Field Journal

A few weeks ago I picked up a cheap composition notebook with plans to turn it into a pretty journal. I started with this...

And ended up with this...

Here's the back...

First I covered the notebook with fabric using a basting spray. Then I started adding embellishments... trim, buttons. The images and words were all printed onto a craft envelope that I trimmed to 8.5"x11" size.

For the words for the bird cutout, I copied the definition of flight from an online dictionary, then printed it out on the craft paper in the font and size I wanted.

I used three different stamps to decorate some of the journal pages.

I added some beads strung on wire and tied to an organza ribbon to make the bookmark. I attached the bookmark to the back of the inside cover before I glued it down. For the band that holds the journal closed I sewed down a girl's hair tie.

Should be a nice place to jot down a few lines when I can. Definitely an improvement on the under $2 notebook and one I will look forward to using. The only thing I didn't already have were a couple of the stamps, so it was a cheap project. And I am pretty sure this journal will be breeding others... I have more planned.
Keep an eye out for my next post - I came across an amazing artist from Washington, Teesha Moore, while I was in the planning stages for this journal and rather than making this a super huge post, I'll be featuring her work on it's own.