Journal Cover Series - Reader's Digest Books Upcycled Journal Covers 

Kraftex is awesome. It can be sewn, washed, painted, stamped, embossed, and it looks like leather!

I love all the spine templates. Made me smile to see someone is as obsessive as I am.

I love watching you!!!! That fact that you don't edit is encouraging to those of us who fumble doing projects. I never know why you put colors together but then the end project is beautiful! Thank you for sharing your life and craft with us in such a fun learning environment.

As an alternative to Tyvec if you have pets use the material from a bag of cat or dog It food works great and is made from a material very similar to Tyvec!

My thrift store often has RDs for 99 cents all of the time and half off on Mondays so I buy them when I see them. This week, I spotted a solid red book that said Reader's Digest and I thought it was a different size and fatter than any I had seen before. Turns out it is a bound book of July- December 1988 copies of the magazine! Complete with all of the tear-out cards and inserts. There's even one to send in to be an organ donor! I think it may be a keeper - although it does have some cool advertisements so...

I am a newbie and have been binge watching this cover series bc I do everything except the covers and my journal sit. So far your series has encouraged me to think about what I have. Your feedsack pactchwork jogged my mind about all the quilting UFOs i have after 25+ years of quilting. I decided to offset the 2 squares and it made the cover so interesting. Thanks

Good construction tips :) Thanks Gayle!

Always good to see how to fix a book up..it’s a good refresher...🌷

Gail, when the Fabri-Tac gets thick you can thin it down with acetone. I used nail polish remover and it worked fine, add enough to thin it and shake well. Hugs. Maggie. ❤️🥰🇨🇦❤️

For the patchwork, you could also use fusible web to glue them to a backing fabric.

Kraft-tex is the fabric they make Levi labels out of. It’s sewable, washable and very strong. Amazing stuff. Gayle will add it to her favorite things list on amazon!

I'm a couple years late to the game, but I'm loving this series!

Nice to see different ways of doing covers. The mixed media one is interesting. Can't wait to see what else you do with it.

So glad you are doing a journal cover series! That's the part I'm still nervous about doing... Thanks

I just now watched this, and you've answered all my questions. I didn't know how I was going to do this without cutting the binding out. Well, now I know. Thank you, Joyce

That tapestry cover turned out really well!

Hi Gayle, having watched the videos now in order I wanted to add the fabric covers are awesome. Gosh you must be delighted.

Thanks Gayle, I needed to see this, you give so much valuable info! You are a joy to watch.

Gayle, I have been watching your channel for a couple of months now, and have only commented a few times. Now I have visited your home page and found your playlists. I have just finished the 514 Craft With Me list, your Jimmy Joe list, and now I have started this Journal Covers video series. I am learning a lot..thank you very much for all of this detailed information and instruction. You are an excellent maker!! TFS. I have been liking your videos, now I will also comment more often. Thank you for all of your hard work making these videos!

I am catching up on Summer videos..what a great series! Hugs!

I just picked up 2 RD covers at a used bookstore in a town near where we always camp. (The Julian Book House in Julian, Ca for anyone living or traveling in the backcountry of San Diego. Just want to put in a kind word for a wonderful shop owner.) Can't wait to get started! LOVE your videos!

I love what you did with all the different journal covers! Thank you from a new journal junkie!!! ❤️❤️❤️

I'm so in love with the chenille!!!!!!!!

Very helpful for me! Thank you Gayle!

BEAUTIFUL covers!💕💕

So glad to see I have a few attributes of your amazing processes. I have a template or “mock up” of almost everything I create. Only way I can actually remember. Thanks so much for this series. Building my cover stash along with you.

Really enjoy and appreciate the teaching. Great ideas. Thank you so much.

Love the instructions❤

It’s fun to watch different journal makers come up with their own version of covers.

I really like the gesso and acrylic. Cant wait to see what you do to finish it!

Happy birthday Gayle. I have been waiting for this video. I have a stash of these books to use up. Awesome. Thanks.

How nice to see the appeal of the Reader's Digest books. I had no idea. Another great use of Gesso too. Thank you Gayle.

This series has been very helpful to me. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Gayle this has been a very helpful series. I think the Reader's Digest books are just about the perfect journal size.

Vacation has me a little behind on my videos but yours are the first I am catching up on! I am loving the journal cover series! Thank you!

