I must admit I was once an avid journal keeper. Since marriage, I have lost a lot of that habit, though one of my goals this year is to be more consistent and write more often. I find it much easier to write in my journal if I like my journal — if I’m drawn to its design or colors, etc. For several years I found a series that I LOVED, and I loved writing in them, looking at the cover designs, enjoying the various colors. But eventually I had purchased every single one, and they had no new designs to inspire me. I have a nice journal now, but it’s an uninspiring brown, and so lovely that I almost don’t like writing all the icky parts of my life in it, lol. 
So, I decided it was time to create a journal of my very own, now that I’m dabbling in hybrid scrapbooking. (By the way, you may find this tutorial helpful for the hybrid twist on next month’s blog challenge. Just saying.) I try to be ahead of the game, so I already know the theme for April’s blog challenge, and it was the inspiration for the journal I created. (Please don’t laugh at my pictures … my photography skills are not awesome, lol.)
I decided to put together a little step-by-step tutorial for anyone else who may want to try their hand at this. Trust me, I am a super beginner when it comes to hybrid, so if I can do this, you can too. I’ll even share some things with you that I learned from this project that you may find helpful.
How to Create a Hybrid Journal Using a Composition Notebook
1. Measure your notebook and then create a new file in Photoshop with those dimensions. (Well, I guess technically you first need to buy a composition notebook — I bought mine at Target for less than $1.) My notebook measured 6.5625″ x 9.75″, measuring from the edge of the binding to the edge of the notebook.
2. Choose your papers and embellishments. I picked No Monsters Allowed. I created the front and back of my notebook in Photoshop so I could arrange everything the way I wanted it to look, before printing out each individual element. (Note: The dark black border on the edge was just a visual reminder of the binding so I could keep things in proportion — the binding on my notebook was 1 inch wide.)
3. Print your papers and elements. Make sure to account for the margins on your printer and print on high quality.
4. Gather your supplies — you’ll need a paper trimmer, scissors, and a glue stick (or your favorite adhesive). I also used pop dots. (I’m working on more than 1 project right now, so you’ll see pieces to other projects in the image below.)
5. Trim your paper and cut out your elements.
6. Glue the papers to the front and back covers of the notebooks. I found it was easier to line things up with the outer edges of the notebook and then press the papers into place toward the binding.
7. Attach your elements. I referred back to my Photoshop document to place things in the correct order and location.
8. Enjoy your new notebook.
What I Learned from This Adventure
1. My printer is not awesome … but I guess it’ll do.
2. My paper trimmer does not cut straight.
3. I need better scissors — any suggestions?
4. Digital buttons are difficult to cut in a perfect round shape — and I don’t have a Crop-A-Dile (but it’s on my wish list!), so I couldn’t punch out the button holes. I ended up not using the button on my final product.
5. For a journal, pop dots may not be a good choice for all the elements. Don’t get me wrong, I love using pop dots — I love the dimension they give. However, after printing and cutting out my elements, I decided that pop dots may not be such a good idea. My journal gets tossed around and buried under papers and stuffed in backpacks … I wasn’t sure my pretty elements would stay put. So I ended up gluing them on — if I had thought about this in advance, I’d have just merged some of my layers (with shadows) and printed them as one, so they’d have some dimension AND save me from all that cutting. I did use a pop dot on the monster though.
6. The pattern I picked was very useful in helping me affix my elements where I had originally planned — this would have been more difficult with a solid or very basic pattern.
If you make your very own notebook, please link me up. Though you may want to wait until April 1, when the new challenge is posted, so you can create a notebook for you AND submit it for the challenge and receive a discount coupon to my store.
Happy Thursday!
I’ve been a member of their site almost from the beginning. I tend to be more of a lurker than an active participant, but Scrap Orchard has always made me feel welcome. And above that, Scrap Orchard is just a FUN place to be. 
