DIY JOURNAL & NOTEPAD

Today we have another DIY project from Mamie:

These projects originated from the idea of recycling the extra paper from Avis' studio. For the covers, recycled chipboard from a past project was used as well. The binding appears more complicated than it actually is. It is easy to learn and you'll have a creative journal & notepad as the result!

DIY Bound Journal:

Supplies:

paper of your choice for the pages of the book

chipboard or sturdy card stock to use for covers

bookbinding needle or regular sewing needle

bookbinding thread or regular thread

awl

knife

ruler

cutting mat

pencil

glue-stick

bone folder

Step 1: Decide what size your journal will be. Using the ruler and pencil, trace out the shape of the covers of the book on the chipboard. Then, using the knife, cut out two covers. I chose for the covers to be slightly larger than the inside pages. We were lucky enough to have all of the paper the same size since they were roughs and misprints from Avis. If you are not that lucky, you will want to cut all the paper into the same size.

Step 2: Using the ruler to evenly space the holes, mark on the end of the paper where three to four holes will be punched. Placing the cutting board or another object to absorb the sharp awl, poke the holes with the awl into one of the pages of the book. You will then use this sheet as the guide for the rest of your pages as well as the covers. Repeat until you have punched holes in all of the pages and covers.

Step 3: Line the ruler slightly underneath the holes and draw a line using the pencil. About 1/4 an inch below the holes. Use this line as a guide to score the pages. This will allow you to easily fold back the pages when you are using the journal. Use your ruler and the back (not cutting) side of your knife to gently score the paper.

Step 4: Stack the pages with the covers on the front and back. Then, follow the instructions here to bind the book.

Step 5: After you have bound the book, decorate with patterned paper. Enjoy!

DIY Notepad:

Supplies:

paper of your choice for the pages of the book

knife

ruler

cutting mat

pencil

bone folder
large clip
sewing machine with needle or perforator

Step 1: Cut your paper into the size you wish your pad to be

Step 2: Using your clip as a guide, decide where you will perforate your pages. Draw a line on each sheet as a guide for the perforation. Then, place the paper one at a time on the sewing machine lining the pencil line up with the center marker on the pressure foot of the machine. Guide the paper through allowing the needle to poke holes along the pencil line. This perforates the pages allowing you to tear them out of the book. Fold the perforated area backwards to make the page more flexible for tearing later. (If you are heavy handed like I am, you will want to erase the pencil mark after perforating the pages).

Step 3: Stack all the pages together and hold together with the clip.

You now have a homemade notepad with tear-away pages!