Art Journal Every Day: Cool Covers & Beautiful Bindings

If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here.  All of the previous posts can be found archived here.  Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day!  No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week, use the hashtag #artjournaleveryday so that we can all take a peek.  Even if you're not on social media, you can see everything (from twitter, pinterest, instagram, and facebook) that uses that hashtag here.

It's not secret that I love binding my own journals.  I rarely work in anything other than a hand bound journal these days.  It has become a personal preference.  

Most of the journals that I bind are done with very simple and basic stitches.  True bookbinders create magic with their creativity.  Today I thought I'd share a bit of bookbinding inspiration with you.

First, if you'd like a plain and simple primer on some different basic styles of bookbinding, check out this post from Hinged Strung Stretched.  The author describes several different book structures and provides photos of the finished results.  

Now, onto the eye candy!

Cool Covers

These live edge wooden covers are swoon worthy!  

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Anika Kolesnikova is a polymer clay genius.  You absolutely must scroll through her gorgeous website to see all of her fantastic work.  You can order a custom journal from her.  She also has YouTube tutorials!

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This journal cover created by weaving ribbons is gorgeous.  It's the sophisticated big sister of the old woven pot holders I remember making as a child.  Click through the link to see some other variations.

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Beautiful Bindings

This binder has managed to create words with the binding thread.  Amazing!

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I have to share the blog Becca Making Faces.  Her creative Japanese Stab Binding ideas blew me away.  I particularly liked the animals:

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She has many tutorials on her blog that show how to create these super cool patterns as you bind.

Here's a binding that features an image of Wonder Woman!

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If you're feeling inspired to bind your own book, here are some resources:

• If you're looking for a good basic free bookbinding tutorial, I like this one.  
• I have an online class that shares my favorite way to bind an art journal.  
• If you're more of a book-learning person, I love this book on bookbinding, which has recently been re-released.  It's a one of my favorite resources!
• Be sure to click through the links.  Many of these binders offer tutorials and classes!

Thanks for stopping by!