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A Hot Scrappy Mess Journal and Tote Tutorial

October 18, 2009 by Jessica 31 Comments

It’s about time I’ve been able to get back on here and post something. I guess all I can say is that I really have a 2 year old ;). I had made this journal a while back to give to my husband for our anniversary.

What a hot scrappy mess journal cover

He journals a lot when he does Bible studies, quiet time, writes songs, etc, so it’s a perfect gift. I’m planning on making a few more for some Christmas presents for those who like to write, draw, journal, etc.

A full view

I’m going to share a tutorial for how I made the journal cover. I know journal covers have been done before, but I tried to make one the easiest and fastest way I could. And a sneak peek…

The finished product

…this is a tote bag I did using the same method. See further down for pics.

Journal Cover:

What you need:
-2 pieces of felt
-Scrap Fabric
-Journal
-2 Buttons (for closure)

-Small pieces of elastic (think about reusing broken hairbands or elastic that holds shoes together when first purchased)

1. Sew two pieces of felt together

1

2. Place journal on top, so it is in the middle, and measure how much to cut off. Make sure to leave about a half inch or so extra around the bottom and top edge (I forgot to do this and ended up gluing the cover on, but if you sew the flaps, it can be reused on other journals later).

2

3. Cut off excess felt at the bottom and on the sides if necessary. Make sure to leave enough on the sides to fold over to create the flap.

3 4

4. Lay the piece of felt right side up. Take your scraps and just start placing them all over.

5

6

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5. Pin all the pieces in place.

8

6. Sew the them all on however you like. I just kind of went crazy with it. No order or anything to the fabric or the sewing. Just did what I felt like. It reminded me of how my child does art. It seems chaotic, since she is only 2, yet comes out really cool anyways.

9

7. Cut two small pieces of elastic. It should be long enough to be sewn onto one inside flap and come over the journal side to the top to loop onto a button.

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8. Pin the elastic where you would like it to hold the journal together at. Sew it on.

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9. Then, cover the ends with a small piece of fabric and sew that on.

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10. Fold the ends in and place the buttons to line up with the elastic. Take journal cover off and hand sew on the buttons.

Button and elastic closure

11. Place the cover on the journal again and fold the flaps to the inside and sew together at the top and bottom to create the pocket to place the journal cover (unlike what I forgot to do :).

The Tote Bag:

I basically did the same thing. I took a blank tote,

Plain tote

Covered it in scraps.

Piling on the scraps

And more scraps

Pinned them in place.

Pinning things in place

Sewed them on and added other embellishments (crocheted flowers, felt heart, embroidered stems on the apples).

The finished product

That’s it. Happy Sewing!
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Filed Under: how to, present idea, quilt, sewing

Comments

  1. 3 sweet P's says

    October 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    I love the bag!! Looks like something you could buy at a super trendy boutique! I can never seem to get stuff like this right w/o it looking all wrong.Very good job!

    Reply
  2. Christina says

    October 18, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    I love the journal cover!! I’m going to have try to out myself. Thanks for sharing this great idea!

    Reply
  3. Myrnie says

    October 18, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    This is so great! So, I guess with all that sewing it can’t possibly fray too much! Definitely going on my list of “things to make” 🙂

    Reply
  4. Kari @ Ucreate says

    October 18, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    LOVE the journal cover and the tote bag. These are AMAZING!

    Reply
  5. Tracie says

    October 19, 2009 at 12:48 am

    I’m definitely trying this!!!! Such a great idea.

    Reply
  6. Laurie Anne says

    October 19, 2009 at 5:51 am

    These are both great projects/gift ideas! and such clear, easy tutorials 🙂
    Thank you x

    Reply
  7. JoYfuL PrAiSe says

    October 19, 2009 at 6:54 am

    Wow! This is awesome! I love reading your blog. Love it!

    Reply
  8. John_n_Tascha_Piatt says

    October 19, 2009 at 7:19 am

    sooo cute.. have made journal cover before, but it was a single fabric – this look i quite fun! thanks for the idea! and 2 year olds are the BOMB! lol

    Reply
  9. Su says

    October 19, 2009 at 7:56 am

    This is another reason now as to why I can’t throw out scraps 🙂

    Great job! I especially love the journal you made for your husband.

    Reply
  10. Sewmarm says

    October 19, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Mmm…that journal looks so inviting to write in! And I agree with Laurie Anne that both the bag and the journal cover make great gift ideas.

