Tutorial #5: Mini Watercolor Journal | Kettle Stitch and Hardbound Cover Bookbinding

Hope this inspire you to make your own watercolor journal.
Materials used:
- Fabriano Artistico 300gsm Cold Pressed
- Nylon Thread
- Big Needle
- Elmer's Glue
- Chipboard
- Pair of scissors
- Flat Brush (optional for the glue)
- Wrapping Paper
- Daiso Scoring Tool
- Push Pin
- Bookstand
- Paper clips and clamps
I am not good in sewing so please understand that this is the best and easiest way for me. You will notice the improvement of the output from my 1st try in making my own watercolor journal.
If you have questions and clarifications, feel free to comment below and I will reply soonest :) Would also appreciate it if you can share this to your friends if you find this helpful and informative. Handmade is love! :)
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IG: / lettersofmeeya
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#LettersofMeeya #KettleStitch #WatercolorJournal

[@maineiacts]

ADORABLE!!!!! I can't wait to use this method !! You do such dainty, detailed work! I Live very miniature art!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! Wonderful close up!! Better than most I've seen do that stitch! 👍📚 🤗💗💐🙋🏻‍♀️ - Mindi in Iowa

[@windywednesday4166]

Thank you so much for making this! Very straightforward and clear instructions... I think I can do this!

[@ambrosejayadass8212]

Everyone - I can't wait to make this Me - wondering how to draw in such a mini sketchbook

[@recoveringsoul755]

how to watercolor paint, but I'm sure you can make it any size you want

[@catherinefox7832]

Lots of wonderful tutorials here on utube. Start simple and practice before using the book

[@Jemmyjo]

My daughter does BEAUTIFUL pictures of flowers in mini books

[@donnacarraway9182]

Thank you! I thought that you did an excellent job of showing the stitching on the spine! Very clear! The only question I have is if you don’t lay the cover and first or last page out flat when you glue on the final inside cover papers will you be able to fully open the book? Once, I didn’t open them fully and it seems like I had trouble opening. You can also glue the cover paper only to the front/back cover and not to the inside pages at all and that works well. I really love little books! They are so cute! Thank you for sharing such a great way to sew the pages together!!😊😊

[@saraparker184]

how do you get your dog to stand still?

[@laqueendumbgamer5171]

Very simple, inexpensive, and straightforward!! Thank you for sharing your technique! I’m inspired to make my own version of a mini journal now.

[@BelindaShort]

Really lovely, though I will say that I'd refrain from using school glue to attach your final papers, because it is not waterproof and if you get that paper wet with watercolor you may end up releasing the adhesive. I'd use regular PVA or yes paste

[@harleenkauralang]

Very well explained. I have seen plenty of videos about this stitching but none of them explained it so perfectly and easily. Thank you for such videos. 💚

[@craigsphillip]

Mostly a very informative and enjoyable tutorial that I can’t wait to do for my own project. I did find the fur covering on your workspace a bit disconcerting and distracting as the video progressed. It made no sense, like watching somebody who is making a beautiful dessert on a dirt floor - odd, inappropriate work surface, and confusing. In the end I’m glad you didn’t smear glue on the fur, inadvertently see it to the binding, or had any other mishap with it. Thank you for the otherwise excellent tutorial!

[@sharonkeller7397]

Fun tutorial but why fur lol!?! Very strange work space! 😅

[@glendaainsworth5221]

I agree. The fur is distracting. I had to completely ignore it because I wanted it see the process.

[@MsArtistwannabe]

Fabulous tutorial for a great tiny, chunky book. Thank you.

[@lmdlinda1]

love this! i'm thru the glue binding so far, just need to do the cover now! so special to make a 'book'!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ty ty ty!

[@mohammedaiyub8040]

👌 🆗️

[@arpitasingh7673]

Same😂

[@ashwinipatil1549]

Thank you so much for sharing this detailed video.. i am going to try it soon...

[@corymcname2647]

Very informative video and I’ll definitely make this journal! Ditch the furry rug you don’t need it. Thanks for sharing your tips!! 🥰

[@Jemmyjo]

😣

[@emorebelle]

I agree about the fur rug. It's more annoying than anything.

