With the economy like it is today, you might be feeling the pinch a little more than normal. Opting for a small coffee at Starbucks instead of your usual medium? Hey, everyone’s doing it. But you can always throw some creativity and fun into everything- and you might find you’re spending less doing so.
One thing I have realized, especially with a new baby boy due in a few months (I’m going to be a mommy!) is that my usual spending habits, although are rather slim anyways, are becoming non-existent due to the need to buy boppy’s and burping towels. Not that I’m complaining, because if I didn’t have a need to have things and no money to have them, I wouldn’t be able to give you all this wonderful journal/sketchbook I decided one day to put together and then put on a website to sell! I used things that I had just lying around the house. You may have to go to your local craft store to find some things, but I promise you that the outcome is cheaper and prettier. So break out the scissors and hole punch, and read on for the rest of this wonderful craft! PS: This would be fun to do with kids, too- you might want to cut down the number of pages, though.
Materials:
- -25 sheets of blank computer paper, cut into a 9" by 6.5" rectangle then folded in half and hole-punched in 4 equal spaces on the folded side
- -4 attractive 4.5" by 6.5" sheets of scrapbook paper, two for the inside covers and two for the outside covers, hole-punched in the same spots as the computer paper.
- -2 sheets of thin but sturdy cardboard, 4.5" by 6.5" also the same hole punches as the computer paper. Make sure everything lines up!
- -sturdy thread and an embroidery needle
- -double-sided adhesive tape
- -a gluestick
- -a 2" by 6 1/2" coordinating piece of scrap paper for the binding
- -pretty scrap paper, pictures, stamps, cutouts, ect. for the front cover decorations
- -superglue (for the binding only)
- Step One: apply the double-sided adhesive to the white side of the four scrapbook sheets, only lining the four sides of each sheet. Apply the gluestick evenly to the parts of the sheets that do not have the tape on it. Carefully cover the thin cardboard with the sheets, making sure that if you have different colors for the inside and the outside of the covers that you don’t accidentially mix them up. Press them firmly but gently to ensure that the covers stay on properly.
Step Two: arrange your decorations on the front cover as you like. You can even add rhinestones and glitter! Make sure you glue everything down properly, and if you cover any of the holes to go back and use the hole-punch to clear them. Gather the computer paper in between the covers, lining them up so that you will be able to go through them with the embroidery needle and thread.
Step Three: If possible. double up a long strand of thread, and thread it on the needle. Thread the needle through either the top or the bottom hole, tying it securely but making sure that the book can open. Thread it through again, securing another knot with the tail of the last one. Clip off the rest of the tail with scissors, leaving a 1/2" bit hanging. With the other end that has the needle, go through the same hole two or three more times then go to the next hole up. (or down, depending on where you started at) Follow this same pattern through all the holes, and at the last hole tie a knot, then another one and again clip the tail to about 1/2" left.
Step Four: now it’s time to put the binding cover on. On the 2" by 6 1/2" piece of coordinating scrap paper, on the white side, make three rows of evenly spaced pieces of double-sided tape alternating with superglue dots. Put this neatly on the binding of the book, covering the holes and making sure that the front and back of the binding is equal in width. Remember to do this quickly, though, as superglue dries insanely fast. Your rows of tape and glue should have evenly lined up with the front, side and back of the book. If you need to, you can add more glue or tape as you see fit. If there’s too much, I would just wipe it off with a heavy-duty paper towel and then let it dry.
And Voila! Your adorable, handmade little journal is done. Make sure to let it dry completely before use, and have fun with it!
