About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
3h00

Multi purpose hand made books
These can be made from lots of old materials you may have lying around. I've made some with double-sided wrapping paper and others with old paper bags, you can also use fabric. Pages can be made out of thin card for photo albums or paper for sketch/notebooks. I like to give them as presents.

1st 'how to' so I hope instructions are clear enough.

Posted by Jacqueline C. Published See Jacqueline C.'s 9 projects »
PrintEmbed
  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 1
    Step 1

    Cut thick card (as small or large as you want your book to be) as shown and hole punch the hinges. Lay out as shown and then glue onto your covering paper/fabric. Only glue around the edges of your card to avoid air bubbles/bumps. Make sure the spine is wide enough for the amount of pages you want your book to have.

    Poke through the holes in the hinges with something pointed so you don't lose track of where they are.

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 2
    Step 2

    Stick 3 strips of masking tape between the hinges and the spine - press down firmly into the grooves to make them neat.

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 3
    Step 3

    Trim off corners at a diagonal angle.

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 4
    Step 4

    Fold and press down covering paper and then glue down all the way round, again making sure that you press down into the hinge/spine grooves. You may find the corners need a bit more trimming to make them neat. Again only glue the very edges of the paper to avoid bumps or air bubbles. Poke through your holes again if you've covered them up!

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 5
    Step 5

    Measure and cut inside covering paper to shape and stick down as shown. Again, making sure you only apply glue around the edges of the paper to avoid bubbles/bumps.

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 6
    Step 6

    Line up your hole punched pages and then close the book, making sure holes stay lined up.

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 7
    Step 7

    Thread ribbon/string etc through holes and tie how you like!

    With this one I ended up making two bows. The bigger the book the more holes you need to support the weight of the pages.

  • How to make a notebook journal. Notebook / Sketchbook / Photo Album - Step 8
    Step 8

    Finished!

Versions

Comments

Steph.
Steph. · Reading, England, GB · 212 projects
Love it! That is such an awesome idea ^^
Reply
sabrina :) L.
sabrina :) L. · Bangkok, TH · 4 projects
OMG i love the motif!
Reply
Jackie B.
Jackie B. · São Paulo, State of Mato Grosso, BR
GREAT idea! I just love it!
Reply
The Malz!
The Malz! · Erlanger, Kentucky, US · 2 projects
This is such a great idea! I made a few for Christmas gifts and they were a huge hit!
Reply
Tiamin
Tiamin · Melbourne, Victoria, AU
You're right--- this is such a lovely idea for a gift!
Reply
Jacqueline C.
Jacqueline C. · 12 projects
Thank you for the positive feedback!
Reply
Eien
Eien · Conyers, Georgia, US · 3 projects
Oh this is SO cute. I think I have time to make some before the holidays
Reply
aya R.
aya R. · Brooklyn, New York, US · 17 projects
That's really nice!
Reply
mlc1803 m.
mlc1803 m. · Chihuahua, Chihuahua, MX
omg! i love your mini books =) nice work
Reply
michelle G.
michelle G. · Antigonish, Nova Scotia, CA · 1258 projects
this is a tottaly cute book
Reply

More Projects