These small journals started as an experiment using what I already had around my studio. Old prints of my photography, cardboard, washi tape, laminating sheets, and a spiral binding machine I picked up on a whim. No fancy plan, just curiosity and a little winter nesting energy.

Each cover begins with one of my photos. Flowers, textures, close up details that already tell a quiet story. I layer the image onto sturdy cardboard, frame it with washi tape, and seal it with laminate for durability. Some covers are bold and graphic, others softer and more vintage. No two are ever the same.

I love that these journals are imperfect. You can see the layers. You can tell they were touched and assembled by a real person, not mass produced. That is part of the charm.

The inside pages are simple. Plain paper meant for writing, sketching, lists, or whatever shows up that day. These are not precious journals that sit untouched on a shelf. They are meant to be used.

I’ve been giving most of these away to family and friends. Little gifts that say “I made this for you.” It feels good to turn my photography into something tactile and personal, something that lives off the screen.

This project has also been a reminder that creativity does not always need a purpose or an audience. Sometimes it just needs a quiet table, a stack of materials, and permission to play.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I highly recommend making something with what you already have. No pressure. No perfection. Just creating for the sake of creating.

More of these will definitely happen.