https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/stocking-filler-easy-handmade-notebooks • Posted by Jennifer R.
I thought I'd have a go at making some notebooks for a recent craft stall I was doing. I just made it up as I went along using scraps from my paper box and I was really pleased with the outcome!
I thought I'd have a go at making some notebooks for a recent craft stall I was doing. I just made it up as I went along using scraps from my paper box and I was really pleased with the outcome!
Gather all your equipment. Find a postcard or something similar as a template so you can make all your notebooks the same size. Draw around the template onto the card and cut out the shape. I recommend using thick card so you have a durable cover for your notebooks.
Fold the card in half so you have the seam for your notebook. Cover the outer side of the card in your chose wrapping paper by glueing it on a trimming the edges carefully. Add stickers, vintage stamps, cut outs from music manuscripts/ old magazines to decorate further. Fold it again while it's still wet to stretch the paper into shape a bit before it dries. Allow to dry.
In the meantime, you can cut out the paper inserts. These need to be smaller than the cover so you could use your template and then trim them down, or a make a new smaller template. I used lots of different coloured paper. Cut out many pieces and then fold them and just try out how many you think wil fit nicely inside the cover.
Once the wrapping paper has dried, apply the sticky back plastic. You should cut out the piece of sticky back plastic so it is larger than the book. Then peel the paper from the plastic slowly from one corner, pressing the plastic down as you go to prevent bubbles forming.
To attach the paper you can either sew it on using a strong needle and strong thread. I just sewed it through two holes in the middle, threading it through several times to secure it (see picture). You could also use ribbon by tying it around the seam of the book and tying it in a tight knot.
I put the notebooks into twos of similar design and then tied them both together with ribbon to make a nice set. Et voilà!