{"id":1126,"date":"2012-05-10T07:11:04","date_gmt":"2012-05-10T11:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/?p=1126"},"modified":"2016-07-20T19:45:20","modified_gmt":"2016-07-20T23:45:20","slug":"faux-leather-sketchbook-part-1-making-the-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2012\/05\/10\/faux-leather-sketchbook-part-1-making-the-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"Faux Leather Sketchbook &#8211; Part 1, Making The Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">*****Updated 5\/10\/12********<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I&#8217;ve made two more of these sketchbooks since the original post.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-blue.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-blue.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-blue\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This blue one was for my husband&#8217;s birthday. \u00a0He&#8217;s recently gotten back into his artwork and I&#8217;m trying to encourage him to sketch out\/write down his ideas.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-blue-close-up.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-blue-close-up.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-blue-close-up\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">After making his according to my own directions from a year ago, I was reminded that I hadn&#8217;t been thrilled with some of the proportions in the original.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-pink.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-pink.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-pink\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">You can see in this one, which is for me, that I&#8217;ve shortened the length of the right flap. \u00a0I also shortened the length of the left cover, as it seemed to stick out too much.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-pink-beads.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-pink-beads.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-pink-beads\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I&#8217;m really looking forward to using this, rather than having bits of paper all over the place. \u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-pink-inside.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-pink-inside.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-pink-inside\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I often get ideas and inspiration from magazines and catalogs, so I made a space for a glue stick as well as pencils. \u00a0That far left &#8220;pencil&#8221; is actually an eraser, too cool.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The dimensions have been updated in the below directions. \u00a0Hope you give this project a try!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">************* Original Post &#8211; Feb 19, 2011 ***************************<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">My son&#8217;s 21st birthday is coming up, and I wanted to make him something kind of cool and interesting and special.\u00a0 He likes to draw, so when I saw <a title=\"Sue Bleiweiss\" href=\"http:\/\/www.suebleiweiss.com \" target=\"_blank\">Sue Bleiweiss<\/a>&#8216; faux leather journal in the December 2010 issue of <a title=\"Cloth, Paper Scissors magazine\" href=\"http:\/\/www.clothpaperscissors.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Cloth, Paper Scissors<\/a>, I knew I had a great place to start.\u00a0 <em>(Many thanks to Sue and CPS for the inspiration and their kind permission to give my take on the project. If you would like to learn Sue&#8217;s original technique, make sure to refer to the original article.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook.jpg\" alt=\"faux leather sketchbook \" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Would you believe this is made out of a paper bag?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-upright.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-upright.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-upright\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although the project looks complicated, each of the steps is quite simple.\u00a0 Make sure to first read through all the instructions to familiarize yourself with the process.<\/p>\n<p>Materials:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>paper grocery bag<\/li>\n<li>heavyweight interfacing like Pellon <a title=\"Pellon Peltex heavyweight interfacing\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B001B3OGLE?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001B3OGLE\" target=\"_blank\">Peltex<\/a>, 9&#8243;x15&#8243;<\/li>\n<li>fusible web, like <a title=\"Wonder Under fusible web\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000LSQPT6?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B000LSQPT6\" target=\"_blank\">Wonder Under<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B000LSQPT6\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/>, three 9&#8243;x15&#8243; pieces<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Parchment Paper\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B001KUWGDS?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001KUWGDS\" target=\"_blank\">Parchment Paper<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B001KUWGDS\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/li>\n<li>iron or press<\/li>\n<li>acrylic paint in 2 shades of your choice, one darker than the other<\/li>\n<li>grungeboard shapes (I used shapes and negatives from this set: <a title=\"Tim Holtz Idea-ology Plain Elements set\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0018N6U0W?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0018N6U0W\" target=\"_blank\">Tim Holtz Idea-ology Plain Elements set<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>sewing machine<\/li>\n<li>soft rag<\/li>\n<li>Perfect Pearls in color of your choice (this is a set I LOVE to use: <a title=\"Ranger Perfect Pearls Embellishment Pigment Kit, Aged Patina\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0015358KS?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0015358KS\" target=\"_blank\">Perfect Pearls Aged Patina Set<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>lining fabric, 9&#8243;x15&#8243;<\/li>\n<li>3&#8243; piece 1.5&#8243; wide elastic<\/li>\n<li>metal snaps or brads, such as these: <a title=\"Making Memories Aluminum Snaps \" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0007XDFL6?