It boggles my mind how you always have the “perfect” fabric that matches the old books! I’m looking forward to the painted one finishing touches!

Gayle I really appreciate this series on creating journal covers. Other than using card stock, I’ve been hesitant to try more complicated (or fun!) covers. I’ve been a quilter for decades and have an alarmingly huge fabric stash, and you have inspired me to use some of my more interesting fabrics on journal covers. I look forward to more fun ideas and tips. Thank you!

Wow Gayle I don’t know which is my favorite..love them all❣️

Turquoise and pink are my two fav colors also :) Love the video!

Another great video! Love your stack of spine hole placement templates! I will be marking and saving mine from now on.

I love the journal cover tutorials. So good girl! I have tried the cover with the 9x12 envelopes. You are a great great teacher. Love it!

I'm really loving this series. You make it look so easy. I'm working up the nerve to do this.

I love how the blue RD cover came out. That is gorgeous!!!

Love this series its very helpful and I am addicted to the Readers Digest Condensed Books got my own collection started. Tyfs

Love your videos!

I love the yellow! Funny how we’re all different xxx

I have collected a number of Reader's Digest books! This is very helpful!

You always make me laugh...good to know I’m not the only one. 😄

I have that same cutter and I absolutely love mine. It is a great item to have. Awesome video and love the tapestry material you used on the cover. Thanks again for sharing. Hugs ❤

Great video Gayle, I love all your videos 🌸💕🌸 I’m so happy to see you use the Readers Digest books . Yay hugs 🤗

Yes, this was very helpful! I have several gutted Readers Digest books and this was the perfect video I needed to not be so intimidated to get started on them. As always, thanks, Gayle 💕

In love with these! Now I have a better idea (and some inspiration) for what I would do with my RD book💜 Thank you so much for the inspiration 🤗

Hi, Fun to be back here. Been on holiday and so many fun video to look at. Thank you for sharing!!!

I like that chenille cover - Wow! The quilting is gorgeous. Also like the other quilted red, white, blue.

Great video, I keep learning new things!

Some great ideas in this video.. thanks for sharing Gayle

Amazing video as always, I'm enjoying this playlist as being new to journaling its really interesting & so easy to follow, thank you so much for sharing

Never saw the blue jean stuff before, I thought is was suede on the pants. 🥴 The fires sound awfully scary!! I hope the people, pets and wildlife are all ok. Thinking of all the beauty that will be lost is heartbreaking. Enjoy the visit with your son, I've watched many dumb & dumber type movies with my children! They will always be our babies.😉 You are an excellent teacher!! You leave no stone unturned!! Excellent tutorial and fun visit. The covers are so yummy in their own way. Thanks for all you do Gail!❣️💙💜💚

Terrific job, i have a lot of readers digest. Thanks you.

TFS!! I sure needed this tutorial tooo!! It was so informative & entertaining as usual!!!! Blessings!❤️🥰

Thanks so much for this video, it was super helpful! I had found several old readers digest books at my local recycling center and wasn’t sure what to do with them. Now I have some great ideas!

Woohoo! What fun! Thanks!

The purple RD book is beautiful! So is the pink & turquoise cover you’ve started. I’m really looking forward to seeing that continue. 😁💜👍🏻

I love your videos,you will have a go at anything and are so full of ideas,i have the same trouble not sleeping as my head is so busy with things! You're so much fun it's a pity I'm in the uk,you would make a great neighbour!!

I laughed at what you said about spending time with your son. What we do for our children. Spending time with them when they get older is hard to do, so "yes" I would watch horror movies too, if that's what it took. Enjoyed watching this video. You should put some of these covers in your shop. It's not like you don't have plenty. :) Thanks Gayle for sharing.

Oh, I love that yellow Reader's Digest!!!

I've been a bit behind on the videos but I really like how this cover came out when i saw it in the other videos. I really like these videos they are super inspiring !

Great ideas, I have some really pretty RD books so thanks for the tutorial!

I use the spine bits that you pulled off as a part of collage. Great video today!

OMG, Now I must go searching for pretty, old reader's digest books!!! I do love the size of them as I remember!!! Thanks so much for thinking of us newbies and showing this procedure!!!! You are just the best!!!! Oh, and I did order a sample pack of that CraftTex, sounds like good stuff to have on hand!!

Can I just say I want it! That blue cover you fixed is wonderful!!! So very beautiful. You have such an eye Gayle. Sorry about the fires near you. I thought all of California was going to burn down around us last year. Stay safe, keeping ya’ll in my thoughts and prayers.

