Recently we were talking about ways to personalize journal covers...specifically, commercial journals. This is an old Pelikan journal I used to use almost exclusively before I started binding my own...I had a whole stack of plain blue books with the deep black cloth spine, but they all looked just the same.
I decided to make them not only my own, but more useful...I chose some of my favorite images from each book, scanned them, and made a photomontage in Photoshop. Then, as you can see, I collaged it to the front of the book along with other elements, like ribbon and such, and added color and a bit of text, protecting all with a layer of acrylic floor wax (works great and is non-sticky!)
I added the date as well, so I know at a glance what time period each journal covers.
I don't like journals that are too thick and chunky, handsome though they may be, so this works great for me. It opens easily and flat, and doesn't have anything to break off or get in the way. All the journals slide easily into my bookcase without anything to hang up, too...
Soooo...what do YOU like to do? If you'd like to share an image, send it to me at kate.cathyjohnson (at) gmail.com and I'll do a composite post soon!
