Hey there! Today’s post focuses on how to make your own bound notebook. I am always scouring videos on YouTube for inspiration and new ideas for crafts. Recently I came across lots of videos on notebooks. There are endless ways to binding a notebook, but today I am just focusing on one. You will be please to know it doesn’t involve staples or thread!
This notebook featured has been bound using ordinary PVA glue which dries clear and flexible. It isn’t a fancy book binding glue – I don’t have any and I wanted to show you how to make one with simple equipment. However, I cannot guarantee how long the glue will hold. To be safe, it is best to apply several layers of glue. But, if you find you like this method of book binding you may wish to invest in some more substantial glue in the future.
Making your own notebook allows you to completely personalise it to your own taste and use. You may have a patterned piece of card in your stash you have been waiting to use but haven’t found the perfect project for it yet. Well, why not turn it into a cover for a note book. In addition, you can change up what you put in the inside, from normal printer to watercolour paper or to printed page layouts. The possibilities are endless!
Materials required:
- Printed patterned card-stock. I downloaded the pattern used on this note book from Sizzix.co.uk. You can find out more about this HERE.
- 20 A4 pieces of plain paper – you can use whatever type of paper you desire
- Clear flexible PVA glue – This notebook used Anita’s Tacky PVA Glue from docrafts.com
- Old paintbrush
- Items to use as weights
- Bulldog clips
- Washi tape – around 1 inch in width
Optional:
- Minc toner pen
- Heat reactive foil
- Minc Machine or laminator
Handmade bound notebook project details:
If you have printed out your patterned paper onto card, which I did, you may have a small white border where your printer does not print. If so trim the card down. I printed on both sides of the card with two patterns to give added interest to the inside of my notebook. Cut your card in half to create the front and back covers. Then cut each of the A4 pieces of paper in half. You will need to measure the height and width of your covers to cut you plain paper down to size to match.
Before you bind the covers and pages together you can further personalise and embellish the front cover. if you do not have a Minc toner pen, you can add other embellishments with standard pens, stickers or die cuts.
The Minc toner pen is very easy to use, just write and draw with it just like any other pen. If this is your first time using the pen, you will notice the nib is white. For the toner to start flowing, you need to press up and down with the pen nib on a scrap piece of paper lots of times. It will take a few minutes, but eventually the black toner seeps down into the nib and starts flowing onto your paper.
Cover the writing in foil and run the cover through your Minc machine on heat setting 3 or through your laminator when ready.
To bind the pages:
Lay your plain pages in between the front and back cover. To keep these in place whilst applying and allowing the glue to dry, clip the bulldog clips on the opposite side to the spine.
Apply the glue to the spine with an old paintbrush. Place heavy items on top of the book close to the spine to weigh the pages down whilst drying. When the first layer of glue dries, repeat this two to three more times to ensure all pages are adhered together.
To finish the book off and to hide the spine, wrap washi tape around the spine onto the front and back covers.
The finished look:
Creating a notebook is a very easy process, but also very easy to change up and make it unique each time. These are great for personal use, but also great to give as gifts to family and friends.
If you are also into bullet journal-ing, you can make your bullet journal your own even more so when it is all made from scratch.
There are endless ways you can alter and change this note book, from the embellishments you use, to punching the corners to adding a ribbon bookmark. It is a great way to unleash your creativity!
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Till next time,
