DIY: Refillable leather journal cover with elastic tie

[@gogodo562]

Easiest, most practical method I've seen so far! Your video is 10yrs old, but still rocking! Regards from Egypt!✌️🌷

[@kristymonroe1839]

I just have to tell you, I went yesterday and bought the materials to make this after watching this video the day prior. I just got done making my very first one and I cannot tell you how full of pride I am at how it turned out!!! And it's all because of you and this video! I'm not crafty by any stretch of the imagination, but I was able to do this and it felt wonderful! Thank you so very much!!!

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) You are most kind! I'm glad this video was helpful and hopefully easy to follow. I hope you will make more:) I do have a couple more vids on different journals that I make.

[@sshaheed]

So easy and doable and fun, ma shaa Allah! I bought some leather today and some elastic band. Your tutorial is just what I needed to get me started. Keep up the great work!

[@RayH42]

Superb video on making a leather notebook cover. You explained every step perfectly. Thanks

[@jennyofalltrades3118]

TYSM! I have been looking for a good way to store my pokemon TCG ETB booklets and I remembered seeing a different creator use a similar method of binding for her slimmer journals and this is perfect for what I want to do. Very concise and clear!

[@teacherleo20245]

2025!!! I've done mine following your amazing video. It turned out awesome!

[@TacticalTimmy12]

Easiest version I've seen. Awesome. Can't wait to try it.

[@darkchild57]

+TacticalTimmy12 Thank you!

[@TheFourfiftythree]

I like your process of doing the elastic. Will do that technique when I make another. Thanks.

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! I've since made another utilizing a slightly different pattern. I'm always trying new techniques. Appreciate you watching my humble vid:)

[@shkhan84]

Awesome! Thank you for explaining the process so clearly and simply :)

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) I'm happy to hear my tutorial was easy to follow. I had to rehearse a few times to get it down lol.

[@laylaanne3931]

This is by far the easiest video I've come by and I love this idea, especially since i need an easy cover for my drawing books. At least one I can switch books in and out of. =]

[@darkchild57]

+Layla Anne Thanks! I glad the video was helpful!

[@yukiotakata]

dude i dont want to sound mellow ,but you have some skills!! : ) drawing artist,knife connoisseur,scooby driver and LEATHER artisan? danm!

[@Frater_RAD]

Still the best video on the subject!!!! Thank you!

[@madacaphoto]

A great option with the elastic. I'm definitely going to try one using this method. Thanks for the video.

[@darkchild57]

madacaphoto Thanks for watching! I hope you do try this, it's pretty simple and elegant way of holding a stack of journals.

[@iEatClayArt]

This was so incredibly helpful. Just the video I've been looking for. I have a blue journal that I want to repurpose and put elastic ties through it so I can stack multiple notebooks in it. Has nice embossed words of affirmation and I'd hate to let it go if I don't have too.

[@eponacraft8583]

Excellent video! It's so easy that even I can follow it. Thank you for sharing!

[@darkchild57]

Thank you! I hope you make one yourself:) Thank you for watching my humble video.

[@fryskediva]

Thanx for these easy instructions; certainly going to have a go at making one myself now !

[@darkchild57]

Welcome! Thanks for watching my vid! I hope your journal cover turns out well:)

[@fryskediva]

darkchild57 I going to try to make cover using a pizza box as I don't have any leather on hand.

[@darkchild57]

Try a local fabric store. I've found that they may carry faux leather:) I've made some in the past with that material.

[@fryskediva]

Hi there darkchild57 ! Our local fabric store doesn't have leather would you believe. So I had to be creative; using a pizzabox ! Covered it with tissuepaper, several layers of acrylic paint in different colors and a load of glue to make it more flexible. Reinforced the spine with eyelets for the holes. I made some pictures but am not sure how to send via Google+. Any ideas ??

[@darkchild57]

Cornelia Dennison That was really creative! Nice work. I would love to see some photos of your finished work! If you have a flickr page you could put them there or make a video and post to KZbin. Aside from that I don't really know how to send photos from google+...I've never tried.

