How I Made a Leather Journal Cover from Scrap Leather
One of the items that I wanted to make was a leather journal cover. I love journaling and writing down my thoughts and ideas. I also like using composition books as my journals, because they are cheap, sturdy, and easy to find. However, I wanted to give them a more elegant and rustic feel, so I decided to make a leather cover for them.
I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on leather, so I looked for some scrap leather on eBay. I found a lot of leather pieces that were left over from other projects or had some flaws or defects. I didn’t mind that, because I think it adds more charm and personality to the leather. I bought a few pieces of different colors and textures, and waited for them to arrive.
When I got the leather, I measured the dimensions of my composition book and added some extra space for the spine and the flaps. I then cut out a piece of leather that fit those measurements. I used a sharp knife, a ruler, and a cutting mat to do this. I also made sure to cut the leather with the grain, not against it, to prevent it from stretching or tearing.
Next, I folded the leather around the composition book and marked where I wanted to sew the flaps. I used a needle and thread to stitch the flaps, leaving some room for the book to slide in and out. I also used a stitching groover to make a groove along the stitch line, to make the stitches more even and secure.
Finally, I decorated the cover with some stamps and a leather label that I made myself. I used some leather glue to attach the label to the cover. I also used some leather conditioner to nourish and protect the leather.
And that’s it! I love how my leather journal cover turned out. It looks classy and cozy, and it feels great in my hands. It also protects my composition book from wear and tear, and it makes it easy to identify among my other notebooks.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that it inspired you to try leather craft. It’s a fun and rewarding hobby that you can do at home with some basic tools and materials. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. And if you want to try this project yourself, I’d love to see your results. Happy leather crafting!