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Gift Idea: Leather Journal with The Farmstead Ministries
Steven Dawson, founder of The Farmstead Ministries, made and designed a custom Leather Journal. Follow his step-by-step tutorial and download the FREE pattern to get started!
Tape all of the template pages together, and cut out the border
Trace journal outline & 1/2” oblong punch holes onto leather using a scratch awl
At this point, do not mark or punch out binding holes
Cut out journal cover, leaving corners at 90 degrees
2. Fold & Wet Form
Mark the Fold Lines on the flesh side (inside of journal cover) using a scratch awl
Wet form the leather
Using a sponge and water, wet both sides of the leather
Fold & form the leather on the fold lines, and the flap for the front cover
Close the journal, and set aside to dry overnight
3. Edge Finishing
Round the edges of journal cover
Use 90 degree punches, or round edges using a round knife
Sand the edges using burnishing/sanding machine, or sand by hand with sandpaper
Bevel all edges of journal cover, on both sides.
Burnish all edges
Start by applying gum tragacanth to edge of journal, and burnish with burnishing wheel
Note: Use a hand slicker if you don’t have a burnishing machine
Next apply bee’s wax to edges, and burnish again with burnishing wheel
4. Heat Imprinting (Optional)
Heat imprint name or initials onto cover of the journal
5. Cut Strap & Condition
Cut the 1/2” strap at 42”
Cut the ends of the strap at an angle using your round knife
Cleaning & Conditioning Leather
Apply Saddle Soap to the outside of the journal cover & 1/2” strap
Apply by using a cotton rag and water, create a lather with the saddle soap, and rub into the leather
Remove excess with cotton rag, and buff to polish
Set aside until saddle soap has dried
Once dry, apply Aussie Leather conditioner to both sides of journal cover and strap
Apply using your hands until thoroughly coated
Set aside for 10 minutes to allow conditioner to soak into leather
Using a cotton rag, remove excess conditioner
Continue to buff journal cover and strap until polished
6. Punch Book Binding & Strap Holes
Mark and punch the book binding holes in journal cover
Mark the holes using the template and a scratch awl
Punch out the holes using role hole punches
The size of the round hole punch is determined by the size of your stitching needle & thread
Punch out 1/2” oblong punch holes in journal cover
Part 2
1. Fold Paper & Make Journal Signatures
Fold all journal paper in half using a bone folder
45 pages total: 42 white sheets of paper, 3 cover pages (we used craft paper)
Make journal signatures
Each journal signature consists of 14 sheets of white paper, and one cover page
Create journal signatures by opening each page and inserting them into the cover page
2. Create a Template for Binding Holes
Take an additional sheet of paper & fold in half
Center the spine of the paper against the binding holes of the journal template
Mark the binding holes onto the spine of the paper
Unfold & refold the paper, so the binding hole markings are on the inside of the paper
Punch a hole in each binding hole location using a scratch awl
Repeat this process for all three journal signatures
3. Punch Binding Holes in Journal Signatures
Insert the paper template you just created into the center page of one journal signature
Make sure all pages are lined up
Using an awl, punch a hole in each binding hole location
Punch the hole through all sheets of the journal signature at a 45 degree angle
Be sure to punch straight through the spine of each journal signature
Repeat this process for all three journal signatures
4. Customize the Cover Page (Optional)
If you decide to customize the cover page, this is the time to do so
We write a verse, note, or quote on the cover page using a typewriter
5. Cut Thread and Thread the Needle
Cut your thread to approximately 6 feet & thread a needle onto one end
6. Book Binding
Watch video for real-time, full-process instructions for binding the journal
7. Attaching the Strap
Insert the strap through both 1/2” oblong holes in the journal cover
Tie an overhand knot at the end of the strap
Wrap the strap around your journal cover (watch this step in the video for how we wrap our journals)
8: Finished!
The Farmstead Ministries
The Farmstead Ministries is a family-owned company committed to serving as many people as possible. We created The Farmstead in response to the overwhelming number of people who don’t have access to basic human needs for themselves or their families. At The Farmstead, we use our gifts to create hand-crafted products, then use the proceeds to meet people’s needs, empower lives, and spread the Gospel.
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