You guys, I made all these journals in, like, an hour! I've made journals before, but this is the simplest way I've found to create a little collection in no time at all. These little guys make great gifts, and I love that it's easy to build up a stash.
Here's how:
Supplies:
-regular 8.5 "x 11" printer paper (you need about 7 sheets per journal)
-Crop-A-Dile punch tool
-string or twine
-paper trimmer
-embellishments for the cover (I used letter stamps and StazOn ink)
-paper, leather, faux leather, or oil cloth for your cover material
Step One: Trim your 8.5" x 11" paper in half. I usually trim about five pieces at a time with my paper trimmer. You are trimming the long side in half so your new pieces are 8.5" x 5.5" inches.
Step Two: It's up to you how many pages you put in your book. I usually do about seven pieces, which makes 14 halves, which makes 28 pages. Just fold them in half so you can see how big your pages will be.
Step Three: Use the pages to measure how big you want your cover to be. I like to leave about an extra inch so there's half an inch around every edge between the pages and the cover.
Step Four: Trim the cover to size.
Step Five: You can see here how that extra inch (or so) makes the pages fit more comfortably within the cover.
Step Six: Use your Crop-A-Dile to punch two holes through the pages and the spine. The reason I use a Crop-A-Dile and not just a regular hole punch is that it can punch through lots of layers or thicker textiles like leather.
Step Seven: Next, use twine to attach the pages and the cover together. Hide the knot by tying it inside the book rather than on the spine.
Step Eight: It's that simple! Once you've made one, you can make 10 really quick. It's super fun!
Variations: To spice up your covers, try stamping, try using watercolor paper and paints, try leather or oil cloth, and add personal touches like names, dates, and occasions.
If you make your own journals, tag me on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a link in the comments here so I can see them. xo! Elsie
Credits// Author: Elsie Larson, Photography: Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Petal from the Fresh Collection.
120 Comments
How lovely! I just want to make lots of these for myself, aaand maybe a couple for gifts π I love that it’s almost like book binding, just a whole lot easier! Yay! Thanks so much for sharing, Elsie; this is a truly beautiful project π
xo
Camilla
http://kapteinmoe.blogspot.no
OH wow! These would make SUCH great gifts! I want to make lots of them for Easter!
I love these! So cute
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Ahhh this is so perfect!! My best friend’s bday is coming and i am sending her a little package and i’ve been trying to make a few DIY things for her and this is perfect!!! Thanks <3
Love all the different papers you used for covers! Would be cute to do with kids.
These are so fun! (I’d keep them all for myself!)
it’s my job! π http://www.fler.cz/shop/ma-cet !
These are cute, I will be trying these out soon! X
http://curlyredhairgirl.blogspot.co.uk
Journals are always so much fun to make and it’s always so interesting to see different ways people make them!
Lauren | OhHay Blogs!
xxx
I love this idea, thanks Elsie! I have tons of little notebooks floating around my house and how cute is it to add a couple of my own little books to the collection. x Eveline from http://fragilityofbeauty.com/
This is such a lovely idea – I’d have never thought of using them as gifts but that’s actually a really nice idea! Might just need to try it. Where is the best place to get a Crop-A-Dile?
Thank you for sharing this idea!
xo
These are soooo cute!!!! I am super excited to make these π Thanks for the awesome idea, Elsie!!
I love these! I am constantly making lists in my journals π What kind of paper is the blue one? So Cute!
Oh, this is lovely! I actually only do handmade journals so this is perfect and smart. I think it lends something sweet and personal to it π
Love and Luck,
Laurali Star
http://www.thesecretsurprisinista.com
Lovely idea Elsie, and they look rather easy to make especially for us non-diy’ers who find everything hard! Thanks so much for sharing.
These are so great! What an awesome idea!
These are great journals! My husband and I make traditional leather hand-bound leather blank books! Our main business is restoration and conservation of rare books, but a great way to practice technique and keep up tooling skills is to bound books. Our website is http://www.EidolonHouse.com.
