedesigns - my second completed handmade journal! My first was around 5.75” x 8.75”, while this one was made to suit the offcuts from the first and measures around 5.75” square. Inspired by some of the other challenge-takers, I rummaged in my stash of ancient jewelry-making supplies and added some beads to the binding just because I could. I learned so much making both of these books, and look forward to honing my skills in the days to come!