Nature Art Journal
Learn Botanical Eco Printing on Paper & how to Hand-Bind Your Own Books

Making your own books feels like mastering something very special. No need to buy notebooks or art journals when you can create your own!

Imagine opening a handmade book — and seeing delicate leaf prints, rust patterns, and earthy tones on every page. Now imagine you made that book yourself.

In this immersive, self-paced course, you’ll learn to eco print on paper using plants, leaves, and rusty objects — and then transform those pages into a finished artwork using Japanese stab stitch, pamphlet stitch, and coptic binding.

Each step is thoughtful, creative, and deeply connected to the natural world.
Learn how to eco-dye, stitch & bind your own art book!

This is one of those traditional crafts I thought was always

too specialised for me, in my wonky creative ways. But I

ignored the 'experts' and have created some stunning bespoke books using my own papers and nature-printed designs.


Are you ready for a new creative journey...
You'll learn:

Eco-Printing on paper:

→ How to prepare leaves and rusty items for printing on paper.

 → Tips for using watercolour paper for dyeing.  → Techniques for bundling, steaming, and coaxing colour from plants.  

→ Using iron and rust safely and effectively. 

→ Achieving vibrant, detailed botanical prints.

Creative bookbinding:

→ Japanese stab stitch (a beautiful, visible binding style).  

→ Pamphlet stitch (perfect for zines or journals).

→ Coptic binding (an elegant, open spine technique).  

→ How to turn your eco printed pages into a finished piece of book art 

→ Tips for layout, thread choice, and finishing touches.

Let's create your own tactile nature art journal
Botanical Pages & the Nature of Book Binding
Join today for only $67AU

Converts to $45US, £35UK

INSTANT ACCESS:

The complete course content is available immediately,
so you can binge all of it this week, or take as much time as you need!

HERE’S WHAT’S INCLUDED

In this course, I’ll guide you through the process of eco printing on watercolour paper using plants, leaves, and rusty objects — creating richly patterned, earthy pages. 


Then, I’ll show you how to turn those pages into hand-bound books using simple, meditative bookbinding techniques. No experience needed — just a love for slow creative processes, natural materials, and beautiful textures.

eco-dyeing on paper

  • using watercolour paper & gathered garden plant materials learn how to naturally dye on paper.
  •  we’ll work with leaves, flowers, and bark to create colour, patterns, and prints.

book binding

  • pamphlet stitching 
  •  Japanese stab stitching 
  • coptic binding 
  •  what tools to use & how to use what you have

projects

  • make a nature-printed art journal 
  • coptic bound silk fabric covered book 
  • simple notebooks using found & scrap paper

nature inspired art

  • On-demand means immediate access.
  • Self-paced - watch whenever you want.
  • Lifetime* access - no time limit.

Someone once told me that you had to be a book-binding expert to make books.

I’m so glad that I ignored that someone! 


I used to make little books when I was younger, but feel seriously happy at my grown-up self for making real and proper books with a dedication to the binding and stitching. 

 

This course will show you how to make various styles and types of books from simple stab-stitching to more intricate sewing techniques. 

 

And as the fear of a blank page sometimes gets to me, I decided to also share how to dye your own paper to create a magical, special, super inspiring journal book with a naturally dyed fabric cover.

Hey, I'm Ellie.


A textile artist, author and photographer, living and working in the rainforest in Northern NSW, Australia.


I create my work with instinct, and love to use what's to hand - be it precious antique or vintage fabrics, experiments and samples from my (natural) dye pots, scraps from my improv hand quilting, or collected treasures along the way. 


My way of sharing is to encourage you to create your work with your own visual voice, tapping into your inner whisper so that your innate creative self can joyfully express itself on fabric, paper, yarn, or any tactile material you want. 

Dye, Stitch, and Craft Botanical Paper Art

Have you ever pressed a leaf between pages or admired rust patterns on old metal? There’s a quiet kind of magic in the marks nature makes.


A gentle, nature-based course guiding you through eco printing, traditional bookbinding techniques, and assembling a finished piece of art — one that tells a story through plants, found objects, paper, and thread.
QUESTIONS?
  • What if I'm a complete beginner?
    My videos are filmed as if you're right beside me in my studio. My videos are aimed for total beginners to learn how to create. You'll learn step-by-step how to eco dye onto paper and bind your own book. No experience necessary at all!
  • What tools or materials do I need?
    You'll need:
    → watercolour paper. This is made out of material such as cotton rag.
    → leaves, flowers, bark.
    → an old steamer - metal or bamboo.
    → an old saucepan that you use for your natural dye projects. You won't be able to reuse this for your cooking.
    → String, clamps, some pieces of wood or tiles.
    → Needle and thread - thicker embroidery threads can be good.
    → A sharp pointed tool. I use an awl, but a metal skewer or even a large nail or sharp needle can work.
    → Fabric to use as the cover of your book.
    → Cardboard, glue stick.
  • What does 'lifetime' mean?
    This means the life of the course - not so much your or my lifetime :)
    If I do ever retire the courses, I'll give you ample notice so you can download the content to keep and watch from your own device.
  • How do I access the course?
    My courses are hosted on a site called ThriveCart. You can access it easily on your device - desktop, laptop, phone, tablet - wherever you can get internet access.

    Once you purchase you'll receive an email on how to log into your student portal and access your course.
  • What if I don't like the course?
    There is no refund or exchange on any of my online courses or digital products. Though if you feel like the course isn't as it's been described please let me know and we can work something out.

    I stand by my courses in their quality, value, content, and what I provide. If you've never taken one of my online courses, please check out my free course available on my website petalplum.com.au
  • What currency are your courses in?
    My courses are priced in Australian dollars (AU$). Your bank (Stripe or PayPal) will automatically convert to your currency for you, so no need to worry about that. You can visit XE.com to check the current conversion rate, but please note that all banks do a slightly different conversion rate.
  • I have another questions
    Of course, please send me an email to ellie@petalplum.com.au and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Eco printing on paper & Book binding course

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    • Total payment
    • 1xEco printing and book binding$67
      -+

    All prices in AUD

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    Contact me: ellie@petalplum.com.au | All craft courses Petalplum.com.au

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