How to Make a Journal Out of Paper
Journals have recorded the thoughts of men and women of importance and of no importance throughout history. Used for recording wisdom---and for personal therapy---the journal serves a very personal role to the writer. Even a child can make a simple journal, and by creating your own you are free to choose papers that reflect your individual style and preferences.
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Things You'll Need
- 10 pieces of white paper, 8½ inches wide by 11 inches long
- 1 piece of card stock or specialty stiff paper, 8½ inches wide by 11 inches long
- Stapler and staples
- Ruler
Instructions
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1
Fold each paper exactly in half horizontally by aligning the top corners with the bottom corners. Do this for all 10 pieces of paper. These are the internal pages for the journal. You are making a journal that's 5½ inches wide and 8½ inches long.
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2
Fold the card stock or stiff specialty paper (like handmade paper with natural particles such as rose petals, handmade paper with fabrics or silks pressed into the paper, etc.) in half horizontally, by aligning the top corners with the bottom corners. This is the journal's front and back cover.
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3
Place the folded papers into the folded card-stock cover. Hold the layers of paper firmly and tap on a flat, hard surface to align all of the pages evenly.
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4
Insert the fold of the card-stock cover under the stapler, 2 inches from the top edge, and press on the stapler firmly to staple through the front cover, the pages and the back cover.
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5
Measure 4½ inches down the folded edge and staple a second staple through the front cover, the pages and the back cover. You now have a staple-bound 20-page journal.
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Tips & Warnings
- Add more or less pages to your journal depending on your preference. Remember that since you are folding the pages in half, you will have double the pages.
- For covers, use seasonal specialty paper or printed paper available at scrapbook stores, or in the scrapbook/photo album aisles of discount or craft stores.
- Because the journals are so easy to make, you can make several for different periods or months of the year.
