How to Use a Loose-Leaf Binder for a Journal
Whether you keep a personal journal to use as a diary, sketch designs for art projects or record memories and milestones of your family's history, create your own book using an inexpensive loose-leaf binder. Turn a three-ring binder sold at dollar or office supply stores into a decorated journal using craft supplies such as patterned paper, ribbon and rubber stamps. The altered journals also make eye-catching wedding planning books, scrapbooks or practical gifts for teachers, neighbors or mothers to be.
Things You'll Need
- 3-ring binder
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Paper trimmer
- Cardstock or patterned paper
- Double-stick tape
- Stickers, photos, rubber stamps or accents
- White glue
- Letter and number stickers
- Loose leaf paper
- 3-hole punch
- Plastic divider tabs
- Zippered pencil pouch
- Top-loading sheet protectors
Instructions
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Measure the front cover, back cover and the binder's spine with a pencil and ruler. Use a paper trimmer to cut pieces of cardstock or patterned paper to each set of dimensions and affix the paper to the covers and spine with double-stick tape.
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Cut a 4-by-6-inch piece of cardstock that coordinates with the paper covering your binder. Embellish the cardstock with stickers, a photo, rubber-stamped images or dimensional accents such as paper flowers, chipboard shapes or buttons affixed with white glue. Attach the cardstock to the center of the cover with double-stick tape. Use letter and number stickers to add a title and date to the spine if you plan to store multiple loose-leaf binder journals on a bookshelf, for example.
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Stock the binder with loose-leaf paper for your journal entries. To include graph paper or artist's sketch paper to the notebook, use a three-hole punch to make holes along the left side of the paper to thread onto the binder rings.
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Use cardstock and plastic divider tabs sold at office supply stores to create sections for the journal to separate entries by date or subject. You can designate separate sections for to-do lists, sketches, vacation plans, family anecdotes or project ideas, for example.
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Include a zippered pencil pouch in front of the pages to use the journal as a sketchbook or to store colored pencils or markers to write multi-colored journal entries.
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Add clear, top-loading sheet protectors to your personalized journaling notebook to hold memorabilia such as notes from friends, fliers, postcards, business cards, receipts or anything you want to save that's too small for the three-hole punch.
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Tips & Warnings
If the loose-leaf binder you're using for a journal doesn't have slip pockets inside the covers, create your own. Use a paper trimmer to cut the flap off a colorful envelope to create a "pocket." Affix it inside the front or back cover of the journal with double-stick tape. Use the pocket to hold reminders or notes you'll need immediately or don't want to get "lost" inside the clear sheet protectors within the binder.