[@mwm9510]

Liked your video, very practical and straightforward, easy to follow. I will make my first cover for my journals so this was helpful.

[@scruffy281]

This video was incredibly informative!! Thank you so much...I love the multiple elastic bands. I am going to do the exact same thing! Your instruction was so clear and helpful. You are very talented! ; )

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) I'm glad the video was helpful and clear! I wish you the best in your own construction!

[@NorwegianKnifeDude]

Very nice! Love how you can have several seperate notebooks in there!

[@sweetalicious49]

Your so talented. I like all your videos. I wish I had your hands but due to my arthritis its difficult to do such art. I will still continue to watch your channel though.

[@darkchild57]

+Loretta Richard Thank you:) I'm sorry to hear of your arthritis. I appreciate you following my videos! I know I don't make too many vids these days but I'll continue to put them out when I can.

[@mattieparker211]

love the soft leather. you made that look so easy.

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! These journal covers are pretty simple to make, much easier than a full on sewn book:)

[@jlhyndman]

Excellent tutorial and just what I was looking for. TFS!

[@mickscrafts]

Perfect, I can do this. Quick and easy. Thank you so much!

[@jbarlope]

Excellent video. Clear simple and useful. Congratulation.

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it:)

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) Glad you like the vid! I'm going to be making a few more of these in different sizes and probably another in the same size just so I can go with a different color some days.

[@darkchild57]

I picked up my leather pieces from Tandy. They have an online store. But it's better to see the material in person though. I just made another one a couple days ago. From leather scraps I found at Tandy's. The piece was 6$ and I already had all the other materials:). Good luck with your journal making and I hope you have fun doing it!

[@deborahtaylor7902]

excellant! just what I was looking to make! thanks!

[@thegoatgirlcr]

Thank you for posting this! If you're ever bored (Ha!), I'd love to see a video of how you sewed your journals and made those folders. Or any links to how you made them, would be great! Thanks again! GG

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) If you go to my channel and check out the DIY video list I have a video of my sewn journals.

[@thegoatgirlcr]

Thanks for responding! Yes, I saw the ones you had, where you hand sew them. However, I think you machine sewed these signatures in this video, but I'm not positive. That looks so much faster and sturdier. I should have been more clear in my above comment, LOL :)

[@darkchild57]

thegoatgirlcr I can assure everything in the video that I made (not including the Moleskine Cahiers) was hand sewn. I don't have a machine capable of doing this. All my leather works are all hand done, which is why it takes me a long time to complete a project.

[@thegoatgirlcr]

darkchild57 Oh, dear. It seems as if I owe you an apology. I sincerely apologize for my assumption that the booklets (just the paper parts) were machine stitched) and I thank you very much for answering all my questions. Wishing you the best :)

[@darkchild57]

No worries:) I am not offended in any way. Thank you for taking the time to watch my videos and commenting!

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

this is cool

[@darkchild57]

Thanks man! I've always stitched the signatures straight into the leather. But after I finish with one I've got to make another. Now I can just swap the books out:)

[@bendiviolet]

This is great! Can't wait to try it out. Now to track down the perfect piece of leather

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! I wish you great results with your cover!

[@lindadechow2212]

This is wonderful, thank you so much. I enjoyed your video and will share this. You gave great binding instructions.

[@darkchild57]

You are too kind! I'm happy to share this, thank you for watching my video:)

[@Thedon191]

good talents man! I was hoping if you could please show us how you do the steching to hold the paper like on your recent journals thanks!

[@MisterLaForce]

Thanks for the vid, will try to do one myself!

[@cazyoung5887]

Absolutely love this I can only hope I can make one tfs x

[@michellemurray1600]

Great job!!!! thank you for sharing!!!😎

[@Andeana13]

Excellent thank you 👍

[@darkchild57]

You're welcome and thank you for watching my video!

