Hi friends! We're big fans of carrying journals and notebooks over here. Last fall I made this journal and filled it with ideas within a few months! Time for a new journal. This time, I thought it would be fun to make a photo covered design—something super simple with large striking images. These journals make great gifts, because you can customize them for any holiday, friend or family member! 
This is another post from our Canon USA collaboration. We used the Canon Pro-100 printer to print two photos, slightly larger than our journal cover size. We printed a color and black and white photo from my home for the front and back cover of the journal on this huge semi-gloss photo paper. Again, we chose the Pro-100 for the quality of the blacks in the black and white photo. Plus, the size of the printer made it easier to print both photos on one sheet. However, if changed the orientation of the photo, you could definitely make this work with the MG6320.
Supplies needed: A blank journal, 2 printed photos (measure your journal cover and add half an inch to the width and height to get an image that's easy to work with), scissors, fabric, Mod Podge.
Step 1: Cover the front cover with mod Podge, leaving the spine untouched. Adhere your photo to the cover. Allow it to dry completely. Use scissors to trim away the excess so that the photo is flush with the front cover. Repeat with the back cover.
Step 2: To create a flexible, fabric-covered spine, just cut a piece of fabric 3 inches wide (larger if your journal is super thick) and the height of your journal. Use Mod Podge to adhere the fabric to the spine, pressing it into the dips around the spine. Allow it to dry completely.
Here's what the back cover looks like!
Now I'll be carrying this everywhere with me for the next few months, jotting down ideas. 🙂 If you're not currently carrying an idea journal, you should totally make one too!
Have a great day! xo. Elsie
92 Comments
Love this. I’ve done one before with photos, not fabric. Will have to make one soon.
Love this photo covered journal! I’ve been making lots of fabric covered books, but will be trying this one Xx
I need to go home and make this! Such a great place to keep all your ideas and inspiration together!
I love carrying journals around and this is a fab idea! Lovely post.
http://erstwhilefelicity.blogspot.co.uk/
That’s just so lovely!
http://somebodyfromsomewhere.blogspot.com/
Beautiful diy!!http://seasidebeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/opi-skyfall-and-dutch-treats-mini.html
Love it ! Amazing idea !
http://www.thestilettoholic.com
Love from Paris
I love this little DIY & what a perfect gift idea.
Super cute idea! I’ll have to try this out with one of the mini-books I love to use 🙂
http://whiskeybreakfast.blogspot.com
Reminds me of the journals I used to make in high school. Memories! Love it!!
So simple, yet super effective. What a great way to transform a journal from blah to fantastic 🙂
Alex from http://www.polkadottedpixels.com
This is so cute! And looks simple! Love it!
xoxo
Juliette Laura
juliettelaura.blogspot.com
Very cute. I need to make a journal to hoard blog ideas.
That is such a cool journal!
This Looks so beautiful.
This is such a cute idea! I love personalizing things and using journals, so this is the perfect project for me.
Nice! I’ve got a question, though: Maybe I’ve just overlooked it, but what kind of paper did you use? Was it a basic photographic paper or something else? Thanks for sharing!
Great post!
http://www.lam-style.blogspot.com
Love love love! This will be a great end of the school year present for my girls….with a new bag of markers.
Thanks!
Beautiful and simple – my journal is still just plain and black. Looks like a great way to make it prettier!
http://lasaloperie.blogspot.com
I love this…feeling inspired to make my own now! 🙂 xx
http://glitterylove.blogspot.co.uk/
Ohhhh what a clever and easy idea! I’m often bored of my regular books so might try this! Thanks Elsie!
Louise xxxx
sprinkleofglitter.blogspot.co.uk
What a beautiful journal 🙂
Such a great, yet simple project! 🙂
xx Kaisa
http://reindeertrails.blogspot.com.es
Cute! Love how it turned out! Having something to write on is a necessity so you don’t lose the awesome craft ideas!
This is so cute! Definitely will be making one!!
Also I am absolutely loving your new app 🙂
xoxo
http://www.pavendeep.blogspot.co.uk
Awesome idea!! <3 <3 As always! 😀
I used to love decorating my notebooks in elementary school, cant wait to try this!
http://www.cheersandcosmos.blogspot.com
What kind of mod podge do you use? I have the the gloss lustre one, and I was wondering if that works as well?
Do you put modge podge on top of photo also? Very pretty.
This would be perfect for a recipe journal! It’s so easy, too 🙂
M.
Lovely idea, very simple but so stylish looking
how cute is this! looks so easy too!
kw ladies in navy
enter our giveaway!
@Sofia, actually I overlooked it and forgot to include! I’m sorry! I just added it to the post, but we used Canon’s semi-gloss photo paper:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_294551_-1
So super cute
Wow. I love it! I’ll defiantly have to try to make one soon. I love having journals around to write notes in or just for fun! Great Post!
-The Fashionista Tourist
That printer looks amazing! Such a cute journal. Does it scan too?
Jana @ 333 Days of Hand Lettering
this is a lovely idea, the photo is such a personal touch! I love carrying around a little notebook to jot down ideas in, but this big scrapbook gives you so much freedom 🙂 xx
http://www.jessthetics.wordpress.com
love this, such a fun, simple DIY
grace
http://herumbrella.com
Such a good idea, they sell similar things in stores for so much! And this way you can personalise it, would make a great gift also =]
fantastic i really love this post
So cute! and I love the images!
