How To Make A Notebook
/Learn how to make your own notebook using scrap paper. These DIY notebooks are quick to put together and make a fantastic last-minute homemade gift idea.
They're a great way to recycle cereal boxes and use up pretty scraps of paper that you have lying around the house. Use them to keep track of daily tasks, jot down shopping lists, to-do lists or simply use them to doodle.
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This post was originally shared in 2015 but has since been updated.
DIY Notebook.
I have another fantastic DIY notebook tutorial for you today. Want to learn how to make a cute notebook that you can totally customise? Then you're in the right place.
I absolutely love notebooks. Whenever I go into a gift shop or bookshop I always head straight for the stationery section. You can never have too many, at least I can’t anyway. You never know when you might need to jot something down.
This tutorial is going to show you how to make A6-size little notebooks using scrapbook paper and a sewing machine. I wanted to make mini notebooks that you could carry around in your bag or pocket but once you get the hang of it you can make these any size that you like.
How To Make Your Own Notebook.
For the cover, you're going to need scrapbook paper or lightweight cardstock. You could also use a cereal box, blank notecard or greeting card.
For the pages use leftover scrap paper from old notebooks, plain printer paper or lined sheets of paper. If you don't have any old lined or scrap graph paper laying around Printable Paper has over 1800 papers you can download and print for free.
To bind the pages you're going to need a sewing machine. Sewing the pages together like this is an easy way to get a neat finish to the spine of the notebook. You'll even find a quick trick below for tying off the end of the threads so there's no chance of them coming undone.
It took around an hour and a half to make these three notebooks from scratch but that also included time setting up the sewing machine and taking the photos. Once you got a production line set up, cutting and folding the pages and covers and then sewing the pages together you could easily make a lot of them in a short amount of time.
Stitch up a bunch of these for yourself or tie them up with twine to give away or sell. They make fantastic gifts and would be good to sell at craft fairs or in a handmade shop.
Supplies:
Scrapbook Paper/Lightweight Cardstock Paper (scrapbook.com is a great place to find a huge range of pretty scrapbook paper designs)
Scrap Paper
A couple of Binder Clips
An X-Acto Knife
And a Self Healing Cutting Mat
How To Make A Notebook Out Of Paper.
1. Start by cutting your scrap paper to size.
Your paper will be folded in half to make the pages so make sure to allow for that.
2. Fold your paper in half and crease.
3. Run a bone folder over each fold to get a nice sharp edge. If you don’t have a bold folder a butter knife is a good alternative.
4. Once you've got your stack of folded pages you need to place them inside of each other.
5. Keep going until you're happy with the number of pages.
You'll notice that the pages in the middle of your stack stick out further than the ones on the outside, don't worry about this, for now, we'll be fixing it in a later step.
6. To make the cover of your notebook trim down a piece of scrapbook paper to the same size as your pages. This will be both the front cover and the back cover of your notebook.
I used scrapbook paper as I like my notebooks to be flexible but if you want a stronger cover you could use a lightweight cardstock, an empty cereal box or you could always glue and mount your decorative paper on some card stock first.
7. Place the cover of the notebook on the outside of your stack of pages.
How To Bind Your Notebook Using A Sewing Machine.
8. Open out your stack of papers and line the cover and pages up.
9. Lay them flat and secure them with some binder clips.
The bulldog clips will keep the pages in place as you sew.
10. With the cover facing up, use a sewing machine to carefully sew along the centre crease to make your spine.
To give them a bit of interest on the spine I used a contrasting thread but you could use any colour you have to hand.
Try to keep as close to the centre as you can for a straight spine.
11. When you finish sewing make sure to leave enough thread at either end so that you can tie a knot in it.
Top Tip: Start sewing a few millimetres in so you don’t rip the edge of your notebook.
12. There should be two threads, one on the cover side and one on the inside of your notebook. To stop the thread from unravelling you need to tie a knot at the end of the thread.
Pull the piece of thread on the inside of your notebook and the bottom thread (from the cover side) will be pulled through as a loop.
13. Pull this loop all the way through until you have two separate strands of thread.
14. Tie the two threads together in a double knot.
15. Trim away excess thread.
16. Repeat and do the same for the loose threads at the top of your notebook.
17. Now it’s time to neaten up the edge and trim any excess where the pages stick out from the cover.
18. Line up a ruler (a metal/steel ruler works best) with the edge of your cover and trim away any excess paper with a craft knife.
The best way to ensure a smooth edge is to make several light slow cuts rather than pressing as hard as you can with the blade.
19. Fold your homemade notebook closed and give it a good rub along the spine with a bone folder. This will help it lie flat and give it a professional finish.
And there you have it, quick and easy DIY notebooks.
These easy were so much fun to make and super easy as well. Customise them using your favourite scrapbook paper (I’ve got a soft spot for anything by American Crafts). I like to keep mine nice and simple but you could stamp or decorate your pocket notebook with stickers or washi tape if you like.