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0007XDFL6\" target=\"_blank\">Aluminum Snaps<\/a>\u00a0(optional)<\/li>\n<li>small metal hammer or <a title=\"Tim Holtz Texture Hammer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0018NC3Y4?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0018NC3Y4\" target=\"_blank\">Texture Hammer<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0018NC3Y4\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/li>\n<li>one 9&#8243;x12&#8243; pad of sketchbook paper, such as this: <a title=\"Canson Universal Sketch Pad, 9&quot; x 12&quot;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0013UUXGC?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0013UUXGC\" target=\"_blank\">Canson Universal Sketch Pad, 9&#8243; x 12&#8243;<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0013UUXGC\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0(or approximately 45 8.5&#8243;x11&#8243; papers for the inside of your book)<\/li>\n<li>awl (straight, not tapered)<\/li>\n<li>tapestry needle<\/li>\n<li>waxed linen twine, 60&#8243;<\/li>\n<li>large decorative shank style button<\/li>\n<li>leather cord, 60&#8243;<\/li>\n<li>decorative beads for ends of cord<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>1. Cut open the paper bag along the glue seam, discarding the bottom section.\u00a0 You should have a large, flat piece of brown paper.\u00a0 Trim this to roughly 10&#8243;x18&#8243;.<\/p>\n<p>2. Crumple up the bag, uncrumple and re-crumple several times.\u00a0 This will soften the bag and give you a nice, even allover texture.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-step-1-crumple-paper-bag.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-step-1-crumple-paper-bag.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-step-1-crumple-paper-bag\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>3. Using plenty of steam and pressure, use one piece of fusible web to fuse the paper bag to the heavyweight interfacing.\u00a0 Trim the paper to the same size as the interfacing. This will be your sketchbook cover.<\/p>\n<p>4. Paint the paper bag with acrylic paint.\u00a0 Use any color you like for your faux leather.\u00a0 (I used Folk Art 426, Dark Gray.) \u00a0Keep in mind that we&#8217;ll be going over this later with a slightly darker shade.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-step-4-painted-crumpled-bag.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-step-4-painted-crumpled-bag.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-step-4-painted-crumpled-bag\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>5. Using\u00a0parchment paper as a press cloth,\u00a0fuse\u00a0one of the pieces of fusible web\u00a0to the painted side of your cover.<\/p>\n<p>6. Arrange grungeboard pieces over the entire surface.\u00a0 I used some shapes from the <a title=\"Tim Holtz Idea-ology Plain Elements set\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0018N6U0W?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0018N6U0W\" target=\"_blank\">Elements set<\/a>\u00a0and filled in with the pieces left over from other shapes.\u00a0 I especially liked the negatives from the flourishes.\u00a0 Fit all these together like a puzzle, filling the whole surface loosely.<\/p>\n<p>7. When you&#8217;re happy with the arrangement, use the parchment paper press cloth along with plenty of steam and pressure to fuse the grungeboard to your painted surface.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-grungeboard-fused-in-place.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-grungeboard-fused-in-place.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-grungeboard-fused-in-place\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>8. Use a sewing machine to stitch the Grungeboard to the cover.\u00a0 You can do either free motion stitching or simply stitch straight lines over the entire surface.\u00a0 I used a size 80 needle and regular polyester sewing thread.\u00a0 The key is to go <em>slowly<\/em>.\u00a0 I did have to stop and re-thread the needle several times because the thread had shredded.\u00a0 <em>(Probably because I was trying to go too fast. )<\/em> Just be patient, you&#8217;ll get through it. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-grungeboard-stitched-down.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-grungeboard-stitched-down.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-grungeboard-stitched-down\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>9. Paint this entire surface with same acrylic paint you started with.\u00a0 Allow to dry <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">completely<\/span><\/em> (like overnight) before going on to the next step.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-painted-grungeboard.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-painted-grungeboard.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-painted-grungeboard\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>**Hint** You might notice the extra piece of faux leather in the photo.\u00a0 This was a scrap of paper bag that I treated in the exact same way as my main piece.\u00a0 This was used to test out colors and techniques, to make sure I was happy with the results before applying them to my sketchbook cover.\u00a0 If you&#8217;re going to try out different color combinations , I strongly recommend you do this.<\/p>\n<p>10. Thin a darker shade of paint with a little water and brush this over the entire surface of your cover.\u00a0 ( I used <a title=\"Folk Art Acrylic Paint - Licorice\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000HWY6D8?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B000HWY6D8\" target=\"_blank\">Folk Art Acrylic Paint &#8211; Licorice<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B000HWY6D8\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/>.)\u00a0 Use a soft rag to wipe off the paint from the surface, leaving it in the edges and deeper areas.\u00a0 If you find the paint has dried too much to wipe off, spritz it with a little water and then wipe.\u00a0 (This is why we needed to allow the first coat of paint to dry completely, otherwise we&#8217;d be wiping it off, too.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-second-color-of-paint-applied.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-second-color-of-paint-applied.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-second-color-of-paint-applied\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>11. Now we&#8217;ll add the look of metal. \u00a0Take about 1\/2 teaspoon of Perfect Pearls (I used <a title=\"Perfect Pearls Pigment Powders - Pewter\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00161Q006?