These little notebooks are easy to make and a great way to recycle cereal boxes or pretty scrap paper. They’re also a lovely homemade gift.
You’ll need plain or lined paper, lightweight cardstock for the cover and something to bind it together. I use a needle and thread but you could also try glue or tape.
Cover
If you’re looking for an easy way to make a cover for your notebook, try this simple DIY project. It’s a great way to add some personality to your notebook, and it’s easy enough for kids to do, too!
Start with a flat piece of paper that’s about the same size as your notebook. Fold it down the middle and crease it with your thumbnail. Repeat this for the other side of the paper, then cut off any excess. You can also use a template for your design, but be sure to choose one that won’t bleed through the paper.
Next, stack the pages of your notebook on top of each other and use a ruler to mark a line down the center. If you have Wonder Clips, they work well here — if not, binder clips will do the trick. Once you’ve marked your lines, carefully stick the notebook onto the kraft paper, making sure to line up the edges of the spine.
If the notebook isn’t a perfect fit, you can cut a 1-inch border of cardstock paper and glue it to the inside surface of the notebook cover base to hide any raw edges. If you want to decorate your notebook cover further, you can apply a piece of white craft paint or even use a strand of baker’s twine to tie a bow around the neck.
Pages
Stack your paper together and use the binder clips to hold them tightly. Then apply a thick line of glue to the top using your paintbrush. Use the bristles to spread the glue evenly, so each paper gets a good dose of it. Once the glue has dried, add some washi or designer tape over the top of the papers. This step is optional, but it helps keep the papers from accidentally tearing or popping off.
Once you’ve got the cover and pages done, it’s time to bind your notebook. You can use ribbon for this, or you can cut short lengths of string and loop them through each set of holes along the spine. Tie a knot at the end of the thread to prevent it from coming loose.
If you’re going for a more rustic look, you can use scrap graph paper or plain printer paper instead of cardstock. You can also try different patterned or colored paper for the covers. This kind of paper gives the notebook a unique look and feel and can make it stand out from other similar books. You can use this notebook for notes, sketches and doodles or even as a diary. It can also be a fun gift for a friend or family member. You can even give this notebook to children to encourage them to be creative!
Binding
Make a binding for your notebook using embroidery floss or thick cotton thread. Thread your needle with enough thread to be three times the height of your notebook. When you reach the end of your thread, tie a knot. Leave a few inches of thread on the inside to secure the binding.
CLEVELAND — Homemade notebooks are a great way to recycle cereal boxes and use pretty scrap paper, and they also make excellent gifts. They’re easy to make and can be customized with different papers, embellishments or colors. The best part is that you can use them to write notes, grocery lists and to-dos, or just doodle.
The first step in making a simple notebook is to create the cover and pages. You can use any kind of paper, but you’ll want to make sure that the sheets are cut to size. For example, if you’re using an old school composition notebook, the sheets should be 8.5″ wide and 5.5″ tall.
Next, use an awl or needle to punch holes in the spine. It’s a good idea to mark the holes with a pencil before hole punching. This will help ensure that the holes are spaced correctly. If you’re unsure about how to make your own notebook, look for a tutorial online. Some sites offer free printable templates for covers and pages.
Decorations
Besides paper, you can use fabric, ribbon, buttons and other accessories to make a notebook more personalized. Select colors and patterns that inspire you. Paint a separate sheet of paper or use construction or scrapbook paper to cover the notebook. Use a hot glue gun, glue stick or liquid glue to secure the paper or other material to the notebook. Wait for the glue to dry completely before using the notebook.
This is a simple and quick way to make an ordinary composition book look like a homemade notebook. The covers are made from kraft paper and wood grain stamps, which adds a nice rustic touch to the notebook. This project is a great recycling one too, since you can use leftover paper scraps for the covers.
You can also decorate a spiral-bound notebook by covering the spirals with patterned paper or a piece of scrapbook paper. If you’re using a patterned paper to cover the spirals, cut the scrap piece of paper slightly larger than the notebook. This will ensure that the pattern continues from page to page.
You don’t need fancy book-binding or scrapbooking tools to bind your notebook. A needle, awl or X-acto knife will work fine. Thread a long length of thread, about three times the height of the notebook, through your notebook’s spine holes. Then, tie a knot in the end of the thread.