[@merizarustia4077]

Sobrang detalyado ng tutorial. Mabusisi ang pagkakagawa, nakakabilib! Nice video! :)

[@psycheeangelikad.padilla6683]

Just discovered your instagram last week and saw this. Glad to find the full version here on youtube 😻💖 its pretty!!!

[@Lilian2391]

So perfect...love your art, congratulations from Guatemala 🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@lindascott5559]

Yes yes yes I could see how to sew 🪡🧵 😆 bind the book 📖 journal 📓 and I loved it 🥰 thank you so much for sharing a clear and precise tutorial!!!! 🌹❤️💯

[@prithabiswas5329]

very nice....easy to make, thanks for sharing

[@sherryroberts7716]

Really cute! Wondering why you are working on fur? Isn't that capable of distorting your alignment and getting fibers in your glue? I'm new at this so don't know the reason, please share! And thanks for doing this for us!

[@lidiadeolopes]

Bem explicado a forma de fazer um mini livro, só não entendi porque trabalhar em cima de pelos. Desnecessário.

[@Dulceknits]

Thank you so much for your very clear and easy to follow tutorial. Excellent and I will be making one soon🥰

[@samadhithilakarathne-lm4uh]

Great and perfect 😊thanks lots for your creative mind!!

[@EsMomSkates]

Thank you so much! Very easy to understand tutorial! I'm wondering if that is just regular paper you glued to the binding (at 11:10). I'm up to this step and I want to make sure I use the right material. Thanks!

[@feiabergsma6143]

So talentend and beautiful work. I learned a lot from you.Thank you for sharing

[@catherinefox7832]

Beautiful, clear, simple instructions thank you so much. Fur mat pretty but distracting as you keep looking at it and asking Why 😂

[@seethalaxmipalkumar]

OmG this is extremely doable and beautiful. I Love this😍

[@lizzydornfeld6889]

I tried making this but when I was sewing, my pages were all uneven. How do I fix this? Can I cut the pages or will it fall apart?

[@MixedMediaArtByTrina]

Love these! This was exactly the simple binding process I was looking for. Thanks! 🤩

[@ind_9631]

I have learned how to bind books! In the printing school, my profession was called Artistic finishing bookbinder :) It was interesting to observe the techniques of making a miniature book. The only criticism is that the edges of the book covers are not so big. Thanks for the video :)

[@mastersadvocate]

I just learned how to do the Kettle Stitch! I love making books, and this video has taught me another cool way to make one! Thanks so much, Meeya! Stay safe! ~Janet in Canada

[@DeniseLR71]

Thank you so much for your tutorial! I made mine a little different and put fabric on the cover. Fun to make and is a great little scrapbook made in the size i chose for my travel watercolour kit! Thanks so much!

[@lorrainemanning3809]

Such a great idea for using up scraps of watercolour paper. Thank you for sharing. Will give this a try 💕📖

[@mariahope2932]

Excellent. Just made one. So cute. Thank you

[@mdzainal8514]

It's really soo much cute and I'm sure gonna make it❤️❤️

[@lynnblair9320]

Thank you for the wonderful tutorial! I appreciate the time you took to share the information.

[@susandorry6149]

I love this and like many here I can't wait to make this, WOW. Thank you

[@spartanAXA]

This is the easiest and most elaborative hand nade journal making tutorial on KZbin. Thank you so much for this, I'll make this for my best friend. It's her birthday this month and she loves tiny art diaries.

[@frieda2957]

Die Musik ist irgendwann wirklich nervig, aber es ist ein hübsches kleines Buch. Ich frage mich aber, warum bastelst du auf ein Fell ?? Das scheint mir sehr ungeeignet zu sein und wenn da mal Kleber drauf kommt kann man es doch auch nicht mehr säubern😬🙁 mir wäre das echt lästig. Welches Papier nimmst du für die innenblätter? Das schaut echt gut aus.

[@Maggita2015]

Oh I cannot wait to make one like this ! They are adorable 😍

[@KathleenRenninger]

Excellent video! This is not only a cute and practical use for scrap watercolor paper, but an easy introduction to book binding. Thanks for the close-ups on the stitches.

[@znycelondon5313]

Beautiful projects…….and you work on a fur rug😳……….👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🥰

[@sugarplum8888]

Super cute! 😍

[@jishnakapadia]

Beautiful... Thank you for sharing 😊

[@jl4643]

Does it lie flat when open?