Love this gift idea!
http://www.modaonlinegelolasvintage.com
So cute Elsie! I noticed that hot pink (maybe red?) one is a little bigger than the rest. How many pages did you put in it, or how many would you say is possible before it’s too many and you need to resort to traditional book binding?
Thanks for the tutorial! Can’t wait to try with my Rangers group π
Kyleigh x
Perfect little gifts
Thanks so much Camilla!
xx- Elsie
Hi Eilidh,
Crop-a-diles are carried at Hobby Lobby and Michael’s and Amazon. π
Elsie
Hi Regina,
It’s from Studio Calico!
http://www.studiocalico.com/
:)) Elsie
Hi Jeanine,
Hooray- I’m so pleased to hear that!
xx- Elsie
Hi Kyleigh,
It’s because it has a leather cover, so it doesn’t really hold the fold as easily! Same pages, though!
xx- Elsie
These are so cute! Perfect size to just throw in your purse and go! Thanks so much for sharing!
These are really cute and simple! I make my own journals jessicaloughrey.blogspot.com links are at the top to my etsy shop and Instagram.
Ive been wanting a notepad!! I will definitely try this!!
http://littlebeautybloge.blogspot.co.uk/
Elizabeth x
These journals are so cute and look pretty simple to make! I made one right away after reading this post! Thanks so much for sharing!
http://everydayingrace.blogspot.ca/
oooooooooooh, I would love to make some of those!! Thanks, Elsie!
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
This is THE solution for me π Now I can stop going out to look for one or sitting with laptop for a long time!
Thank you so much for sharing this great idea! I can’t wait to make one π
So stinking cute! Going to have to make!
http://sunkissedrayy.blogspot.com/
These are so cute! And they’re perfect as a short craft if you have a busy schedule!
ageekwithadream.weebly.com
These are so adorable!!! I have a “small” obsession with note books, as I like to jot down everything! But at the same time i’m a bit of a notebook snob…I only like to write in cute ones lol! Thank you so much for sharing this, i’m definitely giving it a try π
Such cute patterns! I’m definitely doing this, they have some nice papers in Papyrus, I think I’ll get some there and do tons of these!
This is such a great idea! I’m hand making all my gifts this year and this is such a good idea! Great post π
http://www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
Love this idea! Where did you get the letter stamps on the light pink journal?
Super cute idea <3
Brilliant gift idea. I also recently made some journals and gave them away as gifts. I love the ones that you have made! Thanks for sharing?
β₯
Krystal | http://www.moorekrystal.wordpress.com
So, I make journals, just not exactly the same way (although these are ADORABLE!). π You can check them out here if you would like!
http://www.kaeleighbee.etsy.com
love all the journals, now I have more ideas on the design of my next journal and scratch pads
thecertifiedlatebloomer.blogspot.com
These are really cute. A great DIY product the next time it snows!
http://www.nikitaandvesper.com
Cute idea!
This are gorgeous! What a simple, creative way to use up all the scrap materials I have laying around. Thanks for another great DIY inspiration! π
Beautiful idea, beutiful mess π
Je suis une vrai dingue de carnet .. Je ne sais mΓͺme pas l’ expliquer ! Wouhhhh j’adore cette idΓ©e <3
These look wonderful, and are such an amazing gift idea! They don’t seem too difficult either, which is always a bonus! x
holljc.blogspot.co.uk
oh they are beuatiful. love em
Super cute and looks pretty simple too, I may have to do this today π
they are beautifu, i love them! thank you al lot for this idea:)
Oooooo love these! Definitely going to make some for myself to take on my travels x
Very nice inspiration.
xx
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
Such a great idea Elsie! I think I’m gonna do it but for me!!! I love it!
Love this!
I use to have a lot of notebooks around, in my bag, my bedside table, desk…. Now i need one of those!
Every year, I make my own journal/planner. π This is the one I made for 2014:
http://yumipitz.blogspot.com/2013/12/planner-year-5-pull-to-open.html
What a great idea π
http://www.sweetcandydreamer.com
So creative! I’m lovin’ all the prints used in the journal. π
Love this!
