Learn how to easily make 5 Minute DIY Notebooks in any size using a regular stapler hack and all the scrap paper that you have around! The notebooks can be used for writing, doodling, painting, art journaling, scrapbooking, they also can be turned into collage books for mixed media or anything else that you can think of. And they make the perfect gifts for family and friends!
Hello, hello! :) Today I have a real treat for you! It’s a chic and easy DIY project that I couldn’t wait to share with you! These AH-MAZING handmade DIY Notebookswon’t take too much of your time and I’m betting you already have all the ‘ingredients’ at home. Wanna bet? :)
The best part about this project is that you can use ANY type of paper you have around – as long you can fold it in half! Use regular printing paper, cardstock paper, planners, sketchbooks, even old notebooks or paper bags, kraft paper, the sky is the limit! Use dictionary pages, sheet music, old books, even old maps that you can find in thrift stores – if you want to get really creative and use your 5 Minute DIY Notebooks as art journals afterwards. This way you will have the perfect notebook or journal for all your mixed media adventures! Just keep in mind – it has to be paper that you can fold in half for this project to work!
The quick part about this project, the part that will help you finish your DIY Notebooks in no time is to use precut paper! This means you won’t spend too much time actually cutting the paper, you just use what you have and you fold it in half!
I used an old sketchbook that I even forgot I had … I guess it was just laying around waiting patiently for a project like this! :) My sketchbook has seen better days, for sure, but I managed to recycle almost all of its pages and I really loved their cream dreamy color! It didn’t have any seams, so I was able to just fold the pages in half and use them!
Another thing that contributes to this whole quick and easy idea? My 5 Minute DIY Notebooks have no hard covers! :) I know that might sound strange at first, but my sketchbook paper was a little bit thicker than regular paper so I decided to just leave them like that! I call this being productive and effective, I really don’t want to over complicate things :) I was planning to use my notebooks as art journals and I thought I would probably paint the covers afterwards with acrylic paint, that would definitely give them a little bit of sturdiness.
Of course you can make some covers for your notebooks, if you want. You can use cardstock paper, cardboard from cereal boxes, pretty scrapbook paper, etc. Just cut one piece to the same size of your pages and fold them all in half.
How to make 5 Minute DIY Notebooks in any size
Here is the list with all the supplies you’ll need:
- any scrap paper (precut or cut to the same size)
- a bone folder
- an eraser (the larger the better)
- a regular stapler and a super cool hack
You might be saying right now that there’s no way a regular stapler will work to make a notebook in any size! But in fact it does! :)
Which leads us to the easy part of this project – replacing the mostly used sewing method with a super cool hack! The super cool hack that I only recently learned about, the secret to endless experimenting and making notebooks in any sizes … is to completely open your regular stapler and then only use the top part!
This way you won’t need any special tool for different sizes, just your regular stapler … hacked! :) How amazing is that?!
This is how you open your stapler.
When completely opened, it will lay flat on your table.
The super exciting and fun part about this project is that you are completely in control – you decide how many pages to use inside to create your own customized 5 Minute DIY Notebooks! Fun, fun, fun! :) I only used 4-5 pages per notebook (that would give me a doubled amount after folding) because I preferred to make several thinner instead of creating just one or two thicker ones. You do you! :)
How to make 5 Minute DIY Notebooks in any size
1. Start by folding your choice of paper in half using your fingers. If you only use a few pages, you can fold them all at once.
2. Use your bone folder (or a ruler, a credit card, etc) to smooth the folded center crease.
3. Hack your stapler and open it up – we will only use the top part for stapling. The stapler will withstand a little bit of opposition at first, so please be gentle – we don’t want to break it! :)
4. Use an open book and place the eraser on top. You can place the eraser directly on your table, but I found it easier to use a book as a base.
5. Open and place your first folded set of pages on top of the eraser. Eyeball (or measure and make a mark) where you want to add the first staple, move the underneath eraser to that position, then align the folded paper crease with the line of your stapler and press!
6. If you are happy with how your first staple is aligned, just move to the next step – if not, carefully remove it and try again :)
7. Now turn the page over, you will see how the eraser underneath acted as a buffer for the pointy ends of our staple. The bottom part is usually responsible with flattening your metal staples, but because we only use the top part, the eraser will do the trick!
8. Gently pull the eraser upwards to remove it, it should easily come off.
9. Use your bone folder to flatten the pointy ends of your staple and follow the same procedure for the second staple.
You need at least two staples per notebook … to even call it a notebook :) But depending on the size of your paper you might need to use three ore more.
I used two staples for each notebook and I didn’t really care to make them perfect … remember how I prefer rather quick and uncomplicated things? :)
I absolutely love how they turned out, I have a feeling I will be using this cool hack to make many more of these gorgeous 5 Minute DIY Notebooks! :) The blank pages feel like a blank canvas, just ready to be filled with all kind of creative experiments! Or thoughts, daily activities and other plannings, shopping lists, appointments … just adapt them to your needs!
The gold foil and watercolor butterflies stickers that I shared a while ago can be used as a quick and easy way to embellish your new favorite DIY Notebooks!
Why not, right? :) Everything looks so much better in gold anyway! :)
sketchbook | bone folder | stapler | staples | eraser
If you want to further experiment, why not use the blank covers (even the pages) to create unique monoprinting designs … using a gel plate? :) Have you used a gel plate before? I declare myself utterly and completely obsessed with mono printing, I am simply in love with this technique! I will be showing you my first experiments at the end of this week, I will be sharing how I created the design below.
PIN FOR LATER & SHARE ♥
That’s it for now, I hope you LOVE these 5 Minute DIY Notebooks as much as I do, I’m really curious what other uses you will find for these beauties!
Project inspired by and adapted from Vectoria Designs ♥
Don’t forget to smile,
Diana
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Great post!!!
Thank you, Pam!
Hope you have a lovely day!
Where did you purchase those lovely butterflie stickers? I looked on your Etsy site but didn’t see them there.
Carol, I actually made the stickers using gold foil and a laminator.
You can find the tutorial here, I shared it on The Graphics Fairy – https://thegraphicsfairy.com/diy-gold-foil-stickers/.