Cassette Journals

 

The most popular type of journal I make are these cassette books. I find old cassettes and turn the liner notes into journals. They fit snugly back into the plastic case, thoroughly hiding their secret new purpose. 

The problem is finding good cassettes. Lately, they haven't been as available as they used to. I guess people learned that they don't really sell at tag sales or thrift shops, and they ended up in the trash. Either that, or maybe some avid cassette collectors have snatched up all the good ones to keep in the giant tape collection they have housed in their basement. 

The other problem is that I have amassed quite a collection of my own. I use the liner notes and cases, but I still have the actual cassettes. It feels wasteful to throw them away, so I keep them. What for? I have no idea. Perhaps I will come up with a use for them someday (vague images of an 80s themed party are floating through my head). 

♥ Jessica

More Upcycled Journals

I finished four more "upcycled" journals this weekend. I also made a journal as a gift for a friend, and started a new project that I'm pretty excited about. I can't wait to finish so I can share it with you. Overall, I had a pretty productive weekend. I had been falling behind on my bookbinding goal, but I'm starting to get back on track and that's a good feeling.

Upcycled Journals

I bound another ceramic book this week. I love the shape of this one. 

I decided to try bookbinding "assembly line" style. I collected up all the paper I wanted to use for this particular type of book, then trimmed and folded the signatures all at once. I figured out that I had enough signatures for seven books, so I sewed and glued them next. Finally I started covering them. I finished covering three last night. 

I think I will call these "upcycled" journals. They are made from leftover papers like notepads with only a few pages left, and other random papers that tend to collect in a home office or craft room. I even mixed in a few vintage magazine and book pages for fun. As much as I like a nice clean art paper journal, I find these really unique and a good use of paper that would otherwise go to waste.

♥ Jessica