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Notebook

duration: 15 - 30 minutes

age: from 7 years

Make your very own notebook.

Notebook

tools

  • Press
  • Ruler
  • Hobby knife
  • Cutting mat
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Thick needle
  • Awl
  • Corner-cutter (optional)
  • Laser Cutter or 3D printer

materials

  • 5 sheets of paper
  • Sturdy thread
  • Cardstock
  • Glue (gluestick or spray glue)

downloads

step 1 - Cut and fold the paper

  • Fold one sheet of paper in half along the long side. Then open it again.
  • Put a ruler on the fold line.
  • Don't try to cut through everything in one go. Use several light cuts instead.
  • Carefully cut along the fold with the hobby knife.
  • Put all the half-sheets in a neat pile and fold the pile in half.

step 2 - Mark and punch the holes

  • Find the fold line.
  • Make a mark 1 cm from the top, 1 cm from the bottom, and one in the middle.
  • Use the awl to make a hole at each mark.
  • Make sure the holes go through all the sheets.

step 3 - Sew the pages

  • Cut a piece of thread about 3 times as long as your notebook.
  • Tie a knot at one end and put the needle on the other end.
  • Start at the middle hole on the outside of the notebook.
  • Pull the thread through until the knot stops it.
  • Push the needle through one of the outside holes from the inside.
  • Go back through the middle hole.
  • Repeat on the other side.

step 4 - Finish the sewing

  • The needle should now come out through the middle hole on the inside.
  • Push the needle under one of the stitches and tie a knot.
  • Push the needle through the middle hole one last time.
  • Pull the knot to the outside of the notebook.
  • Cut off the extra thread with the scissors.

step 5 - Make the cover

  • Cut a piece of cardstock slightly bigger than your notebook.
  • Use the laser cutter or 3D printer to make letters for your cover.
  • Make sure the letters are on the correct side of the cover!
  • Put the letters on the cover and hold them in place with low-tack tape.
  • Put one or two pieces of felt underneath the cover.
  • Put a smooth, strong piece of material on top.
  • Put everything into the press and press it.
  • Take it out and check your letters. They should be pressed into the cardstock.

step 6 - Glue on the cover

  • Put glue on the outside pages of the notebook.
  • Stick the cover onto the notebook.
  • Put the ruler on the edge of the notebook.
  • Carefully trim the sides with the hobby knife.
  • Use several light cuts instead of one hard cut.
  • Don't cut too much off the top or bottom. You don't want to cut the thread!

step 7 - Round the corners

  • Use the corner cutter to round the corners.
  • You can only cut about 3 pages at a time.

step 8 - Finished!

  • Your notebook is ready! 🎉