Create a Beautiful Notebook
Our design team challenge was Mother’s Day… not a card. Hmmm?!
What could every mother use, handcrafted from paper using gorgeous digital images that would be heartfelt, beautiful and practical?
Why a notebook of course!!
Using the lovely Lavender Tea -This collection has so many papers, quotes, frames & tags (not to mention some really cool templates) that make it perfect for creating a Notebook.. and it’s easier than you think!
Everything on this notebook - pattern pages, sentiments and quotes, tags floral images on the inside pages were all from the Lavender Tea Collection.
I don’t know of a Mom out there who doesn’t have the need to write something down several times a day. Whether it’s a grocery list, an appointment, a phone number, or a memorable quote a mother is always looking for a scrap of paper to jot something down.
And this notebook has it all - beautiful ambiance, practical lined pages with lovely graphics, hidden pockets for storing photos, receipts or clippings, bookmark/tags, as well as a divider page to separate a Mother’s inner writings.
Sure you can pick up a notebook for a few dollars at the local dollar store or general department store, but did you make it? Does it have all of the love, warmth and special touches that a notebook made by you will contain?
I doubt it!!
So lets get started with the execution of this note book…
First of all let’s just note the overall measurements for this notebook -
note book size - 5 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches ( approx.)
Page size - 5 1/8 x 8 1/4
The size can be adjusted to suit your needs.
To create the Notebook cover:
Pattern paper - 8 1/2 x 11. Scored @ 5 1/8, 5 3/8, 5 5/8, 5 7/8
Cut & Score the pattern paper. Crease the 2 middle score lines (not the outside edge scores).
This creates a binding space in the middle section of the book cover and the outside score lines are simply so the cover turns back nicely after the notebook is gifted and the recipient starts to write in it. Use a corner rounder to round the outside corners of the book cover.
Set the cover aside for now.
To create the pages:
Easy pages - cut about 40 pieces of lined or blank copy paper at 5 1/8 x 8 1/4.
Print and cut the desired images from the Polkadoodles Lavender Tea Collection and adhere them to these pages in the desired places.
A little more complex - Open an editing program such as adobe express or Google docs create a canvas (page) at 5 1/8 x 8 1/4, insert the desire image from Polkadoodles Lavender Tea collection ( there are so many great images to choose from) onto the page on your canvas ( or document ). Create lines on the page, adjusting them to flow around your chosen image. Save, print.
Repeat until you have the desired amount of pages.
** Tip! Once you have saved the page to your computer, simply replace the image with the next image you would like to use on the next page. Rather than creating all 40 pages from scratch.
Corner round the outside edges of the pages.
Some pages can be blanks or just lined. It’s your creation!
When the pages are completed compile them into a nice neat little bundle with all pages matching up straight and even and use a crafting clip or two to hold them in place.
Pages created using Adobe Express.
Pages clamped before binding.
Inside Cover Side Pocket -
Pattern Paper - 2 3/4 x 8 1/2
Cut a notch with a circle punch or use a small circle die and only cut a partial circle.
** If you are worried about find the exact middle to place the notch, gently fold the paper in half and make a small pencil mark to use as a guide to punch the notch or punch the notch up a bit higher (1/4 of the way down the paper) and it will appear as a higher notch hole. Problem solved.
Apply glue to 3 sides of the pocket layer (not the notched side ) and attach to the inside cover of the note book cover.
Divider Page - ( not necessary in a note book, but fun )
Pattern paper - 5 3/4 x 8 1/2
Cut a divider tab onto the right side of the pattern paper using a tab punch, die or The Works All in One Tool.
If you do not have a tool to make a tab - cut into this layer at 1/4 inch about 2 inches down the length of this layer, then from the bottom cut up at the 1/4 in mark leaving about an 1/2 that has not been trimmed. Then just round the edges of the remaining paper with your scissors. Tab created.
Divider Page Pocket -
Pattern Paper - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
3/4 x 5 1/2 strip of coordinating pattern paper.
Glue the strip of paper across the top edge of the larger pattern paper layer.
Cut a notch in the top of the layer using the same method as used for the side pocket.
Apply glue to the 3 sides ( not the notched side ) and adhere to the bottom of the divider page.
To Create a Pocket on the Back Cover - Use the same instructions as the side pocket for the front cover above.
Add of additional divider pages or pocket pages to the clamped pages in the order you would like them to be in the notebook and re clamp everything once it is all straight and matched up evenly.
Binding the Notebook - ( there are several options )
If you have a My Story Binding machine or something similar, follow the machine instructions.
** If the machine requires you to use pre made covers follow this hack
In the center binding tunnel of the notebook cover add hot glue using a glue gun. Keep the glue inside those two center score lines. Let this dry. Apply a second coat of hot glue to the same area. Again, let this dry.
When the glue in the dry. Add the pages that are clamped together to the inside of the notebook cover in a centered placement and run through the My Story book binding machine. Allow it to cool.
Cinch Binding - if you have the We Are Makers cinch binding machine you can coil bind your notebook or disc bind using the We are makers disc binding system. Follow the instructions for punching the holes and attaching the cinch coil or discs to complete your notebook binding.
If you have none of the above choices for binding your notebook -
You will want to stay tuned for a video coming up this week for a cute and creative way to bind your handmade notebooks! It’s super easy!
After the video releases it will be linked HERE.
Decorating the Notebook Front Cover
This notebook uses a lovely embellishment tag from the Lavender Tea Collection, a scalloped rectangle cut from pattern paper contained in the collection. As well as a second piece of pattern paper cut and layered behind the focal point on the front of the notebook.
Everything on this notebook - pattern pages, sentiments and quotes, tags floral images on the inside pages were all from the Lavender Tea Collection.
Tags and embellished quotes were all simply printed and cut, a hole punched and ribbon added.
I promise you this post took longer to write than it did to make the notebook, so go ahead and give it a try. Use the simple version for pages if you aren’t familiar with creating your own pages.
Don’t forget to check back at the beginning of the week for a simple binding trick!!
The recipient of this notebook, or yourself are going to absolutely love it!!
