Artful Journals: Making & Embellishing Memory Books, Garden Diaries & Travel Albums

by Janet Takahashi

We all have thoughts, feelings, and experiences that we want to preserve forever?and a journal makes the perfect keepsake. This inspiration-packed guide, with beautiful watercolor art throughout, offers a wealth of creative ideas for creating attractive journals from scratch as well as embellishing store-bought ones. The 21 creative projects range from a seasonal journal that features stunning handmade papers decorated with natural items (such as twigs and leaves) to a lovely book made from travel postcards that opens like a fan. Other exquisite suggestions include an accordion-style booklet for writing down all the must-remember things your kids say, a romantic journal, and a sweet little spiral-bound book for collecting favorite handed-down recipes.

Genres: Art, Crafts, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really lovely journals and techniques. I definitely wish this book had existed when my kids were small. The family dinners journal, kids quotes and others would have been wonderful to record those little things that you think you won’t forget but eventually do.

I love the cooking journal idea and believe I’ll be using the technique/style to do the family recipes cookbook I want to do for my now-adult children. Include some extra cards for them to include their own recipes and their spouse’s/so’s recipes too. Something that could be passed down and expanded and used by generations or inspire other volumes. Or that’s how I like to think about it anyhow! I know I would have treasured something like that with my great uncle’s and grandmother’s recipes. Mom’s recipes are written on my soul.

[LaShana Claude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Health & Wellness

I have found journaling the physical and spiritual aspects of my life to be nourishing. When I was struggling through a challenging time, my Battle of Your Life Journal helped keep me going. A Diet Journal can reaffirm the journey you are making toward a healthier body. THE spirit- lifting journal is a place where you can jot down stories and quotes that inspire and elevate your spirit. Record things both great and small that contribute to your spirit's well being. Think of this journal as a warm cup of cocoa in the snow or the refreshing spray of a waterfall at the end of a hot summer hike.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful products, but the instructions were too confusing for my learning style.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got a couple of good ideas, but most of the books I would not create. I do like some of the inserts, however.

[liberal sprinkles · Rating 4 out of 5]

adapted from a longer review at my blog liberal sprinkles

A lovely book with beautiful watercolors scattered about and interesting ideas for journals. Much of the book is devoted to different binding methods and book/journal forms, with detailed instructions on how to make these. There are glimpses of how the books are embellished and text information on "what's inside" and some suggestions on what to include in the journals, but not detailed enough for anyone looking for detailed creative ideas of how to beautify a journal. Also, not many photos of the actual journal pages.

But I like the ideas for the different book forms, from an accordion-style nature-watching journal to a "hopelessly sentimental journal" in a bound cardboard box where you can keep your treasured possessions. I also love the postcard journal bound with a ledger post, except Takahashi doesn't explain what a ledger post is how to use it. The instructions are relatively clear but with some missing holes which assumes the reader knows some basic tools and techniques. But a plus is that many of the techniques and ideas can be easily adapted for other craft projects.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of beautiful handmade journals that are way out of my league. Sure, the author gives step by step instructions for making each one, but no way do I have the time, patients, or supplies to make anything this lovely. Well, ok, the file folder journal and the postcards journal look like projects I can modify to make easy enough for me to do. They are the easiest projects in the book after all.

In any case, I like looking at craft how-to books to get ideas for what I might be able to do, even if I don't make any of the crafts included. This book has offered me some good ideas.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a how-to book telling you much of anything about writing a personal journal, but rather an idea book for building gorgeous journals to share with others. These could be as simple as a gardening diary or as complex as a wedding celebration. Not only are these journals full of artwork (and this book is full of tips on how to create your own art), they are hand-bound in a number of creative ways. You don't have to be an artist or have any special talent to find inspiration in this book.

[Sumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some good ideas of varying skill levels. The journaling subjects vary, but the design for the garden journal can be adapted to travel journal and so on. In particular the File Folder Journal was something that could be done with children since it uses a file folder, envelopes and plastic bags using glue and cellophane tape. Although the project in the book used a fancy purchased file folder, kids would adore decorating a plain file folder.

[Rachel Kopel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a couple of accounts of workshops that Janet had led and she does sound like a really inspirational teacher. So I finally pushed the *BUY* button at Amazon. The ideas are good and I enjoyed the illustrations. However, I also had the experience I always have with Lark books. There is almost always one detail missing in the instructions or the photos. From what I have read this is not usually the author's fault. Remembering the difficulties Shareen LaPlantz had with them.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives some basics to art journaling, from art supplies to what to write. It focuses mostly on watercolor artwork. Then it logs a number of different kinds of journals. This is a good book if you're looking for inspiration on types of journals you might want to create. The author includes a number of different structures for journals and how you can create them by hand.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't scrapbook, but this looks like fun....one day!

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mostly focused on how to create handmade journal books. While it had some nice ideas about kinds of journals, the heavy emphasis on bookmaking and bookbinding didn't interest me.

[Sherry Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good book for ideas and instructions on how to correctly make about a dozen different journal styles

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to people who are interested in making different types of journals for different purposes.

[Shirlea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done but not what I was looking for.