I can’t wait to try these. I have been looking for fun projects to do with my daughter over the Easter holidays. These are perfect.
I love these ones and my friends and family too!!
I made a lot of them last year and it was quite hard to give them away π
Lovely idea!!!
Do you crease the cover in any special way so it doesn’t tear or bend funny?
I agree that journals make great gifts – we always need to jot something down! I like that these are quick and easy journals… and if you want to spend just a tad bit more time, you can bind them differently to create something even more long-lasting. It doesn’t really take too much work! I also like to mix it up and use other materials like leather and cloth π
These are gorgeous and look much simpler than the homemade journals I normally make. Thanks for sharing!
Such a great DIY! I really want to make a travel journal as I cannot find the perfect one for me!
Tamsyn-Elizabeth
So cute! Maybe I’ll make one as a planner.
http://nolongergrey.wordpress.com/
… so cute! I already have so many people in my mind who would enjoy this project… thank you Elsie! xxx from Greece
These are so cute!
Claire | Shining Like Silver xx
What a great idea! They’d make such cute presents if you’re a bit skint, but I think I’d be tempted to keep them for myself!
Great tutorial!
http://fashion-soup.com/
Oh god. This is such a cute idea! Bring on Christmas.
So fun! Making some for myself π
very very cute….!!!!
Where do you get the leather/faux leather for many of your crafts? I’ve checked many local craft stores and even some fabric stores with no luck.
Instead of a crop-a-dile you can also just use an awl (a more traditional bookbinding tool that looks like a big needle-I have this one: http://www.dickblick.com/products/lineco-wooden-handle-awls/). You would need a cutting mat or cutting board underneath, but I think it makes everything easier to line up and punch through.
These are great and really beautiful. I think I will do some as a journal for inspirations, ideas and some other stuff like this. It is so easy to make them π
Such a great idea. So simple too. Love it.
http://xfallenmoon.blogspot.com
It looks so cute and artsy
This looks fun to make! I can make some of these and give them away once I release my first book. Thanks for the inspiration! ^_^
xo Trisha
http://www.trishasales.net
This is super cool! I’m going to make some journals for myself and who knows, maybe as a little gifts for some up coming B-days in my family. Thanks for sharing this post and beautiful pictures. Love your blog! x
I am really interested in knowing what type of “paper trimmer” that you used here. Could you share with us the brand?
Thanks!
You’ve made it look so effortless and easy to make:-) They are beautiful…and what a fun handmade gift idea. Gotta get myself a Crop-a-dile.
I made simmilar booklets a little while ago, I used vinyl record sleeves for the covers. I love yours too, cute litlle project.
Here you can find mine: http://submarinesandsewingmachines.blogspot.nl/2013/08/diy-vinyl-record-sleeves-note-books.html
Great tutorial! thanks for sharing π
What an awesome idea! This would be great to keep a stash for last-minute gifts.
xoxo
Taylor
Such a great idea, definitely gonna try it out π
http://www.randomindistilling.blogspot.com
i love this. BIG time.
xx
how simple & cute! I think it could also be fun to use a thin ribbon or colorful twine and then have a bow on the outside rather than tying a knot on the inside. Just another fun way to mix things up!
I made something similar one year and used it as a Christmas card. I just used fabric for the cover, but stiffened it with spray starch. On the inside pages, instead of making it a journal, I typed and pasted some Christmas poems and Bible verses for the Christmas season. It was also a way to recycle pictures from previous cards (this was before the time of my Microsoft Word program where I could type, cut and paste, add pictures, texts, etc.!) My mom had saved her card and I recently found it when cleaning out things at my parent’s home.
I definitely like the little journal idea!
What an interesting and personal idea! I always love a homemade gift- it feels extra special!
xo, Kinsey
http://www.southerneasystyle.com/
So simple and so great. I bet I could inspire some creativity with these. Maybe a mini scrap book.
