NOTEBOOK TUTORIAL

I have had a number of people ask me how to make these notebooks, so I decided to do a tutorial. If you want to make one, you can just print this off and use it as a guide. Supplies needed-

composition notebook (80 cents at Wally's), apx. 1 yd. ribbon, mini pens or pencils, sewing machine, 4 pieces of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper, scissors, paper cutter, mod podge, foam brush, sand paper, eyelet setting kit, pounding mat, eyelets (or you can use a crop-a-dile if you have one).

Step 1- Cut scrapbook paper

Cut pieces to fit where you want them. You will need a front piece, back piece, binding piece, and a rectangle piece. Use a pencil to trace the corners of the notebook and trim off with scissors.

Step 2- Mod podge front back and binding
When mod podging, place a piece of scrap paper between cover and inside pages so any extra that squeezes out will not stick the pages together.

Put mod podge on book front, then put paper on. Do the same for the back. Press all pieces down firmly making sure there aren't any bubbles, especially around the corners and edges to make sure they adhere well. Next, mod podge half of the binding piece of paper (lengthwise) and place it on the front as far in as you want it to go (overlapping the front piece of paper). Then, mod podge the other half of the binding piece, roll it around and stick to the back (overlapping the back piece of paper).




Step 3- Zig Zag stitch
Use a sewing machine to zig zag down the edge of the binding piece on the front and back sides. Tie knots in the loose ends 3 or 4 times and clip off the extra threads.

Step 4- Rectangle piece
Use a pice of sand paper and sand the edges of the rectangle piece. Then put a thin layer of mod podge on it and place it where you want on the front of the book.

Step 5- Ribbon placement and stitching
* this needs to be right the first time, so make sure you are as acurate as you can.

Adjust the ribbon around the book so you know where to make the first zig zag stitch where the pen (or pencil) will go. Then place the pen on the book and the ribbon around the pen so you know where to make the next zig zag stitch. (You can attatch more than one pen.) Remove the pen and stitch.

(Remember, this is not a straight stitch, it is a zig zag, so leave enough room for the whole stitch or your pen won't fit in the loop!) I recommend a practice loop on something else before doing this on your book- just to be on the safe side! After you have this done, you can use a tape roller, or double sided tape, to hold the ribbon in place around the book. Then do a zig zag stitch next to the edge on the back side over the ribbon to secure it there. (When I do these zig zags, I always go down and then back up, tie the loose ends, then clip the extra threads.)

Step 6- Eyelets
Put two eyelets in the corner of the front of the book with your eyelet setter or with a crop-a-dile. Then thread your ribbon through.

Step 7- Dangler
Using leftover scraps from your 12 x 12 papers, make a dangler to put a name on or whatever else you may want it to say. Attatch it to the ribbon with a cute paper clip or anything else you want to use. (Sand this so it will match the rest of the sanded book.)

Step 8- Sand edges of paper
Sand edges of paper until it becomes one with the book. Make sure you wait until the mod podge is dry or your paper will tear instead of sanding.

The Finished Product-
The Back.....

and The Front.

Good luck on your books everyone!