Great tutorial, Gayle! This is exactly what I needed. Now I know how to salvage my Readers Digest with the broken off spine.

Love it. Thanks for sharing.😍🌴

Paint? My favorite thing! Can't wait to see how this turns out!

I loved this video! It's exactly what I needed. I've got some Reader's Digest books and they are in different coditions, so I really needed to know how to handle them. Now I know what to do with the ugly covers. I also have some that are a solid color. I love the gesso and mixed media. Can't wait to see what you do with that book. I've used one with sea horses on it. My friend loves the ocean, so I used that one for her. I watched one of Chelle's videos and she used a Reader's Digest book. So that helped me with that journal. But I love that you showed other options. It will help me with my other Reader's Digest books. Thank you so much!

I am really excited to see the finished covers of all these beautiful books. If EVER I finally get my ETSY store open, I have several RD books. The statistics of these horrific fires are always so heartbreaking Gayle. All the families displaced, danger to our firefighters and loss of pets and property are astonishing.

I also have a stack of readers digest books. (So handsome) They are a great size for chunky journals. I love your idea of saving the spines for bookmarks.

Thanks a bunch being a newbie this really helps

Fun covers! :) tyfs!

I love the mustard yellow! It seems to be my favorite, these days. I got several of the RD at the local antique shop, too.

Loved this

Watched your video's for 2 hours tonight had to subscribe. Thanks for the tips loved your humor I'm hooked

Thank you. Very helpful.

I've thought for years about my shelves of RD books and wondered whether I should just get rid of them, and I am so glad I didn't. It never occurred to me to use them as covers for my journals. All except my old 1963 copy of The Swiss Family Robinson from RD. That's one of my favourites (and its spine is showing that fact). Always inspiring, thank you :)

Thank you Miss Gayle!!! I hope you will be doing a video on the naked journals too! They look fun!!

You mentioned your journal cover playlist in a video and I’m loving it! I’m not commenting on each video, but wanted to let you know I’m watching and say thanks! I’m learning a ton, like don’t put a bunch of glue where you need to stitch signatures in. 😂🤣😂🤦🏼‍♀️ I broke two needles recently so I think that tip will help! 💙💙💙

You are too funny! Hold your ears ... nothing! I about fell out of my chair laughing!!! Thanks for this series of videos! I'm just getting into making journals, & this gives me great ideas!!

Gayle you must have such a fun variety of fabric as you always find such pretty combinations. I just scored 3 bags of RD, not quite as pretty as yours, but it was perfect timing for me that you are doing these as it gives me ideas! Thank you for the inspiration.

Just been reading about the fire. Hope you're safe Gayle. Loving this series x

Great video. Most of the RD I find at Goodwill are plain but occasionally I guess someone cleans out grandma’s closet & I find the old patterned ones, to my delight. Yours are a beautiful collection of oldies. Gesso is a great fix for the plain RD covers 👍

This was very helpful. It will be fun to see what you do with the painted cover. We still need to go to Hobby Lobby.

Love your collection of spines. Lol 😝

Can't wait to see what you do with last one! tyfs ;-)

Great video Gayle, love the size of the Reader's Digest books so wish I could find them here, even just one, I'd really like to make a junk journal out of one, such pretty covers on them. Really enjoying this series, mind you I love all your video's I watch them all, but don't usually comment, I need to change that lol. tfs....Hugs...Mary

Love what you did with this book cover, looking forward to part 2 of this :) PS. I too love horror movies my favorate .

Loved the video as always. Readers digest books are very hard to find here now. But I’m searching. Found some books from my yard sale that I could use as glue pages so I’m doing that now!!

Hi Gayle! Your Levi’s patches are now made with “Jacron paper”; However, it’s easier to find companies that sell “Kraft-Tex Paper Fabric”. Thank you for sharing your spine reinforcing techniques❣️

Thank you Gayle very informative!💕😺Amy

I love the patterned RD covers you seem to get easily in the US. I'm in Australia and can't find them anywhere. I can only get the plain covers. Glad you got to use your new fabric Gayle as it looked great as a spine. Hugs Linda

Great tutorial, Gayle! I couldn't help but think that the yellow cover would have been nice for a bee journal, though I look forward to seeing what fabulous thing you do with it! Hugs.