💡I Have an Idea...A New Altered Composition Book

[@dees.8713]

Love your style! Thanks for the fun ideas for composition notebooks❤

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thanks so much 😊 You are so welcome! Be well 🕊️

[@ChattylaineCreates]

I think book pages are so much more robust but 'use what you have' works great!! I love to use old book covers then fill it with lots of different types of pages for my type of journalling. I'm sure your journal will really stand up to whatever you throw at it Elizabeth.... 😁😁😁💖 Take care now xx

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Elaine!! I so wish I could find thick grid or lined paper for use in my journals, but I do enjoy using up what I have; no point in letting supplies sit and go to waste :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@relaxcutglue]

OMG I LOVED THIS VIDEO!!! Elle I just love you...you have continued to inspire me year after year. It was so fun to see the evolution of your journals. Composition Books are so fun, its amazing what you can do with them. Great video my friend!! XoXoXo

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Nicole and for your sweet words!! Comp books are so versatile and it's a bonus that they are inexpensive and readily available here. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@Noo-h9n]

Love your idea.. with two small kids and don’t find a lot of time to journal. So on Friday night I get them to sleep early and I sleep late doing my journal. Or sometimes I carry my journal with me and when we stop by Menards I stay in the car and star my journal. It can be hard with 12 hrs of work and two kids. Love your new journal.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Liliana!! I don't know how you do it. I wish I had started journaling when my kids were younger, but I don't know how I would have done it :) Hope you get a break soon, but you are providing such a helpful and important service, and I'm sure it is appreciated. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@kimberlyhoward7896]

Great find! Using up your own stuff and keeping things simple. Those knitting book pages seem pretty tough, which is really good😄! Thank you for sharing your new composition book idea💕. Looking forward to seeing you work in your new creative journal ☺️! Thank you for sharing, take care 💗🤗!

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Kimberly!! The pages have been great to work on :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@kimberlyduncan1053]

I glue ny pages together while I watch tv! Thanks for sharing

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Kimberly!! Great way to get those pages glued :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@rikadehombreux4573]

Wonderful 💖

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thanks 😊 Be we’ll 🕊️

[@nuvoclassic]

Great workaround - I want to try this idea. I've just been stapling or washi tape pages together after drawing an 'X' across the middle with glue stick....

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Glad you enjoyed, hope you give it a go 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@kayjosephineporteous444]

What a awesome idea Elizabeth I have two composition books that are empty an what to do my ideas went out the window using them as 2 monthly journals makes ya keep going everyday, I'm from nz 68yrs old name kk I love junk joirnalling. I also love watching pam @ the paper outpost very inspirational, ideas lots of laughs awesome crafter from, USA. I turned a whole cooking book into different placed pockets following natasha on treasure books from Australia but I've the idea of putting thicker pages from another book an inserting them into comp book great great ideas you have an done. Ok bye c u so kk from nz new zealand. 9ve

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching KK!! Welcome from NZ :) I enjoy Pam and Natasha as well. I really enjoy making junk journals for my creative daily journal, there is just something about making books then filling them with daily memories :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@sapphirerain70]

I’m loving this. I only glue two pages together in my composition book lol. ❤️🦋

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching!! Your books must hold three months then? Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@hawker3293]

"Use what you have!" - so true, Elizabeth! I love this new idea you are sharing here and yes, our jounaling simply needs to adapt to our lives and not vice versa. It is perfectly fine to do elaborate books and so on when you have the time for it, but if you don't - do something different. I love those robust pages in your new journal and am excited to see what you will make out of them. It'll be fabulous, I'm sure! :-) Love, Doris

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Doris!! I've been slowly going through my stuff and organizing and purging. It's great to use up what I've already got :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@debbiev.1311]

Love this idea for your May/June journal!! It's so great to see the modifications you've made as your needs/wants change...TYFS your inspiration!! 💖

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Debbie!! Glad you were inspired :) Yes, if you can't find a journal to fit your needs, make one that does!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@1lawn68]

Just came across your channel, what a great idea. I had to subscribe to see more. Thanks for sharing.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching and subscribing Lisa Ann!! Glad you enjoyed :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@crafterdeidra]

That was a great idea for you to use a book about the same size to use for your journal. Great video as always. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Deidra!! Less cutting when using a book about the same size :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@nancivessells1909]

Good idea. I started gluing the 3 pages together in the composition book like you suggested & decided that was way too much to do so gave that up. This sounds so much easier. Now I will go look for another book like you suggested. The other way was using way too much glue. Thank for this new idea. Hope you are feeling better. Have a blessed weekend.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Glad it was helpful! Hope you’ve had a great weekend as well 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@kirstenbuckhalt5280]

I love love love your art/junk journal

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@sophieb.7765]

superbe ! merci, très inspirant

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching, glad you enjoyed 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@michelleoliver254]

Saw your video ~ this video 🎉 It’s like the breath of fresh air I wasn’t even aware I needed !!! So inspiring and exciting ! Can’t wait to begin. I’m on my way out for new , fresh supplies now !! 😊

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching!! I’m so glad it was helpful for you 😊 Have fun!! Be well 🕊️

[@ReCreationsbyBrooke]

Elle,You are such a baby genius! You’ll find your journaling peace. Maybe your peace is in experimenting! Thank you for sharing and we have got to catch up it’s been too long. XOXO

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Brookie Boo!! Just make sure you don't dunk me in the tub ;) Apparently my something is experimenting, LOL. Hoping to catch up soon too!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@KelelahsPreciousOnes]

Your journals are so beautiful, thank you so much for sharing!