[@shamimmashayekhi]

Thank you! It was great!😍

[@marydeevaldez51]

Thank you so much for showing us this. Especially sewing in the spine. Now I understand clearly how to do it. What a blessing. Love the journal and the music too.

[@tracyweiss2594]

The fur is just wrong! Horrible work surface! Otherwise, great video!

[@deekang6244]

Except for the music

[@amyboucher9760]

I love this book. I'm going to make one this week. Just getting a few things I need. What kind of nylon thread did you use? Is it waxed? Bonded? Great job explaining the process!

[@maryamyasin7324]

Waxed thread would be a good choice to use if your making a book.

[@tubtoaster4095]

@@maryamyasin7324 agreed

[@nini6313]

Halaaa ang cute😍 gusto ko rin gumawa kaya lang wala pa kong watercolor paper😂 Thank you po sa tutorial!🥰

[@ThePurpleFlower]

This is LOVELY! Such detailed and clear steps. Thank you! What is that wrapping paper you used?

[@수진-e3r4f]

The explanation was kind and detailed, so it was really nice Thank you 💕

[@MsGullefjun]

*running to make my own!!* THANKS 🎉🙏🏼

[@mytinylittletoe913]

Really well explained with utmost perfection

[@recipePH]

Thank you po for sharing. Your videos are very interesting. Yan po bonding moment namin ng mga kids ko at marami kaming natutunan. Sana makapasyal din po kayo sa kusina namin at maka inspire too. Thank you po.

[@AnotherBrainArt]

This was wonderful! I made my first one today. :)

[@meliB32]

This is the perfect size for a mini journal imo. The ones smaller than this are too tiny for me but this size is perfect! Tfs ♡

[@bhanani5480]

Super super cute, I especially love the airmail paper you used to cover your books, can you please list where you purchased from. I would be inspired to make one if I was good at painting, which are really lovely by the way ❤

[@jazzmoos5382]

Really cute idea. I think I’ll use fabric for the cover though. It can take more abuse, and less likely to tear or show wrinkles. Thank you for sharing your techniques!

[@sharynr4067]

This is awesome! I love it and going to make some. Thank you

[@juliariverodepina2139]

Excellent job 🎉 💝 from Canada 🇨🇦

[@StellasScrappyCrafts]

Great video. Love the way the binding is done. From Oz.

[@39Bosski]

Ok, wow. This is just a wonderful little book. Also, I think this is one of the best bookbinding videos I've ever watched. I actually understand the Kettl Stich finally! Cannot wait to make a few of these for myself in different sizes!

[@rowenaoverton4568]

Lovely - thank you 🌸

[@chechedoodles]

Thank you po sa tutorial.. ❤️❤️❤️

[@lettersofmeeya]

Hope you learned something from it 😉

[@cynthiadittoe5664]

What a great tutorial!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@kathyb5740]

I can't wait to make this! Thankyou for sharing this.

[@kathryndohring5481]

Beautiful work! Thank you so much for posting this!

[@ranijadhav3268]

Which paper do you use for the cover ❤️❤️❤️

[@BunnyLang]

How kind of you to share your process with so much detail. Thank you. These are absolutely beautiful. Blessings to you. XO B.

[@yuritemiraev2759]

Thanks for the quality tutorial. And great drawings. :) "Imperfection is a form of freedom" was an unexpected and a relatable quote.

[@janean3773]

Fantastic! What kind of cardboard or where do you find some this thick? Thank you!

[@BellaLu26]

It's chipboard. You can buy it or you can grab an old spiral notebook and use the thick cardboard in the back. Same thing

[@pastichehaus]

I absolutely love this. ❤ I’m definitely going to try this in the near future.

[@rosemaryortega9879]

Love it!!! Thx :-)

[@marialove2981]

I made one of these last week using a different tutorial and I struggled with it and didn’t think I’d make another. But after watching your video, I’m encouraged and will make another one. Thanks for sharing your skill.

[@shreyaverma7871]

It's adorable 😍

[@sharoynlivingston5256]

I love this! I think I will make one with card stock for favorite verses. Thanks for sharing!

[@kreativbienchen7828]

very beautiful great hanmade books….Thanks for shwing us…..I‘mso glade tofind you….

