Tuesday 26 September 2017

Using THE journal die!


Oh! How much do I LOVE this journal die by Eileen Hull?! I could not wait to get my little mitts on one. It cuts through paper, card, and wait for it ... mount board! Oh yes, you can make yourself a proper little hard back travel journal. So cool. It cuts the covers, scores, and punches holes in the spine all in one go.

Of course for my first attempt I made myself a messy colourful painty version, which is going to be an art journal. I began by covering the whole thing with black gesso, and then added layers and layers of colour.


Here it is as a work in progress:




Cutting pages for the inserts is so easy. I just cut squares of a card to measure 21cm, in various bits of different coloured card, and then folded in half. I stitched the signatures together with my trusty old sewing machine, and then added elastic to the cover so that the signatures are removable. Just like a Midori Traveller's notebook. Genius.




And it just so happens that I made myself another journal using this very die, which just so happens to be on the DecoArt Media blog today, step-by-step with lots of photos. Please do go and take a look over on the Decoart blog :-) 
Here's a few sneaky peeks:




This journal die has pretty much sold out in most places in the UK but I can tell you that it will be stocked at Art from the Heart very soon ;-) 



14 comments:

  1. Thanks Kate, just bought this die and i am busy making it into a nice traveljournal...and i can use some inspiration, certainly from your work...your my great inspirator, i looooove the way you work, al those colors...its such a lovely work

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  2. wow Kate, what amazing first attempts. The bits about assembling sounded confusing to me as I don't know where to start, but I must now unwrap mine as it has been sitting on my craft desk for a few weeks now!
    Thanks for inspiring me! Xx

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    1. Hazel, it's not tricky to assemble at all! The spine just glues together and the holes line up. Once the glue dries just thread elastic though - I followed the instructions inside the box, but there are lots of different ways to do it. And then the elastic holds the signatures in place so that they are removable.

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  3. So, so glad you discovered Eileen's amazing journal die Kate, it is my all time favourite die! I love your beautiful journal cover and your sneak peeks look amazing, off to take a closer look... Anne x

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  4. That is lovely I haven't managed to get one yet - I am in Italy so it is difficult here I usually get from the UK will hopefully get one soon.

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  5. Kate I love your Journals- such happy beautiful colors! I am so glad you like working with it and grateful you are spreading the Journal love ❤️

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  6. Stunning journals!! I keep telling myself I don't need the die, but....... :-)

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  7. These Journals are amazing I love your art work on them ! The die is awesome may have to add it to my lkist !

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  8. This is so beautiful! I just love the cool design. Hugs, Autumn

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  9. Fabulous die and even more fabulous artwork ! Great stuff Kate !

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  10. oh, this is so bright and textured looking, I love it! Have you joined the Eileen Hull Fan Club on FB? we're a bunch of journal junkies there. =) lol

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