DIY CRAFT | Handmade Notebooks: Covid-19 Craft ideas
Quick and Easy Book Binding
How to make handmade notebooks
How to make a notebook | Coronavirus Craft project ideas
Reuse old office supplies to create something new! These DIY notebooks make for great personal diaries, junk drawer note pads, or gifts for friends. Keep scrolling for supplies and step-by-step instructions for making your own notebook.
Supplies you will need:
Ruler - you definitely do not need a metre stick like I used… I can’t find my ruler!
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
File folders - (for the cover) I save and reuse old file folders from work
Paper – I used graph paper, lined paper and blank paper
Sewing machine – you can sew by hand if you do not have a sewing machine
Steps to making a notebook
1) Cut pages
Cut paper to desired length. Using an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, I first cut off the punch holes. Next, I cut my pages in 5 inches and 6 inch sections. I did this with lined paper, graph paper and blank paper.
2) Fold pages
Fold pages in half. This will leave you with 1 set of 4x5 inch pages and one set of 4x6 inch pages.
Be careful not to fold too many together at once or you end up with a poor crease and uneven edge.
3) Sew or staple pages
Sew pages along the fold line.
If you do not have a sewing machine, you can do this part by hand or use a stapler to bind the pages together.
For the cover of your notebook:
4) prepare your cover
Now it’s time to get the cover of your book ready!
NOTE: ** If you are using file folders, note the side with creases** Cut this side first, using the steps below.
5) Lining up for the first cut
Line the first crease at the ZERO.
We are going to fold along this crease later, line the first crease up at the zero-mark and cut 4.25 inches from the zero. Cut the full width of the folder.
6) Cut into two
Cut your cover longer than your pages.
Pages are almost never perfectly lined up. I always make my covers around 0.25 inches longer than the pages themselves. This makes my cuts between 6.5 and 5.5 inches.
TIP: Use a set of pages as a guide for where to cut.
7) Trim excess
I often end up trimming away any excess. Keep the large excess paper to make Christmas and birthday cards.
8) Fold the spine of your notebook
Fold along the first crease line on the file folder to start making the spine of your notebook.
You will note that the front and back cover pages are no longer equal to each other. Follow the step below to correct this.
9)
Equal out cover pages
Cut 4.25 inches from the original fold. Open up folder, on the side without the three crease lines, cut 4.25 inches from the centre fold.
Putting the cover and pages together:
10) inner pages
Sew booklet spines together.Hold three to four booklets side-by-side and glue the spines of the booklets together. Careful not to put it on too thick, I let it dry a little and then used my finger to flatten it out.
11) Inner pages
Sew booklet spines to the inside cover. Line the crease of the cover with one swipe of hot glue. Quickly press the pages inside the cover.
Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my page! I hope you enjoyed these Valentine’s day decor ideas! I’d love to see what you create!
Please tag/hashtag me in your creations on Instagram!!! @bresourceful_ #bresourcefulDIY
Coronavirus Craft project ideas | Handmade notebooks
I started making these notebooks a few years for myself and as gifts for friends and family. At first I was hand sewing both the pages together and then the pages to the cover. In recent times, I’ve discovered that a combination of a sewing machine and a hot glue gun gets the job done much faster and seems to work just as good!
Be resourceful:
SAVE scrap paper for the inside pages of your books.
REUSE leftover packages of paper from college, university or your kids school before going out to purchase new.
I’ve had these packages of paper since HIGH SCHOOL & I am finally putting them to use.RECYCLE Ask accounting and reception at your work to save old file folders that are in good shape and reuse these for the cover
I did this and got 4 bankers boxes worth!
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Now that you’re done making your new notebook,
Personalize your notebook using collage
Get inspiration for making a Christmas tree for a small space. This wall hanging christmas tree screams boho vibes and is great for a small space like an apartment, condo, or university residence!