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! This leather isn't too bad. I've actually washed a piece of this same leather a few times to give it a stiffer feel.

[@BrandochGarage]

Nice. Looks great.

[@angiepope6517]

You show the Best way to string these! Thanks I actually have a Bound Journal now. Some one asked about inserts.... There are Hundreds of videos How to Make and Decorate your Midori Inserts. NAMASTÈ

[@darkchild57]

+Angie Pope Thanks! Awesome, I hope you enjoy your journal!

[@NeilMonday]

Great video. Very clear instructions. Thanks so much!

[@darkchild57]

Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful:)

[@darkchild57]

Lol, thanks man! I have some eclectic tastes:). I'm not too good with leather but I have made plenty of journals. I've done long stitch, coptic, Japanese stab bind, saddle (I think) and these refillable journals.

[@plumsystar]

Wonderful. Would love to see your take on a tutorial for the same notebook made with a more easy to find material, example: cardboard or vinyl.

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) For cardboard or vinyl the same technique could probably be used. I've made a journal with cardboard before but it was sewn in a Medieval Link stitch, it worked quite well!

[@BDunn]

Great Tutorial!!

[@CoolCraftyCreations]

Pocketfullofvintage referred your channel to me to learn how she did hers. I love it! Now to go by some leather and let go of the fear. Lol

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! Definitely give this a try:) It's a very fun project and the results will last a lifetime.

[@nellynazario6055]

Thank you! I was looking for this exact video

[@Tanahmera]

That was awesome thank you

[@darkchild57]

Nice upgrades to your project!

[@swede_pea]

Great video!!

[@darkchild57]

Thank you!

[@corneliosantibanez8539]

Sweet and simple!

[@SarahJaneBrooker]

This is awesome - thank you for sharing x

[@Everywhere2]

Brilliant!

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:)

[@DatabaseDesigns4U]

I love this! Thank you for sharing. :)

[@darkchild57]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching!

[@darkchild57]

I hate to tell you this but I picked up my piece of leather in store a couple years ago. I had so much left over that I've made 4 journals already and I still have that big piece that you see in the video. To be honest I don't really know which piece it was. Plus all their stock are going to look different. I assume there is no similar leather company near you? The leather that I have made journals in have varied, usually middle weight, 3-4oz, 3-4mm thickness. I'll PM you.

[@TheOriginalStevenH]

It was a great and helpfull review. I would suggest using a thicker piece of leather next time.

[@reggiedoan2471]

Thanks, lad. Helpful. Making one for myself now.

[@darkchild57]

You're most welcome!

[@nicelizabeth8008]

Is it at all possible to make a leather bound journal refillable? I’ve recently purchased one, it’s a beautiful leather one with a logo I love, but it’s not refillable, it looked to be at the time but it’s sadly not. Is there a way to make it if I can somehow remove the pages?

[@nandishhegde9025]

Try making this with a faux leather first if you like the design and how it works, get your hands on the journal

[@HalfLife2Beta]

very nice video man, I'll try to make one, just gotta figure out where I could buy the leather

[@gloschurman8775]

I love the way you've put the elastic through so it can be more flexible. I do have a question though. You are showing 3 verticle elastics, but what if you want to have more - would you just do more holes at top and bottom? I'm making my own inserts and will probably end up with 5 or 6 seperate folios, but I would like to put them all into the cover at one time. Would love to receive your input on this question - thanks gloria

[@rvrwolfen]

Thanks...simplicity itself.

[@ariamcfiction]

you're awesome (y) got new idea for my notes "problems" so yeah thanks for sharing. :)

[@darkchild57]

Thank you! You're too kind! Appreciate you watching my humble video.

[@victoriajones6609]

Can someone help what type of leather is he using and where can I get it can not find any anywhere :(

[@WahidFayumzadah]

Very nice video. But, what do you guys use your notebooks for ? I'm not an adeventurer and dont have like important things to write down... I just like to have them because I think they look nice haha, and I love leathery stuff ^^.