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@marilyntorsch3970]

Enjoyed your new idea! Thank you for sharing 🤗

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Marilyn!! Here's to hoping this journal is the ticket :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@anitamorrison6708]

Great idea! Will enjoy watching how it works for you.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Anita!! Hoping this one works out :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@myrnamilligan905]

Brilliant! Thanks for the great idea!

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

You are so welcome! Be well 🕊️

[@janetoverbey7069]

I’m such a fan of your 2015 style!! Love the more flat style you do. Hope to do washi edges sometime on my note book. It looks so cool. Miss you at the Fauxbonichi group. You were my first inspiration.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Janet!! I'm so pleased that you were inspired :) I miss the group, but I no longer do what is considered a "fauxbonichi" anymore by the groups standards. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@dianethompson8841]

Love it Elizabeth. Going back to your roots and developing what makes life easier and happier is a good thing! xoxo Di from Arkansas

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Diane!! Yes, one's gotta do what one's gotta do :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@frannypannyatpawsnpaints]

Great idea! Thank you for sharing. Can't wait to see how it works for you

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Carolyn!! Here's to hoping this one works :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@MelodiMade]

Very inspiring!! Thank you for sharing your though process!!💓💓💓

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Melodi!! Hoping this one works out well :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Love it! I love how your journals keep evolving and changing 💗

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Allison!! One of these days, I will make the perfect journal...LOL. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@aliciamott1396]

This is beautiful

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Alicia!! Glad you enjoyed :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@dianadoub2970]

Hello from Florida! New sub, 💕 love your style. Thank you for the inspiration!! 😊

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Hello there Diana and welcome, thank you for watching!! Glad you enjoy :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@DishkittyStudio]

I love this! I'm glad you found a solution that will work for you, and I CAN'T WAIT to see what you create with it. ❤❤❤

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Trish!! Here's to hoping this one is the charm :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@brookematthews4431]

Thank you so much. I have been going crazy trying to find a way to save time because I work also and have 2 kids and havnt jad enough time to journal. This is going to help so much. Thank you

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Brooke!! Glad the video was helpful; hope you give it a go :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@cherbowman]

Terrific idea! Can’t wait to watch the process!💕

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Cheryl!! Hope this one is the charm :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@jeanneturner3968]

I'm two years late to the party>>>>But here none-the-less! New to this whole process.... and like a sponge soaking all the wonderful, GENIOUS ideas up!!!! IDK about kicking butt, however, I am taking names and subscribing, and following, and liking, and, and, and, ;@)

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching and welcome!! This community is awesome 🤩 Be well 🕊️

[@claratabah729]

hi do you have a tutorial for pocketing your page? making a pocket out of it? thank you , love your journals and how colorful

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching!! I do not have a specific video showing how I make pockets in my journals. I usually make a pocket to go on top of the page just by gluing three sides down and either leaving the top or the side open. HTH 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@pammumaw]

You ideas are always awesome. Love it.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Aww, thanks, and thank you so much for watching Pam!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@rainbowgryphon]

Cool idea, lovely Elizabeth! :) I was inspired by your video on Lynda Barry's book "Syllabus" to check it out of the library. She inspired me to take the "ceremony" out of journaling. I have a stack of composition books, so for the past couple of months, I've been using one as is (no gluing of pages) for my journaling. I found that college-ruled comp books have better paper; for instance, marker doesn't bleed through while it does with wide-ruled comp books. I do a lot of writing (3 pages a day, on average), and probably one-half to one page a day of visuals (collage, doodling, and occasionally junk journaling with pockets, belly bands, flip outs, etc.). I don't use wet media, just crayons, colored pencils, gel pens, markers, and ballpoint pens. Of course I also use washi tape and stickers. What I've found is that the college-ruled comp books can handle more than I thought. Obviously junk journal elements are heavier than the paper, but if you turn the page carefully, they won't tear the page. I will do stuff with paint but on paper that can handle it and add it in a pocket or glue it in. I'm really enjoying simplifying my journaling in this way. :)

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching!! I'm thrilled that you have found something that works for you :) Interesting about the college ruled comp books, I'll have to check them out, thanks for sharing that!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@secretsquirrelaimee2212]

Love it, elle! Im already thinking about next years planner system and struggling with the wants and needs of it. 😂❤❤❤

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Aimee!! This was a fun book to work in 😊 Be well, Elizabeth

[@marilyn.healey]

I love this so much, Elizabeth! 🥰

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Marilyn!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@Momof6plansit]

Totally doing this for July! I was already journaling in a comp book and just did the 3page gluing method for the rest of the book and it ended up being exactly what I need for the rest of May and June so for July I will be hitting up Goodwill for a book to do this with! Thanks!

