I did both a watercolor perfect binding and a mixed paper sewn binding for my 2 journals.

The larger one has scrapbooking paper as the cover, and the smaller one has blue kraft paper with one of my watercolors glued on the front. I used Dorland's Wax Medium to waterproof the painting, then ended up covering the entire cover with the wax as well. I did discover Amazon packing paper does not make a good paper for the middle of a signature; it did not hold up well to the sewing.