[@darkchild57]

I use mine for everything. Jotting down notes at a meeting, random thoughts throughout my day, appointments... I don't necessarily have my journal in any order, it's quite messy lol. But I'm with you, I do love having journals around even if I don't use them.

[@WahidFayumzadah]

Aaaah awesome, I thought that it might be waste or weird / silly, but, firs I'll have to find me some leather :P looking forward to it tho, and I will be making some sort of order in it :P Like Thought on these pages, Weird dreams on those and so on ^^

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) Glad you like the tutorial!

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) Are you referring to the tooling on some of my newer journals? Like the rose? Sorry, not too sure what "steching" means.

[@RhomanysRealm]

Can you tell me please, how did you seal the end of your nylon cord to stop it fraying? With a lighter?

[@boomartin3495]

Thanks so much!

[@MsMeyia]

Fantastic! Thank you so being so clear and concise... Any chance you know how to add a fourth notebook? Would I just simple add another hole? (top and bottom) Thanks x

[@darkchild57]

+Jessica Partridge I have another video on adding more capacity. Go to my Channel, click on Playlist and then DIY. There should be a video titled High Capacity Travel Journal. There are many methods to adding that extra capacity but my method does not involve putting a rubber band around your notebooks.

[@MsMeyia]

Thank you!!

[@zeeet]

That was freaking amazing. Searching all over the Internet i wasn't able to find the perfect journal - i think I'll just make one. Though ill make me with a vertical stretch closure. Thanks for your tutorial!! Also, what is your reason for using refillable journals? What is the benefit? (as opposed to just buying one with pages glued into it)

[@darkchild57]

I was the same, I no longer buy journals now, if I'm bored with the cover or journal I will just make another. I like refillable journals because I can either make the booklets myself or buy notebooks such as Field Notes or Moleskine Cahiers... Plus the leather cover will age beautifully with time. So by just refilling the cover you get to use the same journal over and over. The notebooks get dated and filed away and a new refills take it's place. I have couple dangling charms on my current handmade journal, those are always fun. Happy Crafting!

[@yupyup1562]

Great job. I've never seen the elastic threaded like that. What do you do with the tails? Maybe put a couple beads on or something.

[@darkchild57]

Thanks! I usually just tie up the ends and it makes a nice way of quickly pulling the closure off. Or if you don't want the excess you could thread the inner elastic, tie it off inside the cover and then using a second piece of elastic thread a loop from the inside to the outside and it will simply be a loop, no excess. I've also tied charms to the end of the closure as well.

[@yupyup1562]

darkchild57 Ok, great ideas. Thank you. I am currently shopping for the leather and supplies to make one. Should be a fun project.

[@RhomanysRealm]

Thank you! Worked a treat :)

[@ARTnDaCityCreations]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! ~Kay

[@darkchild57]

Very welcome! Thank you for watching my video!

[@kisiwa82]

Thanks for the inspiration. Made one with hard covers instead of leather:

[@nfc598]

very nice, sir.

[@darkchild57]

+Neon F.C. Thank you:)

[@MyKatylove]

holy shit man! you are very talented!

[@darkchild57]

Why thank you:) You're too kind!

[@pastrpat]

great, I will be making one of those

[@darkchild57]

Thank you!

[@darkchild57]

Yes, that's exactly how I seal the ends!

[@bridgettedunagan2873]

Can you tell me what kind of elastic you used. I noticed there are several kind on line

[@HalfLife2Beta]

can you link me the leather you used? Because I'm lost on their website, thanks in advance

[@charingcross6331]

Thank you, very helpful!

[@darkchild57]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching:)

[@darkchild57]

Thanks!

[@AnthonyDayrrTV]

can u tell me what kind of string is that and also what kind of leather is it? where can i buy that leather? i would love to make my daughter a journal

[@darkchild57]

Sure, the elastic cord is from a company called Dritz and you can get that from a crafts store such as JoAnn Fabric or Amazon and I get my leather from Tandy Leather Company, they are online and they have stores in some states.

