Moleskine Hack

As much as I am tempted by the new Smash Books, and inspired by Claire Liz's inventive posts (here and here), I am just too attached to my good old Moleskines. I have a growing stack of fat, much-loved, hardback journals, and my handbag doesn't feel right unless I have the current one stuffed inside. I use the sketchbook, which is great for all manner of writing, sticking and painting, with two exceptions: 1) you can get a lot of bleedthrough from some feltpens and 2) the sketchbook doesn't take water colour well at all. I've been experimenting with solutions to number 1 and I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve to share another time. The easy answer to number 2 would be to buy their watercolour books, but the landscape format doesn't work as naturally for me. So, inspired by all the improvisation on the weekend, I have found a way to tweak my beloved sketchbook to my purposes.

You can see the difference between watercolour on regular moleskine paper and on water colour paper. Same colour, same amount of water on the brush, done at the same time. Not quite the classic watercolour look, eh? Plus it takes forever to dry. So I decided to mix things up a little and insert some watercolour pages amongst the regular pages that I use for other techniques. To do this without completely overloading the book, we need a bookmaking technique called 'tipping in' - I warn you now, this is a very slapdash version. 

Begin by identifying the signatures, each group of pages folded together, and ending at the spine in those bumps. Find the next one where the middle spread is empty, even on the backs. You will be able to see the stitches running down the middle of the spread. Gently pull out the middle folded page - don't snap the threads.

Trim the right hand page (which is now the inside page - see the stitches) down to about a quarter inch. I did it quite messily I'm afraid, because I wasn't using good scissors for the job. In a minute you will put some scrap paper behind this little lip and spread glue all along it - I just used a glue stick. For now though, you need to make your watercolour pages.

Now use the folded page you removed as a template to cut out your watercolour paper. Open it out if you want a double page, or use it folded for a single page. Either will work with this technique.  

Once you have cut and folded (if needed) your watercolour pages, glue that little lip and nestle the watercolour pages in as close to the stitching as possible, probably even hiding them.

The reverse will look like this. Expert book makers will have this join almost invisible, but this is a hack, so we are aiming for function over perfection. For now, washi tape will do the trick very nicely, and make a feature of the patchwork papers.

I've ended up with three spreads containing watercolour paper: this one where the left is regular and the right is watercolour, one that is left and right in watercolour, and the one above with the washi tape joining the lefthand watercolour page to the regular one on the right. This is the start of a journal page using the first of those spreads. I did my best to fake the watercolour effect on the regular paper to echo the facing page.

While I was putting this together I was thinking how much possiblity this technique has. Imagine brown kraft paper inserts, or scrapbooking paper, or lined, or a calendar page... I hope you find this as useful as I have, and as always, if you try it, let us know, we'd love to see!

Thanks for stopping by,

Kel x

Comments

[Mandy]

Great idea... I love watercolour paper with a serious 'tooth'... smooth paper doesn't always do the job. This is a cool idea.... tfs.

[Debbie Roberts]

Oh thanks for the clear instructions, and Im glad it doesnt always have to be perfect x

[Eleanor]

Fancy that, excellent idea, I think I could even do this just for the enjoyment of 'doing it'; what is it about paper and glue? I'm off to convert a sketchbook.
Elxx