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00161Q006\" target=\"_blank\">Perfect Pearls &#8211; Pewter<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00161Q006\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/>) and mix in a couple drops of water to make a <strong>thick<\/strong> paste.\u00a0 You don&#8217;t want it to be too thin for this technique, it needs to be fairly thick to work.\u00a0 <em>(If you&#8217;re happy with your cover as it is, this step is optional, but I was going for a goth\/grunge\/industrial look and wanted the metallic in there.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>12. Next, dab your index finger into the paste and begin the rub lightly on the edges of the grungeboard pieces.\u00a0 You&#8217;re not trying to cover the entire surface, but just highlight the edges.\u00a0 Once most of the paste on your finger is used, you can rub lightly on the background as well.\u00a0 Repeat until the entire cover is highlighted with metallic.\u00a0 <em>(It&#8217;s a good idea to experiment on your test piece first so you get the results you want.)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-silver-accent-added.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-silver-accent-added.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-silver-accent-added\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-silver-accent-close-up.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-silver-accent-close-up.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-silver-accent-close-up\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>13. Fuse the third piece of fusible web to the wrong side of your lining fabric.<\/p>\n<p>14. To make a pen\/pencil holder in your lining, stitch the 3&#8243; piece of elastic 1.5&#8243; in from one short edge of the lining, centered top to bottom.\u00a0 (I zigzag stitched the two raw edges, and then straight stitched to divide it into four sections.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-adding-elastic-pen-holder.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-adding-elastic-pen-holder.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-adding-elastic-pen-holder\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-elastic-pen-holder-close-up.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-elastic-pen-holder-close-up.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-elastic-pen-holder-close-up\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>15. If you want to apply metal brads or snaps, now is the time to do it (<em>before you apply the lining<\/em>.) \u00a0Use a hole punch or a tool such as the <a title=\"We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch, Pink Handle\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B001EWPYXG?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001EWPYXG\" target=\"_blank\">Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B001EWPYXG\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/> to punch holes where you want your snaps or brads to go.\u00a0 Insert and open prongs of brads or use your tool of choice to set the snaps (the <a title=\"We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch, Pink Handle\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B001EWPYXG?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B001EWPYXG\" target=\"_blank\">Crop-A-Dile<\/a>\u00a0works for setting snaps and eyelets, too.)\u00a0 To give them an aged look hammer gently with a small metal hammer or the <a title=\"Tim Holtz Texture Hammer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0018NC3Y4?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secroforgapeo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0018NC3Y4\" target=\"_blank\">Texture Hammer<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=secroforgapeo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0018NC3Y4\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-snaps-close-up.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-none alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/crafts\/faux-leather-sketchbook-snaps-close-up.jpg\" alt=\"faux-leather-sketchbook-snaps-close-up\" width=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>16. Fuse the lining fabric to the wrong side (unpainted side) of your sketchbook cover.\u00a0 <em>(Make sure to use the parchment paper as a press cloth.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Now your cover is done!<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s enough for one day, next time I&#8217;ll show you how to add pages to your book. (Click here to go directly to <a title=\"Faux Leather sketchbook - part 2, adding the pages\" href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2011\/02\/21\/faux-leather-sketchbook-part-2-adding-the-pages\/\" target=\"_self\">Part 2, Adding the Pages<\/a>\u00a0or <a title=\"Faux Leather sketchbook - part 3, finishing touches\" href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2011\/02\/24\/faux-leather-sketchbook-part-3-finishing-touches\/\" target=\"_self\">Part 3, Finishing Touches<\/a>.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*****Updated 5\/10\/12******** I&#8217;ve made two more of these sketchbooks since the original post. This blue one was for my husband&#8217;s birthday. \u00a0He&#8217;s recently gotten back into his artwork and I&#8217;m trying to encourage him to sketch out\/write down his ideas. After making&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72,186],"tags":[227,18,17,201,190,200,209,202],"class_list":["post-1126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-crafts","category-tutorials","tag-art-journal","tag-distress-techniques-2","tag-distressing","tag-faux-leather","tag-grungeboard","tag-paper-bag-crafts","tag-perfect-pearls","tag-sketchbook"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>faux leather sketchbook<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"quilting, sewing, patterns, beads, jewelry, scrapbooking, card making, polymer clay, quilts, crafts, crafting, creative\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2012\/05\/10\/faux-leather-sketchbook-part-1-making-the-cover\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sandy\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2012\/05\/10\/faux-leather-sketchbook-part-1-making-the-cover\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2012\/05\/10\/faux-leather-sketchbook-part-1-making-the-cover\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sandy\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/83a364fc2641e96eb1d1af37a92142cc\"},\"headline\":\"Faux Leather Sketchbook &#8211; 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