[@alexandrapedroza2445]

ang satisfying haha! thank you ate meeyaa for this tutorial

[@royalg6722]

So cute thanks for sharing

[@Kathi-wc3ix]

White thread, whitish paper, showing steps how to sew whitish paper, with white thread on an uneven furry textured white rug. Yeh, that makes sense. One would assume you would want as many people as possible to really see what you’re doing?.. I guess not.😕

[@kksrivastava3838]

How many pages in this

[@Jemmyjo]

This really is the best tutorial I have seen. I have been putting videos together, using some of this and that. I really like the stitch on the binding. Thank you. I love the finish on the inside, my ocd would have had a heyday!

[@britbrat4559]

I cant stand holes..specially in my good paper so i use masking fluid to bind my books...i got the idea from glue bindings and paper blocks..eventually i have to add stabilty by gluing the sheets using fabic tape...masking fluid isnt long lasting...but i have gorgeous two page spreads because i dont put holes in my paper

[@vanessa3542]

Thank you for the tutorial! I just finished making my sketchbook

[@foreverneutrals]

This is the cutest watercolor sketchbook I have ever seen 😍😍😍😍

[@aseerahmad3654]

This is literally the best way to make a journal I have seen so far❤️ keep up with the good content 🥰

[@nonetheless3520]

Amazing work

[@kellysturgeon6727]

This seems straight forward. Curious, why do this on a piece of fur? Seems like it would make assembly difficult.

[@hannahwest9891]

Thank you for this fab little vid! I wonder if this would work scaled up to a large format - what do you think? I can't see why not - but then Ive never bound a book before!

[@navya1606]

@Hannah West, I don't think this would work on a larger scale, as you want it done with more holes. You should check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6GuhIJ6qLqgp8k this or kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4CXnHmKhKqbbM0, and make a cover.

[@marlenejones6266]

Yes it would work just fine. You just do more holes. Plenty of people who teach binding books that are larger....9 inch by 6 inch is a normal book size but square 8 x 8 is cool too, one of the ways is called the 3 stitch pamphlet stitch. Go look for sea lemon...she does awesome work

[@hannahwest9891]

@@marlenejones6266 thanks Marlene - I have seen some sea lemon vids - they're really useful too. I haven't taken the plunge on making my first bookbinding project yet, Im still working up to it - and buying lovely paper! I decided to do an A4 size lap-book, with two slightly smaller books inside. I have a made a tiny mock-up which seems to work! Love a long term project!!

[@recoveringsoul755]

@@hannahwest9891 I think to start I might try Sea Lemon's video where she shows several different types of stitches just to see which one I like, and then try something larger. This doesn't look like it would be big enough for watercolor, nor will it really lay flat mostly because it's just too thick. I saw lapbooks on Nik the Booksmiths channel and wow, does that look like a fun project. I need to gather materials and try smaller projects first though.

[@brendadelamora]

Don't like your background music. Too choppy

[@andreeanicoletaradu7581]

You need more likes YOU ARE SOOOOOOO TALENTED

[@reneeadam6102]

I love this kind of mini ! I will do same 😊. Thanks a lot dear ! Kisses ❤❤❤

[@misstick6983]

Super technique, merci.❤ Je vais pouvoir faire ce que je ne trouve pas dans le commerce. Un carnet d'aquarelle avec mes papiers chouchous et... à la taille que je veux. Génial merci ❤

[@marabalorios]

Para álbumes esta genial...!👍👍💝

[@agonistes06]

i desperately want a tiny sketchbook but i have not the heavy thread nor needles to make my own. also, my left arm and hand are stroke paralyzed...

[@fatimarumman5464]

I was wondering if we could use a smaller needle.......can someone help?

[@edzgonzalesyt]

thank you for this mama mee! sobrang helpful❤️ sana po may pa giveaway hahahaha

[@lettersofmeeya]

Hahahahaha salamats, pahingi naman leather 🤣😂 tapos na giveaway, wag ka dyan 😅

[@agnes-catscrap]

Merci beaucoup pour ce tuto tres clair ! C'est magnifique, bravo !😮

[@catherinemckinney4091]

I can't understand working on a faux fur surface. Each to his own I guess

[@Leena-jt8cm]

How did you do those deckled edges? Very cute can’t wait to make one for my niece.

[@morningheir]

honestly... how do you make it so perfect?