Make a Stenciled Fabric Journal Cover with August 2026 "Washed Ashore" Stencil Club Stencil Set

Turning an Ocean-Inspired Stencil into a Fabric Journal Cover

Hello! My name is Kim Hamburg, and I am a mixed-media artist with a particular love for stencils. I enjoy discovering how a single stencil can change depending on the surface, the colors, and the way it is layered. Lately, I have also been interested in making journal covers, so this project brought those two interests together.

A handmade cover can transform even the simplest notebook into something personal and useful. It also provides a wonderful surface for experimenting with paint, pattern, and texture.

This month’s StencilClub exclusive is Washed Ashore, designed by artist June Pfaff Daley. June created the collection around a beach-inspired theme, drawing on organic forms found in the sea, including kelp, seaweed, plankton, and other drifting, plantlike shapes.

That was her vision, but one of the things I love most about stencils is that they leave room for each artist to see something different.

The large, flowing stencil immediately reminded me of bamboo. Its long stems, segmented joints, and narrow organic shapes made me think of tall plants growing together in a grove. I decided to follow that interpretation and use the stencil to create a layered fabric design for the cover of a small notebook.

Supplies

• Washed Ashore StencilClub stencil set, designed by June Pfaff Daley
• Small notebook or journal
• Cotton, linen, or cotton-linen fabric
• House paint or acrylic paint for the base color
• Jacquard textile paint in three colors, or any acrylic paint
• Stencil brush, cosmetic sponge, or foam applicator
• Posca paint marker
• Foam brush or sponge for applying glue
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Additional papers, optional, for creating your own journal pages
• PVA glue mixture

My PVA Glue Recipe

For this project, I used my original PVA glue mixture:

• 3/5 white PVA glue
• 1/5 water
• 1/5 gloss medium

For an easy-to-measure batch, combine:

• 3 tablespoons white PVA glue
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon gloss medium

Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a clean container. The water makes the glue easier to spread, while the gloss medium adds flexibility and creates a smooth adhesive mixture for attaching fabric and paper.

Preparing the Fabric

For this project, I used fabric cut from an old pillowcase. You can use almost any fabric you have available, although I recommend cotton, linen, or a cotton-linen blend. Natural fibers tend to accept paint well and are easy to fold and glue.

Before beginning, make sure the fabric is large enough to cover the notebook you plan to use, with approximately one extra inch extending beyond all four edges.

Paint the entire piece of fabric with a solid base color. Depending on the original color and pattern of the fabric, you may need more than one coat.

I used regular house paint for the base, but acrylic paint will also work well. Allow each coat to dry completely before adding another.

Building the Three-Color Design

For the stenciled pattern, I used Jacquard textile paint in three colors, although any acrylic paint can be used.

I positioned the large stencil on the dry fabric and stenciled the entire design in white. Once the white paint was dry, I moved the stencil approximately one-quarter inch from its original position and stenciled the complete design again in green.

After the green layer dried, I shifted the stencil another quarter inch and repeated the process in yellow.

The slight shift between each color created a much more interesting effect than a single stenciled image would have produced. The three offset layers gave the design movement and depth. The bamboo-like forms remained visible, but they also became more abstract—almost like a hand-printed textile with intentionally imperfect registration.

When the paint was completely dry, I used a Posca paint marker to add small marks at the joints of the bamboo. These details emphasized the segmented structure of the plant and brought some definition back into the overlapping pattern.

The finished design created an interesting balance between botanical imagery and abstraction.

Preparing the Journal Cover

I used a small notebook from Dollar Tree as the foundation for my journal. I carefully removed the paper pages from the original cover, keeping both the pages and the cover intact so they could be reassembled later.

Place the open notebook cover on the back of the stenciled fabric. Cut the fabric so that approximately one inch extends beyond every edge of the cover.

This extra fabric will be folded around the edges to create a wrapped cover.

Attaching the Fabric

I used my PVA glue recipe to attach the fabric to the outside of the notebook cover.

Apply an even layer of glue over the entire outer surface of the cover. A foam brush or sponge works especially well for this step because it makes it easier to cover the complete surface, including the edges and corners.

Carefully place the cover, glue-side down, onto the back of the fabric. Make sure the design is positioned the way you want it and that approximately one inch of fabric remains around every edge.

Turn the cover over and smooth the fabric from the center outward. Press out any wrinkles or air pockets, then allow the cover to dry.

Once the fabric is secure, turn the cover over and begin wrapping the one-inch fabric allowance around the inside edges.

Before folding the corners, make a small diagonal cut in the fabric near each corner. This removes some of the bulk and allows the fabric to lie flatter when folded. Be careful not to cut too close to the edge of the cover.

Apply more PVA glue, fold the fabric over the edges, and press it firmly into place. Trim away any excess fabric as needed, then allow the wrapped cover to dry completely.

Finishing the Interior

To give the notebook a cleaner and more finished appearance, cut two additional pieces of fabric slightly smaller than the inside front and back covers.

These pieces will conceal the folded fabric edges and create a neat lining.

Apply PVA glue to the inside covers, position the smaller fabric pieces over them, and smooth them carefully into place. Make sure all the edges are firmly attached, then allow everything to dry thoroughly.

Reassembling the Journal

Once the cover is completely dry, place the original Dollar Tree journal pages back inside and staple them into the cover.

You can also replace the original pages with your own selection of papers. Drawing paper, writing paper, lightweight watercolor paper, painted papers, vintage ledger sheets, or a combination of surfaces could all be used to create a more personalized handmade journal.

The same technique could also be adapted for sketchbooks, travel journals, small albums, or handmade books.

Seeing the Stencil Differently

June Pfaff Daley created Washed Ashore with organic ocean forms such as kelp, seaweed, plankton, and other plantlike shapes in mind. I love that the very same stencil led me in another direction.

By seeing bamboo in the large design, shifting the stencil between colors, and emphasizing the plant joints with a paint marker, I was able to create a pattern that felt botanical, abstract, and entirely my own.

That is the beauty of artist-designed stencils. They give us a place to begin without telling us exactly where we must end.

I would love to see what you make with the Washed Ashore stencil set. Be sure to share your projects on Instagram and tag me so I can see how you interpret these designs.

Find me on Instagram:
Kim Hamburg — @gluepaperscissors_

Find June Pfaff Daley on Instagram:

@junedaleyart

StencilGirl Products:
Instagram: @stencilgirl_products
Website: stencilgirlproducts.com