How sweet would personal notebooks be!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
This is SO pretty!
xo,
RN
http://www.rachelnicoleblog.com
I need an idea journal stat.
Such a sweet idea! I love journals, and lately seem to always have one on me! Feels great to jot ideas down on paper instead of on my phone!
This is cute quick fix for less that fabulous notebooks and I usually add an elastic loop (moleskin style) to keep it all together. Like you I live my life with a notebook within reach…when I jot down the random thoughts, design ideas, & ‘to do things’ I don’t stress about the ‘need to remember’ …it’s a sanity saver!
I love journal especially making travel journals! They can be really fun!
I love that!
I used to do (less polished) versions of this all the time, and for some reason stopped! yours look so beautiful that I feel inspired again! 🙂
-Camille
http://www.sparkandfizzle.com
Journaling is a passion of mine! What a great DIY!
That is relly great idea and I nee it now. So.. I ll try and hope I do it good. xa. Have a nice day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
such an amazing idea!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/birchbox-uk-may-2013.html
This is gorgeous!! 😀
Ramblings Of Hannah
xx
Amazing idea! Got to do this!
Perfect idea ! We love note books ! love it
XXXxx
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockmafia/58391479964
http://rockmafialeblog.blogspot.fr/
BLOG/SHOP
So simple and lovely! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
Great! Have a good weekend from Italy.
So cute! I go through so many journals so quickly.
Natalie @Secretsofahappygirl.blogspot.co.uk
Such a simple and cute idea! love it.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
Wow, looks great 🙂
What a wonderful idea! Love it!
Lulu xx
http://luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
I love this! it looks so great:)
I used to do that with my notebooks for school. It’s been a while since I’ve made one for myself just for fun xxx
http://www.couronnedefleurs.net
wow – great photos!!
http://elabyela.com/en/collection.html
Soo cool! I’ve done this before with magazine photos. I love this idea to use photos I will have to try this.
Ariana
Shopaholic Undercover
Such a great idea. Always so inspirational
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Great idea! I’m so bad at keeping journals, but I love yours!
xo Lisa
http://www.makinglifeslemons.com/
this is great!
I just made one yesterday, but I covered it in fabric 🙂
Lovely idea! Thanks so much for sharing!
http://www.fullbellywornsoles.com/
What a lovely idea for a journal! A simple notebook turns into a beautyful and personal item like this. 🙂
What a cute and relatively simple project! I like how you guys have been doing some of these “easier” projects every now and then. Even though they may not be as time-consuming, they are still great ideas that others may not think of! Thanks!
Cara
http://www.everydayintrigue.blogspot.com/
What a brilliant idea! Definitely on my to do list!
xox
http://thattallgirlinheels.com
oouu this is a great idea!
– Janine
http://theeoptimist.blogspot.com
Great idea! Certainly more creatively stimulating than a blank journal cover!
xox
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Great idea, I will have to try this.
artpoliticslife.blogspot.com
a very good idea!
Lovely…
http://hidinginheaven.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-one-with-id-like-to-wear-iii.html
I love this idea, the images make it so much personal!
http://www.beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
What a cute idea! These would make awesome gifts…. I could see me using them for home decor ideas and as travel diaries, too 🙂
Cute idea!
wonderful idea! i will probably do this but will utilize a printer that allows the use of nice fine art paper, sadly the canon model only allows use of specific canon papers, so sad
i love this! such a personal touch! i’m so jealous of that printer too!!
xo Becky
http://www.seductivemania.com
What a great littly DYI Journal. Why not personalize something that is meant to be ALL ABOUT YOU! 🙂
I’ve always commented on how beautiful your writing is. It has such a personal vibe to it but is still neat and tidy.
Also, I purchased the “A Beautiful Mess Application” and am always typing words into it to get a feel of how I can write “nicer” per se. (As in copy your little quirks). One question I had, and this isn’t necessarily in relation to this post, is which application you use on your iPad/android to write free-handedly so that you can later on transfer onto your photos as commentary?? I have a stylizer pen but do I need to put “Photoshop” onto my iPad in order to write sayings electronically?
Thanks so much. I am also really enjoying the Blog Love e-course. 🙂 Hoping to have my blog up and running by June!
I think I might do this with my leadership class at school next year. The kids would love it and it would give them a place to keep track of service hours and reports. So cute!
I really love this project!! I will do it as soon as I can!! Thanks
I made the photo dot journal a few months ago. Looks like I have a new one to make now! Thanks for all the super cute ideas! 🙂
I’ve got to try this- I used to do these when I was in high school- but with tape, markers and scrapbook paper! lol 🙂
i absolutely love this idea, and i love how you write! x
– Jianine
Wow I like this a lot! Pretty Journals are often SO EXPENSIVE but these re pretty personal and cheaper!
illuminatedteapot.com
wow, that’s lovely!
I figued out we should totally make our own journal cover just so we will use it more often. I have a love hate relationship with plain cover journals!