DIY Post: Handmade Notebook

Christmas is almost here, and if you're like me, you would have just remembered to go shopping for your loved one when you realize you have absolutely no money till January. 

Well, this is where this DIY comes in. If you know anyone that writes, this would be an excellent present to them- or if you're a scrapbook-er or an artist this is the best, easiest way to create one- and for free, because it's using objects already in your home!

What you will need:

- printing paper (mine is sainsbury's basics, you can get a pack of 500 for less than £5)

- a piece of cloth big enough for your paper

- scissors

- hole punch

- yarn needle

- knitting yarn

- double sided tape

1. fold your piece of paper (a bunch of 16 sheets) in half, and really make sure you really create that crease, as it will help you later on when you assemble your notebook.

2. in small quantities (or as much as you can fit under your hole punch) make the holes about an inch away from the edge, then move the hole punch about an inch upwards, and punch again.

- if it helps, to make sure that your paper holes are equal, if you are doing smaller quantities, you could mark the desired place in with a pencil, before making the holes.

3. add your double sided tape and add it to the edges of 1 sheet of paper, then peel the paper off and stick it in the centre of the fabric. 

*if you are really lazy, then spray glue does the trick also- just remember to let it dry first before getting excited and try and stick it down too early, because it ruins your paper!

4. stick your double sided tape around the edges of your fabric and fold it onto itself.

5. fold the sheets about 1cm away from the hole and place it in the middle, and sew it through. If you want your notebook to be bulky at this point, add another 2 bunches of 16 pages and put them on both sides of the pages in the middle- and that's your notebook!

I hope this all makes sense, I'm kinda half sleepy whilst writing this, so forgive me if it doesn't make sense! But give it a try and see what happens.

Katherine