    Reply
  11. Kali's Korner says

    October 19, 2009 at 9:31 am

    im loving the journal cover. I just bought a few of those journals at walmart and was trying to think of a way to make them cute, this would totally work! Thanks

    Reply
  12. marisa says

    October 19, 2009 at 10:18 am

    that bag is awesome! thanks for the ideas!

    Reply
  13. Heidi says

    October 19, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Such a neat idea! Thanks for the tutorials. I also clicked on the baby block post and that would make a great gift for an upcoming shower I’m attending in addition to a diaper bag and a box of diapers!

    Reply
  14. Heather - CROQZine.com - Dollarstorecrafts.com says

    October 19, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Fun technique. I really like how the tote turned out!

    Reply
  15. Julie A. Cox says

    October 19, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    The bag is so pretty! I love it!!!

    Reply
  16. j.g.photography says

    October 19, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    I think both of those are super cute! My hubby is a musician too, and could use one of them “men” journals. Thanks for the tute, just a suggestion, adhesive spray basting might make it just a bit easier, no pins to fuss with. Thanks again, love your blog!

    Reply
  17. Hi I'm Amy, says

    October 19, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    OH my Word! I love your journal! i have been wanting to make one for myself for the longest time and just haven’t gotten around to it. I Think I will make this tonight! Love it! Super easy and pretty much free…. Cool thanks for all your Fabulous ideas! Keep on Rockin!

    Reply
  18. Aleta says

    October 19, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    Oh I love this tote! What a great way to use up all my yummy scraps!

    Reply
  19. mój kolorowy świat says

    October 20, 2009 at 2:37 am

    You have fantastic ideas, I really like your blog 🙂

    Reply
  20. Rachel@oneprettything.com says

    October 20, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Those are so fun! I love scrap busting projects! I’ll be linking.

    Reply
  21. melee says

    October 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    The same basic idea for the notebook can be used with paper and works great also! (hodgepodge is my best friend) but I love the color and stuff you put in the journal and tote!

    Reply
  22. monicc says

    November 4, 2009 at 5:15 am

    Hi
    i’m Monica to Milan italy
    Compliments your tutorial is very nice
    November 8 will do an article on my blog where you talk about your idea
    By Bye
    Moni

    Reply
  23. Jaimie says

    December 10, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    This is so cute! I looove that bag! I really need to learn to sew.

    Reply
  24. Thyme at Home says

    December 31, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    I just finished my post on the scrap journal I made from your tutorial, thanks for such a great frugal Christmas gift idea!

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    January 25, 2010 at 10:15 am

    The information here is great. I will invite my friends here.

    Thanks

    Reply
  26. Linda says

    September 24, 2010 at 8:34 am

    I just found your great tutorial – thanks so much for sharing! I’ve just added your link to my Purses, Totes and Handbags Listings at http://www.linda-matthews.com/free-purse-patterns-and-tutorials/by-date/#sep2010

    Reply
  27. Diggy Ross says

    January 9, 2013 at 5:00 pm

    Okay, I’m excited! I love the tote. I needed a pattern and I finally found this idea and I love.e.e.e IT! Simply because I won’t waste time cutting pattern pieces and I have a ton of scraps. I will be starting on this one asap! Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
  28. D. Ross Curington says

    January 9, 2013 at 5:20 pm

    Hello, I just had to say thanks for the tote bag idea. That’s what I call genius!

    Reply
  29. Rhonda McFarland says

    October 15, 2017 at 10:17 pm

    how did you sew the fabric on the tote bag – by hand or with a machine?

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      November 1, 2017 at 4:49 pm

      I used a machine. But you could totally do it by hand, it would just give it a different look. But still a pretty look 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 10 Free Tote Bag Patterns – Linda Matthews: Digital Textile Art & Design says:
    June 29, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    […] Hot Scrappy Mess Tote A perfect scrapbuster sewing […]

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photo(125) Welcome to my blog Happy Together. My name is Jessica Fediw and this is where I share my adventures in life, crafting, and more. Thanks for stopping by!

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Easter and Spring Break are now behind us, but it Easter and Spring Break are now behind us, but it was such a good time! For this past Easter I really wanted to make egg aprons for miss E and my other young nieces and nephew that are here. I looked at a bunch of pictures and just kind of figured it out myself, but I made four aprons that can hold up to 10 eggs. Thankfully I had enough fabric already to make them 🙌 It won’t be too long until my youngest will be too old for some of this, so I am trying to squeeze it all in before that happens 💛
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