Custom Notebooks

I did a post recently on the Scrap Girls Blog on how to make custom notebooks. There was further interest expressed on the exact details of binding the book. So I made another one and took photos along the way.

The notebook cover size is 5.5 x 7 when laying open. I used one of my Bursting Papers to make the custom cover. I printed it out on cardstock. Digital Scrapbooking Papers are great for this, or you could use photos or recycled paper from a phonebook, magazine, etc. You’ll want the cover to be cardstock though so it will hold up better.

For the inside I used some cool graph paper I found on discount at Office Depot. You can also use regular copy paper or printer paper or recycled paper. I cut the paper about a quarter inch shorter than the cover.

Fold the cover and the inside paper in half and lay the inside paper in the cover, lining up evenly what would be the spine.

Poke 5 holes using an icepick or paper piercer.

Needle goes down through the middle hole. I’m just using regular DMC floss, but you could use book binding thread if you’re all fancy like that.

Don’t pull the thread all the way through. You’ll use this little tail eventually to tie a knot.

Skip over the middle hole completely this time.

Back up through the center again.

This is where you’ll take your needle off now and tie a knot.

Trim thread. And done!

This is what the outside binding looks like.

You can add a nice finishing touch by rounding the corners of your notebook with a corner-rounder punch.

Have fun!

Oh, and if you get really ambitious with book binding you might check out this book. It’s great!

I also have a friend who takes orders for custom books. She makes gorgeous ones that blow these little ones out of the water. You can check her blog out here.