How to Make a Handmade Notebook

Book binding is a popular craft because you get to make something that is both beautiful and useful. Handmade notebooks and journals make good gifts for nearly anyone on your list. You can also use acid-free paper in the notebook and use it as a handmade scrapbook by adding photographs to the pages. Sewing ensures that the pages are held inside the covers attractively and that the book is sturdy so it can be thrown into a knapsack.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Card stock Scissors Spray adhesive Paper Sewing machine Binding tape

1. Cut two pieces of card stock to 8.5 x 12 inches. Choose one piece as the cover and one to be the decorative pattern on the inside covers. Glue them wrong sides together with spray adhesive.

2. Stack five to seven sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper on top of each other and fold in half to make a booklet that is 8.5 x 5.5 inches. Make a second stack and fold it in half.

3. Fold the card stock in half to make the cover. Place the first stack of paper in the cover, aligning the spine of the booklet with the spine of the cover.

4. Stitch the first stack of paper 1/4 inch from the spine to the back cover of the card stock. Set the second stack of paper in the cover and stitch it to the front cover.

5. Cut a length of binding tape the same height as the card stock spine. Cover the spine with binding tape to disguise the stitches and make the book look finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate the cover with scrapbook embellishments or stickers. Painter's tape is available in many colors and can be used instead of binding tape.

References

• Rachel Simonsen