Sure, the notebooks and notebooks you buy ready-made in stores are nice and sturdy, but if you make them yourself, you'll save money and then no one will have the same! You can even offer them as gifts, it will be an opportunity to show your creativity. All you need are the right supplies, the right tools, and a little imagination. Whether you choose to make a notebook, notebook, notepad or notepad: it's almost the same thing, only the size of the sheets changes!
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Make a decorated notebook
Step 1. Gather five to six sheets of paper
They will not be punctured. Take A4 format. Carefully fold these sheets of paper in half vertically (that is, you will fold the top of the sheet down). If you haven't already, turn these sheets over as if you have a book in front of you.
Of course, if you need more pages, you can put more sheets. Remember, you get double the number of pages compared to the number of sheets, simply because you fold the paper in half. So, with 8 sheets of paper, you get 16 pages
Step 2. Make three holes in the folded part
To make these holes you can use a hole punch with a single punch or directly use a punch too. Open your stack of paper, make sure the sheets are aligned. You are going to make the holes on the fold. Using a ruler, measure 3cm from the top for the first hole and 3cm from the bottom for the second hole.
You can make it easier by stapling your pages. The staples should be arranged parallel to the fold and evenly spaced
Step 3. Thread a string through the holes you made
You can run the ribbon however you want. You can for example connect the two bottom holes together and tie the top hole separately or you can cut 3 small pieces of ribbon with which you tie each of the three holes. Or if not, with the same ribbon, you go through each of the holes, passing once above, once below. You are free to find the right lacing!
If you have made two holes, thread the string from the back through the bottom hole, bring it up to thread it through the top hole and tie a knot (or a small “kiki”) at the back. This knot should be about in the middle of the fold
Step 4. Determine the middle of the cover sheet
The thick sheet of paper you are going to use for the cover should be slightly larger than the sheets of notebook paper. So, if you are using A4 size paper (21 x 29, 7), take a cover sheet that is 21 x 32 cm. Place your sheet of paper in front of you crosswise and use a ruler to find the middle. of this sheet (the middle of the height in fact!) In pencil, lightly draw the dividing line in two parts.
The cover paper should be a little thick and therefore stiff (in any case, thicker than construction paper)
Step 5. Decorate your blanket
You can, for example, glue an original sheet of paper 20 cm by 20 cm. You can find this patterned paper in an art store. Mark the center, fold it in half and put it astride the fold of your notebook. This decoration will occupy three quarters of the cover, the rest is left to your imagination.
Step 6. Open your cover wide
Arrange the back of the page block vertically just over the fold of the cover. Apply glue to the front sheet and the back sheet, then fold the cover back, being careful not to “bubble”. Hold firmly for about twenty seconds. That's it, your notebook is finished!
Method 2 of 4: Make a simple notebook
Step 1. Put together your sheets of paper
They will form the body of your notebook (or notepad, it will depend on the size). You can take blank or lined paper, it all depends on what you plan to do with it. Put all these sheets together, align them well so that the edges are even.
- For your notepad, you can take any size of paper. However, if you are a beginner, it is better to take paper with lines and take A4 (21 x 29, 7 cm). And if you take paper with the holes in the sides, it will be even easier!
- Blank sheets are best for a notebook because you can write or draw on them. For a newspaper, we often use sheets with dark lines. Sheets with fine lines are used for work, doing equations… It depends on your goal.
Step 2. Place a sheet of construction paper on top of your stack of sheets
Place a second sheet of the same kind, but this time at the bottom of the pile. Of course, the size of these two sheets must be identical to that of your sheets of paper, everything must be aligned on all sides.
Step 3. Take out your 3 hole punch
If you only have a hole puncher with a single punch, that also works. Insert your stack of papers into the hole punch, making sure the pages are aligned. Press down hard on the hole punch handle until it goes through the entire thickness of the paper. The holes should be about 3 to 4 cm from the edge of the page.
If you only have a single punch hole punch, use a ruler to mark the locations of future holes. These three holes should be evenly spaced and be located approximately 3 cm from the edge of the page
Step 4. Take your ribbon and thread it through the holes
You can do it however you like, for example connecting the two bottom holes together and separately knotting the top hole. Or you can cut 3 small pieces of ribbon with which you attach each of the three holes. Or if not, with the same ribbon, you go through each of the holes, passing once above, once below. You are free to find the right lacing!
Method 3 of 4: Make a "playing cards" notebook
Step 1. Measure your playing cards
For this notebook, you are going to need two playing cards from the same deck. Measure the height and width of the cards to later determine the size of your sheets of paper.
Example: the cards in the Uno game are 6 cm by 9 cm
Step 2. Assemble 10 sheets of paper
Make sure you line them up on all sides. Measure the height of the cards and record this measurement on the paper. Then you can cut the leaves into strips with a cutter.
If you don't have a cutter, take scissors
Step 3. Then take these strips and cut according to the width of the cards
So, in the end, you will have sheets of paper that will be exactly the same size as your cards. If you need more pages, repeat these operations with 10 new sheets, until you have the number of pages you want.
Do not exceed 50 pages, otherwise your notebook will be too thick and will be difficult to bind
Step 4. Assemble your pages into a stack
Place a playing card at the top, one at the bottom showing the pattern you want. Even out your stack as much as possible by tapping on the sides. Once that is done, place note clips on the sides and bottom of the notebook. The side clamps should be as close to the top of the notebook as possible.
Step 5. Prepare your bookbinding glue
When it's done, put a good layer on the top edge of the notebook. This is what will keep the pages together. You have to put glue everywhere and not forget any square centimeter. Be careful not to put it on the playing cards!
You can also put a little glue on the top of the sides. This will ensure that the pages will not come off when you handle the notebook
Step 6. Wait for the glue to dry well
Once the glue is dry, reapply a second coat. In fact, put on as many layers as you need to be sure the pages won't come off. On average, you need about five coats of glue. In general, when the glue is no longer absorbed by the paper and remains on the surface, the job is finished.
Step 7. Cut out a sheet of colored paper
This sheet will serve as a binding for your notebook. Cut it out slightly larger (about 3 cm) than the width of your notebook. Turn your pile of leaves upside down and place it exactly in the middle of your colored leaf.
Step 8. Fold up this sheet
It should cover the top, front and back of the notebook. The purpose of this paper is to hide the binding, it falls slightly on the front and back of the notebook. Glue your paper and press well all over. Wait at least 20 seconds for it to dry!
Step 9. Cut off the protruding paper
There is always colored paper sticking out from each side of the notebook, so using scissors or a cutter remove any that sticks out.
Step 10. Place your notebook under a large book
Indeed, the binding of your notebook needs to dry well. Place it under something heavy and flat, such as a book, so that the binding glue sticks well to the pages. Be careful to put your notebook flat and that the sheets are aligned!
Method 4 of 4: Make other notebook designs
Step 1. Make a sewn-in notebook, like a book
It's the ultimate in this area, but it's harder too! Remember to take a thimble, you have to force the needle! The paper is hard to sew!
Step 2. Make a “minute book”
If you're in a hurry and need a quick notebook, why not try this one-minute book? Okay, it's not very pretty, but it's useful anyway.
Step 3. Decorate a notebook you already have
If you don't have time to craft a notebook, grab one that's already made and personalize it.
Step 4. Make a study notebook
If you want a less rigid, but more functional notebook, make yourself a study notebook. It will help you for the next check.
Advice
- You can also decorate the first guard.
- As for the decoration, let your imagination run wild, even if a little technique is needed for a beautiful result!
- Try to use floral decoration for the front cover of your notebook.
- If you need to punch a large quantity of sheets, punch them two by two.