Finally - A Tutorial... How To Make A Notebook - Part 3

Alrighty folks... get through these final steps, and....we're done!

Step 10: Attach your Velcro or other closure. *NOTE: I guess if you're using a button, we should back track - before you attached your cardboard pieces, you should probably have sewn on your button. If you're using a magnet, like I did with the vinyl book, you can do what I did (but better) and hide both magnet halves by installing one piece inside your cover, again before you install the cardboard {which I didn't do - I just stuck mine right on the outside of the of the cover} and install the other half inside your closure tab, when you're adhering the two pieces back to back{which I DID do - works pretty awesome}. I used Velcro on this book because...it was there.

Step 11: Decorate as you wish - I attached a stamped image & some pretty heat-embossed paper on the Vinyl book... and I didn't do anything with this one, as it's a gift for a crafty friend - I just sent her a plethora of stamped images I know she doesn't have, so she can embellish it however she wants to!

And... TA DAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! You've got yourself a pretty little (almost) completely handmade notebook to do what you want with... and once you make one, it's pretty darn easy to crank out a bunch!

If you happen to use this tutorial, please link your creation via the Comment Section, and provide a link back to me, so others can enjoy this tutorial as well!

Thanks for sticking around for the whole thing - I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Laters,

Steph

Finally - A Tutorial... How To Make A Notebook - Part 2

Ready for Part 2? Here we go...

Step 5: Cut slits on either side of your spine, just to where your cover begins, on both the top & bottom. This edge will be folded in later on, just to keep a clean edge and to prevent fraying.

Step 6: Put Tacky Tape around the 3 outside edges of your covers, then tightly fold over the edges of your fabric - again, it doesn't need to be pretty because it will be covered - but it does need to be flat!

Step 7: Put more Tacky Tape over your edges, as well as both inside edges. *If you haven't already, make your closure at this time - I used the SU! Keytag Punch & punched two pieces of fabric, as well as two pieces of scrap cardstock. Then I backed the fabric pieces with the cardstock pieces (adhering with an even coverage of Tacky Tape) and then stuck the two pieces together, back to back (again, with Tacky Tape). (You can't see my closure here, as I forgot about it....Don't forget yours, as it's a pain in the ass to slip it in after you have the lining in place!)

Step 8: Unpeel the liner on your tape (except for the spine piece) and place your closure - I like mine more-or-less centered, coming from the back to the front. After you like your placement, add another small piece of tacky tape over top of the closure (again, maybe not necessary, but I like to be sure it's not coming out!) and then place your interior cover pieces over top of everything. I like to use white cardstock (or in the case of the vinyl book, just the white side of extra index cards) because I think it looks more 'professional' - you can use whatever you want. I trimmed these pieces down just a hair smaller than the actual covers; that's optional, if you're feeling lazy.

Step 9: NOW you can unpeel the liner on your spine. Fold over both ends and place a little smidge more of your Tacky Tape over top.

Step 10: Place your notepads or stack of Index Cards on your spine and press FIRMLY! This is how your pages are going to stay in your cover. If you're using Index Cards, this will basically act the same as the glue does on the top of your notepads; it will hold the cards in a nice stack, but you'll still be able to remove them if you want to (ie: tear them out).


Ok...that's it for this session. Go take a breather & come back tomorrow for the Grande Finale.

Later,

Steph

Finally - A Tutorial... How To Make A Notebook - Part 1

Ok...so, WAY BACK in...September (?) I had shown a notebook on here that I had made from random supplies I had at the time...and some people were interested in a tutorial... and now I have (finally) made a tutorial on how it was done, just in time for Valentine's Day... Stay tuned, 'cause it's coming in a few different parts.

Let's get started... (*Note - Photo FOLLOWS instructions.)

SUPPLY LIST:

- Fabric of Choice (the original book used upholstery vinyl; this one is stretch leopard print...the vinyl was MUCH easier to work with!)

- Notepad(s) or Index Cards

- Terrifically Tacky Tape or other red-lined SUPER STICKY tape!

- SU! Keytag Punch (*optional, but makes life easier)

- Scrap Cardboard (I used the backs of two notepads; if you're using index cards, just use them)

- Scrap Cardstock (I use white; this will be the interior lining of your book.)

- Scrap of Fabric (and scrap cs, if you're using a lightweight fabric.)

- Velcro or Magnetic Closure (or button, if you're capable of making button holes)

Got your stuff together? Good. Here we go...

Step 1: Measure your notepad or stack of index cards - Length, Width AND Height (of your pad/stack of cards). Mine is: 4.25" (L) x 3.5" (W) x 0.5" (H) - I actually used 3 notepads in order to get the height I wanted.

Step 2: Know what size cover you need to cut from your fabric. The formula I use is:

(width of notepad x 2) + (height of stack) + (1") <--- {This is the width of your cover piece}

AND

(length of notepad) + (1") <--- {This is the length of your cover piece}

SO - my fabric is cut to approximately 8.5" x 5.25"... it doesn't have to be perfect, as these edges will be covered - just make sure you've got at least 0.5" of overhang on all sides, to fold over & secure your cover (a quarter inch would most likely work, too - but I like to be sure.)

Step 3: Find the centre of your fabric ON THE WRONG SIDE and place a strip of Tacky Tape over the center line, end to end. Leave the liner ON! Since I was working with 0.5" Tacky Tape, I only needed one strip; depending on what you're working with, either use wider or skinnier tape, or multiple pieces - if you're using more than one, make sure there are no gaps between the pieces!

Step 4: Place your Scrap Cardboard (cut to size of notepads, or just two extra Index Cards that are the same size as you're using for your pages) on either side of your centre line. With this stretchy fabric, I left a bit of extra space on either side of my 'spine' - I didn't need to do that when I used the vinyl, as it had no movement at all. When you're happy with your placement, and your covers are even, stick 'em down with your tacky tape.

Alright...that's enough for today. I'll be back with more tomorrow.

Steph