Journal Cover Design

I decided last night that it's time for a new journal. The one I'm working in is pages shy of being full, it's expanded by inserts of many types, and no longer lies flat. Not to mention, today begins a fresh month, and this month begins a new season.

So today I got out a blank spiral bound journal (actually sold as a sketchbook, it has plain white thick pages that ink won't bleed through, heavy enough paper that you can attach things to, and large enough (7.5x10") that I don't feel cramped on the page, but not so big that I feel intimidated by all the space) and set to work. 

I wanted to incorporate themes of season in transition, change, beauty & hope, and fresh, new beginnings.

I got out my scrapbook paper (I actually don't scrapbook, per se, although my journals include some scrapbooking) and looked at the all the papers I have. I was drawn to a few, so I set those out, and thought about how to layer and what design elements I would want to use. 

Anyway, long story short, this is what I came up with:

I chose a black base paper with white polka dots to symbolize winter, darkness, snow...

On top of that I layered a spring-like image of pink hydrangeas {incidentally, my mom's favorite flower}, to indicate beauty, spring, and new beginnings.

I added the butterfly on the bottom corner to indicate change, transitions, hope, freedom and peace.

Then, to top it all off, I added mini silver scrapbooking brads to be the centers of the hydrangeas. I loved how this made the whole thing pop, and the silver lends a bit of richness and symbolism of good things to come.

I love how this cover turned out!