[@Momof6plansit]

Oh- question - in your fauxbonichis did you use colored pencil over the writing or write over the colored pencil that you used to color the pages in? If you wrote over the colored pencils, what pens did you use just for the journaling (not necessarily the big lettering)?

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Tricia!! I do love my old books, but this is a great way to forgo all the gluing :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

In my older Fauxbonichis I used to do all my writing with a flair pen, then I would go back right over top and color in with a colored pencil. If you try to write over pencil or crayon, it is too waxy and will ruin your pens. HTH Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@debbiesavage7107]

Genius!

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Aww, thanks, and thank you so much for watching Debbie!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@janesmith5414]

I have that same knitting book❤

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Cool!! Be well 🕊️

[@jacquelinecrawford3297]

I do the same thing. Still hunting for the perfect journal.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Jacqueline, hope you are well!! Hope you find your perfect journal :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@paulasaraivajournal]

Só true where is our journal peace right kkkkk love your videos 😘

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Paula!! Maybe this will be the one :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@ClaudyaRG]

Oh my! Love your books. So cool. At 3:12 how do you did the spine? I mean, you sew the pages like signatures? Have a video explain this? Forgive me, I am a newbie at composition books and junk journals. ❤

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Please forgive my tardy response, thank you so much for watching Claudya!! Here's a video about putting the cover together with an extended spine, it's also the second link in the description box as to how I make my journals: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHu2qK2MlMd9jKM HTH :) Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@ClaudyaRG]

@@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth Thanks again dear ❤

[@mariapatriciachavez2109]

So 🥰 cute...

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Maria!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@foxyroxy392]

I watched your video 3 times because I kept getting distracted 😁

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching and for your persistence!! Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@annlopez-diehl89]

I am a newbie to your channel. In making a journal but only using the front and back covering and spine (a compositiion book without any pages) what if we don't have any (jackets). What do we use then ?

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Ann!! Good for you for making your own journal. I'm not sure what "jackets" are, if you could explain, I'd be happy to help if I can. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@jacqueevelyn6411]

I love your ideas. thank you for sharing. One problem i have is bleeding or i,printing onto the opposite page. Do you mod pog over the top even if it is pva glue watered down, or something else or nothing ? :)

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Jacque!! I rarely have a problem with bleed through other than sharpies, and I don't put anything over my pages. I make sure the paper I use is doubled up, glued together or the paper is thick enough, I like the latter best. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@mariannastefanie]

What is the point of a composition notebook at this point though? Just use any cover if you're going to use random pages. It's not a composition notebook anymore if you take all the papers out

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Good question, and thank you for watching!! I use composition books in many ways, this particular time, I just used the cover. I enjoy the thick cardboard cover, which is quite sturdy and holds up over the years. I also enjoy the size of a composition notebook. I suppose one might call this an altered book as the title implies, or it’s simply a junk journal or even a regular, old handmade journal 😊 Be well, Elizabeth

[@grannyjan6460]

Where do you get the stuff on them?

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching!! Not sure what you are referring to, but if it’s the images, I get them from all over: mail, magazines, old books, things in my stash etc. HTH 😊 Be well, Elizabeth

[@Coffeelover_5]

Did you glue in the pages then?

[@Coffeelover_5]

As into the cover

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you so much for watching Dorie!! I sewed the signatures in using the 3-hole pamphlet stitch. There is a permanent link in the description of my videos that shows how I sew in signatures if you want to see that. Hope that helps. Be safe and be well, Elizabeth

[@Coffeelover_5]

@@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth it does thank you. I don’t know how to sew so not sure if I can do this one

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

@@Coffeelover_5 Trust me...you can sew, just follow along with the linked video and it is easy peasy!! Hope you try it out :)

[@nylirama]

Instead of gluing pages together, why not buy a multi media notebook? I understand that the process is as important. It's just that most of this video is about how annoying and time consuming gluing 3 pages together. 🤷‍♀️

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Thank you for watching!! Yes, the process is important. I would say that one of my goals besides finding out how to make a journal that suits my life and time constraints at the time is using what I already have on hand. I have many materials bought over decades that need to be used up. I try not to buy anything new for my journal making. Hope that makes sense 😊 Be well 🕊️

[@Caramelgreeneyes]

I totally agree with you. I believe you can invest in a better notebook and stop wasting time gluing paper. If you want “an interesting process “ try binding your own notebook using nice paper since the beginning.

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

@Caramelgreeneyes Thank you so much for watching!! These days I do bind my own journals out of materials I have on hand. Years ago when I was starting out with the Fauxbonichi, I was using what I had. At the time, that was comp books and glue. Yes, it was time consuming and annoying to glue all the pages together, but it gave me the desired outcome without spending money. I do enjoy binding my own books now, because I mainly use handmade journals to document my life; I no longer use/make the Fauxbonichi. Be well 🕊️

[@aliciamott1396]

Forgive me if this is improper on Instagram

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

You are certainly forgiven, found you and followed!!