It’s been a long time since I’ve worked on a Happy Mail binder, but I recently made one for a friend, and was inspired to make another one for myself. This one is a lot different than any of my old ones. I decided to join the binders up with the art journals, and I’m definitely having more fun decorating them up…and making videos in the process!

I’ll be the first one to admit that it’s not like me to make a video and not talk about it on here, let alone four! At the bottom of each of these photos is a little blurb and a link to the corresponding video…

Video #1: “Happy Mail Binder Series: Episode 1“

In this video I do a flip through of some of my Happy Mail binders and talk about how I use them. Then I share what’s inside my “happy mail box” and create a pocket page for postcards.

(4×6 plastic pockets Amazon )

Video #2: “Happy Mail Junk Journal: Pocket Pages”

In this video I create more pocket pages for my Happy Mail Junk Journal (I changed my mind about what to call it as I went along, I like “Happy Mail Junk Journal” much better). These are some of the pages I took out of my old Happy Mail journals that I changed my mind about.

I’m taking my downsizing seriously!

Video #3: “Happy Mail Junk Journal: Decorating My Pages“

In this video I create some junk journal pages with collage clusters and happy mail ephemera, five super quick pages.

Video #4: Happy Mail Junk Journal: Decorating Pages Part 4

In this video I create 3 junk journal pages with happy mail ephemera.

In the midst of making this video series I received an awesome package of Happy Mail ephemera from one of my friends from here on my blog! Oh my gosh have I been having fun with all of it!

Thank you Nancy!

iHanna is hosting another postcard swap!…and here’s the link if you want to join. It just started so the due date to have your postcards ready is May 12th. If you decide to join, please let me know in the comments so we can make an extra one for each other and swap.

Thank you so much for visiting,

Have a great day,

~Patty

Like many people, I have a collection of Travelers Notebook type fabric covers for my journals, some are purchased and some are homemade. But after seeing so many cutely decorated art journal covers out there, I thought I would try my hand at decorating mine up a bit.

The Before.

As you can see I chopped off the edges here, I’m not sure why I made this one such an awkward size, but there is a fix…

…use up all your scrappy bits!

Just stitch (hand or machine) fabric strips along all the edges to close off the openings and stitch the pockets down. I liked experimenting with different stitches with my embroidery thread.

I added a little lace along the top edge of the pocket, and some accent trim on the side for fun!

Tip: Just keep adding stuff till it looks like a hippy bus…then add more!

More trim, mini doilies, lace, buttons, beads, and dangly bits. I love this makeover! I didn’t start out with a bohemian theme, it just worked out that way.

Small Details.

I did try to stay in the color family of this fabric as not to go too wild. My favorite accent is the beads on the elastic closure, that’s going on all of my covers going forward, but that button has inspired me to try a closure with large buttons on my next project, sooo…

Making Dangly Bits:

And I am finally using up beading supplies that I have had for far too many years. My heart skips a beat when think about how much of my hoarded stash is going to be used in this project!

Where it started.

The two on the left are the newest covers that really got me started on this project. Just something fun to work on in the evenings, (looks like some beads on the elastic are in order!).

To be continued…

Even though these will be sitting on a shelf filled with finished journals doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a facelift, right!

As always,

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a great week,

Much Love,

~Patty

(p.s. please don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comments or email me)