That’s right, I’m a murderer… I am holding back tears.
I should have known today was not the good day to re-bind my Art Journal as the ernergy around me was not the same as usual. But i’m stubborn and wanted to finally reinforce my journal that was falling apart.
When I started Creative Journaling two years ago, I simply bought a pack of paper that are a little bit stronger than regular printer paper, and went to a small store in downtown Toulouse to bind it. So until today, it was bound thanks to a plastic thing, with a clear “plastic” transparent sheet as front and back covers.
But as I was filling it, it became heavier and thicker, so it was more and more fragile; so what was meant to happen happened a few weeks ago: the back cover fell off completely !
Since I have a bind-it-all machine and the holes look the same, I thought “no problem, I’ll rebind it with my bind-it-all, it’ll just take a few minutes”.
PFFFFFF ! it does not fit… the pages curl when I put the wire in it, it means the spaces are not the same.
So now, all my pages (about 100 something pages !!!!!!) are “free”, nothing is binding them together anymore. And I realized that a lot of pages have several holes that are nearly torn.
Currently, it looks like this:
As this journal is a reflection of my Journey, the order of the pages is kind of important to me.
I thought… maybe I can use ribbons in some of the holes ? but I won’t be able to turn the pages easily.
Or maybe some Rings ?
I’m holding back tears, trying to think “you’ll find a way to fix this mess you did”, but this journal is so precious to my heart that I could slap myself 🙁
Any suggestion is welcome, I am sure it’s not as bad as I think it is. Right ?
I think there’s something to do for it. I can’t think of what off the top of my head, but I believe with all your fantastic friends, the save is not too far away. Don’t worry! We’ll think of something.
Thank you Kim. i don’t give up, I put it in a safe place for now, and ideas will come, I sure people will help me figure this out 🙂
Thanks for your support <3
Okay, so could you trim off the edge of each page where the “old” holes were and create new ones?
Hi Jenn ! Thanks a lot for your help.
I have to check every page “alone”, because often I work on the entire page and details are near the “old holes”.
o.k. first I would accept I can’t turn back time and undo the holes that are there HOWEVER …left side where the holes are/were…. I would glue them in place to each other. Then if you have a Staples Office Supply Store near you? They can trim off the glued edge (I did this so you can place each page in place and gave it even) and they have plastic thingies and even front and back covers and can redo the book for you. I think it’s like $5. You know the art books we all buy like Kelly Rae’s …I take mine there and they take off the bound edge and spiral it so I can lay it flat when I’m working 😉 Hope this helps.
Why not trim up all the edges of ya journal pages so the edges are nice & neat. Place each journal page in a page protector and then place in a 3-ring binder! Ya haven’t lost any of ya work and the binder keeps ya pages protected and easier to use. Just what I would do hun. Hugs, Poe
I realize that what I am going to say may not be the most popular thoughts…but this seems so exciting. Such a great sign to let go of your story…your journey…and literally create something new out of it. Shiva, the destroyer is coming to mind. Destruction can equal change…reclaiming a power that gets lost in the story we tell of our lives
I feel so much excitement when I read this (though having done similar things, I understand the shock)…don’t fix the mess. Revel in. Create from it. Make new and awesome things from it! Go wild!!!
2 ideas come to mind. Go to Staples or some other office store and ask at the photocopy center if they can rebind it. Or, put the pages in plastic sleeves like in scrapbook albums and put it in a binder.
Hope that helps.
Sophie
I would trim off the edges and then create a folder to hold the loose pages. Something like this: http://www.renaissance-art.com/Prod74/Product.aspx
but in a arty paper cover… You can still flip through it and look at it but it will be covered in a cool art journal cover.
Okay, I have one more idea to add to the mix. It’s time consuming, but it would work. First, do you have a paper cutter? Or can you borrow one or go somewhere to use one (scrapbook stores might have some to use). Get some drawing paper, 60 or 80 pound. Cut it into half inch strips (sorry, I’m not sure the metric conversions on all of this). Glue a strip over the front and back side of each page on top of the old holes. Use a good glue like an acrylic medium or something that will really bond the papers together (although I also really love a slightly watered down Aleene’s Tacky Glue for my gluing pleasures), essentially creating new paper there. Then you can repunch and rebind. You may lose a small amount of what’s around the old holes, but if you’re like me hopefully most of the really major stuff is more on the page rather than at the bound edge.
If you do this, I would suggest rebinding in a different way so the holes don’t too directly match the old holes. Maybe do 3-5 holes and use binder rings to hold it together now.
Good luck! {Hugs}
Thank you all so so so much for your precious advices ! You’re so lovely to come and rescue me <3
I passed the shock of the massacre now, and feel quite excited about redoing it completely. Everything happens for a reason, it's one of the Truth I strongly believe in.
So... earlier, I'd created covers in bookboard, slightly wider than the size of the pages.
The binder is the easiest way, but it's also not very "pretty"; or maybe i can find one and just gesso and paint over it to make it "my own" ?
@Kim, I speak in centimeters (and I'm not used to the inches stuff) so if this is easier for me to speak in cm, don't be hesitant. Yes, I have a paper trimmer 🙂 If I sum up well: I glue a strip of paper on each page and use this extra space to rebind so I don't touch directly the pages, is that right ?
@Leslie: you're the binding Queen you know 😀 The leather thing looks awesome, I just have no clue how to do something like that (maybe in canvas, as I have a roll on canvas still untouched).
@ Jo Anna: I love Shiva 😉 But I can't destroy it, I just can't emotionnally.
You have all amazing ideas, thank you so much.
I was thinking you could glue a strip directly over the old holes, one strip on each side of a page, and then re-punch holes there. You would only be adding paper and holes where the old holes were, so you wouldn’t be touching the areas that you worked on. The strips of paper should be just wide enough to cover the old holes without going too far onto the pages.
Does that make sense?
Yes, you confirm that it’s what I understood yesterday 🙂 It totally makes sense. Thanks a lot !
Although I’m not a massive fan of the plastic sleeves because you then can’t feel the texture on the pages, I think the binder idea is the best one out of the lot.
If you get a cheap cardboard one you can paint over it. The glossy ones you’d have to sand and gesso first. Or, you could collage on top of it or do what I did, a foil technique I learned from watching the Gary Reef videos.
Here is my blog post on my binder:
http://eveline-timeless.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-art-journal.html
Feeling the texture on my pages when I flip through it is one of my favourite things too…
I did the aluminium thing on my Moleskine cover, I’d give it another try, thank ! I love the look of yours 🙂
Ok, I’m tired and all so I didn’t take the time to read all the comments, but if you need me to send another punched-in-cm plastic cover for your journal, I’d be glad to do so….
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