These three journal-and-bag sets are something I'm genuinely proud of — not just because of the journals, but because they're a collaboration with my mum. She made the bags; I made the little journals that live inside them. The sets are listed in my Etsy shop, and this video is a full look at all three: the bags, the journals, and how they fit together as a matched pair.
What we cover
A flip-through of all three handmade fabric bag and mini junk journal sets — the bags my mum hand-stitched and beaded, the journals I made to coordinate with them, and a close look at the pages, pockets, and embellishments inside each journal.
What you'll learn
How a soft but sturdy mini journal cover comes together from fabric and cardstock — the covers on these journals aren't hard board, but they hold their shape beautifully because there's a layer of cardstock sandwiched between two pieces of fabric. Soft enough to flex, firm enough to feel like a proper little book.
How to match a journal to a bag using coordinating fabrics — on the third set especially, you can see how I used the same fabric from the bag on the journal cover. It's a small decision that makes the set feel intentional rather than assembled.
What goes inside a journal gift set — each journal comes with a little envelope tucked inside, filled with bits and pieces: tags, stickers, pretty paper scraps, fabric pieces. These are things the recipient can use throughout the journal to embellish pages as they go. It's a small touch but it means the journal is genuinely ready to use.
How I use pockets, envelopes, and fold-out pages to add journaling space — across all three journals (which share the same interior layout, 68 pages each at 5.5 by 3.75 inches), there are:
- A pocket on the first page, with a "this journal belongs to" card in cardstock
- Multiple envelopes throughout, some stamped or stenciled
- Fold-out pages for extra writing space, held with a little gold paper clip and bead
- Tags tucked into pockets
- Doilies, book pages with quotes, grid paper, and wiggly hand-sewn details throughout
What hand-beading and hand-stitching look like up close on a handmade bag — my mum is a perfectionist, and the video tries to show the detail work as clearly as I can: seed beads sewn individually along ribbon, black beads holding down lace, beads at the ends of zippers, tassels, ruffled ribbon, flowers with a single seed bead at the centre of each one. Some of it is genuinely hard to capture on camera, but you'll get a real sense of the standard she works to.
How bag structure and strap length affect how you carry it — the three bags are made from different upholstery fabrics, which affects both the look and the feel. The first has the shortest strap and works best as a hand clutch. The second has a longer strap for shoulder or crossbody wear. The third is made from a thinner upholstery fabric, so it's more pliable — and it's also the roomiest inside.
Tips & gotchas
The cardstock-between-fabric technique for the journal covers is worth remembering if you're making journals to sell or give as gifts. It gives you a cover that feels considered — not floppy, not rigid — and it's forgiving to work with. You're not fighting with bookboard, but you still get a result that holds up in daily use.
If you're thinking about purchasing (or purchasing anything handmade at the moment), please factor in longer-than-usual shipping times. Things are taking much longer to arrive than they normally would, so give yourself — and the package — some patience.
The sets in this video sold quickly. If they're gone by the time you're watching, more are on the way — my mum is already making new bags, and I'll be making journals to go with them.
The bags are hand-stitched and beaded to a standard I couldn't come close to myself, and the journals are built to be written in — pockets to fill, envelopes to tuck things into, pages that fold out when you need more room. Watching my mum work on her side of these while I worked on mine was its own kind of pleasure, and I hope that comes through in the sets themselves.