[@AnthonyDayrrTV]

darkchild57 thank u very much

[@nickangel2217]

Do you have a video that shows you how to make the notebook's that go inside

[@darkchild57]

Nick Angel Hi, I don't have a video of that, sorry. I can make a tutorial on that in the future when I free up my schedule a bit. But in a nutshell it's a bunch of paper that has been cut down to a specific size, folded in half along with a card stock cover and then saddle stitched together right down the middle. There are probably a few tutorials on YT that will demonstrate this.

[@Filibb1]

great tutorial, but how's that moleskine called? :D

[@My70thYear]

How would you add a bookmark to that?

[@darkchild57]

Lol! Stewart ain't got nuthin on me!!! J/K. Thanks dude!

[@racerx1326]

Where can Buy full green leather and the cord from?

[@moniekverhaar]

beautiful!!!! Thx !!

[@RivkasNinjaHCS]

If you dont have leather use a placemat they can be bought at dollartree and its cheap and a similar quality

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:)

[@tyruk]

What type of leather is this?

[@ramos828]

can anyone tell me what type of cord that is or does it not matter

[@darkchild57]

I am using 1-2mm elastic cord from a craft store.

[@ramos828]

Omg thank you

[@designsbycookie]

when you say you 'made your own signatures' - what are they?

[@darkchild57]

Signatures are the individual books. I have a bad habit of referring to them with that term. I should have just said books. Signatures I think are technically several sheets of paper folded together (usually about 5-8 sheets) to create a "signature". The combined with other signatures are then sewn together to create a book.

[@designsbycookie]

ah I see thanks :) I wondered if you'd designed your own planning sheets in word, for example, and then printed them

[@darkchild57]

Angi Gammie I haven't done planning sheets but I have done calendars, lined pages and grid pages before, but mostly my books are unlined.

[@designsbycookie]

many thanks :)

[@darkchild57]

@Glo Schurman Hi, sorry your comment did not give me the 'reply' option. I'll send you a PM as well. To make a larger capacity cover you can do it with a couple methods, the first way would be the "rubberband" mod that is common on the Midori style books. The other would be to make more holes, but the draw back is how to finish the elastic after you've sewn everything through. You could go back through the holes until both end pieces meet in the middle and just tie it off. I have not made one with more yet. If you do this make sure to measure out a thicker spine to compensate for the extra book capacity. I hope this helps, let me know how it turns out:) Thanks for watching my humble video!

[@gloschurman8775]

Just wanted to let you know, my journal cover worked out great. I used the rubberband method, and could fit 5 notebooks, plus I made a little pocket folder and it fit also. Thanks so much for your help

[@darkchild57]

Glo Schurman That's great! I personally like the rubberband method, it gives a nice chaotic but organized look to your journals. The pocket folder is a wonderful idea! I've made a few of those myself along with an envelope insert towards the back cover.

[@sheliafrench7857]

awesome

[@darkchild57]

Thank you:) Appreciate you watching my video.

[@cristianachille4623]

What's the measure of your leather cover ? I'm following your tutorial and i'd like to use Moeksine Cahier aswell

[@darkchild57]

Hi! I just took the measurements and it came out as 11in x 8.5in.

[@cristianachille4623]

darkchild57 Thank you so much!

[@darkchild57]

I don't remember the complete details but I just know it's 3mm cowhide. Pre-dyed and treated.

[@Puglifemama101]

Where do you buy the string ? And how thick ?

[@darkchild57]

I bought mine at Joann Fabric, they are about 2mm thick.

[@vanderdo100]

Wher did you get the leather? That's the only problem for avg joe or Jane making this.

[@darkchild57]

I picked mine up at Tandy Leather. They do online ordering.

[@bradhill896]

Where did you get the elastic?

[@darkchild57]

Hi, I picked up the elastic from Jo Ann Fabrics and I've found them on Amazon as well.