I’m enamored with the project! I’m not so crafty but this looks like something I could actually do. I’ll make some for me first:)
http://857notebook.blogspot.com
Ladies!! I am so impressed and madly in love with these affordable diys! I really appreciate y’all’s aesthetic and that you are incorporating projects for the budget minded! ????
I love all notebooks, and tiny ones even more. these are super cute!
One of my favourites EVER. More like this, please! <3
What a good idea – they look super cute and decorative! π
Emma
http://www.thecasualcliche.blogspot.dk
Gift? I want to make + keep these for myself! lol. I love paper goods!
What a great way to use up some of my amazing and pretty scrapbook paper! I always need more journals!
Probably one of your best posts ever. So simple, so beautiful.
Awesome!!
Lulu xx
http://www.luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
I am going to do this, like, right now! π
These are such a beautiful gift idea, I cannot wait to make a bunch!
really nice D>I>Y thanks for tutorial
Elsie, I totally agree homemade/handmade journals are fantastic and sure do make gift giving just that more special! I’ve made several and what I love most is that I can recycle the untouched sheets of paper in my old note pads from school (admittedly long ago) that I haven’t used in x years. Thanks for sharing yours. You can check out a couple that I made here: http://www.spamusings.com/category/projects/ *Coco*
These look gorgeous, I will have to give them a go!
I did a graphic design course last year and bookbinding was by far my favourite part! Thanks for reminding me to get back to it, haha.
what a gorgeous project!
I was JUST dreaming up journal, notebook and mini book projects yesterday. This isn’t the approach I was thinking of, but it looks a lot easier! I’ll have to try it out π
This is a great idea. They look so cute.I’ll make tons of these. I can even sell ’em. Thank you so much for sharing.
http://www.abbyramirez.blogspot.com
Lovely photos. Nice post π
βΞ± βΞΉcΟrΞ·e – βa vie est βa petite βicorne.
* Giveaway *
Hi! First of all, I love your blog and I’m so glad I found it, it’s so full of inspiration. There’s so much ideas that my mind is about to explode because I have no time to do everything. π
I read from your “Frequently asked questions” -post that “You can post one photo of our finished project with a link to our original blog post”. I still felt like asking – just to make sure – that is it okay if I sometimes use your photos in my blog? I thought about doing inspiration collage -posts (a little like this one here -> http://www.helmihytti.fi/2014/03/inspiraatioleikekirjasta.html ) that are like pages from inspiration scrapbook. I’d like to do those every now and then, and because you have so many brilliant ideas here, I’d like to help to share some of them with my blog’s readers too. (My blog is written in Finnish, and it’s mostly about my life, crafts and diy-stuff.) And of course I’d write & link under the collages where the pictures are from.
I’m really thankful if you have time to answer! There is not much blogs that are full of inspiration, crafts and diy-stuff and also written in Finnish, but fortunately there are blogs like this one. π Keep up the good work!
With love,
Helmi
http://www.helmihytti.fi
So crafty and simple π I love it. Definitely gonna make some soon!
So sweet! I mdae my own journal this week and stamped it with bicycles.
http://claireabellemakes.com/2014/04/04/diy-hand-stitched-bicycle-notebook/
Elise! I had a blast making these mini notebooks this weekend. I’ve tagged you in both instagram and twitter.
instagram: peacelovenfood
twitter: @peacelovenfood_
Thanks again for sharing!!!
xx Michelle
peacelovenfood.wordpress.com
They’re so cute! Thanks for the great idea!
The “step by step” photos are both creative and very helpful! This is a great idea!
I love this project so much, they are adorable and so easy to make! Perfect for when you need a quick craft fix π
I made a little recipe book version, check it out on my baby blog! http://www.regularrabbit.weebly.com
What a lovely and easy-to-make idea π I guess you could also use larger sheets of drawing paper and cut them to size for hand-made sketching books for arty friends or family members π
Its so easy and simple. I luv them. I want to make a whole stash of them now!
These are so cute! And this is the easiest step-by-step I have seen! Hella, this is the best step-by-step I have seen! Thank you so much for sharing!