Annnnnnnnd, we're off!
30 projects in 365 days? That sounds manageable. (I've got four queued and ready to roll.)
I mentioned that phase one of this project is all about using up existing supplies. This is part of my idea that sometimes creativity comes when you GET IN A BOX. Setting parameters and working with what you have can make you even more inspired. The example I like to use is the Project Runway one: the challenges when the designers had to "make it work" with car parts always had much more interesting results than when they could use any fabric at Mood.
I have had a case bound grid journal from Paper Source in my cupboard for years and knew it would have to be Project 1.
Hilariously, I have already attempted to do a tutorial of this process (and I've already given a handbound book away!) but every five years you get to recycle blog content so we're good. Plus, I've gotten moderately better at taking photos of myself doing projects in five years. Though if I do anything right in the next five years it will be hiring an assistant to help me take photos.
I didn't have any great patterned paper on hand for the cover of the book so I decided to really go for it and stamp my own with a hand-carved stamp I made a few years ago. I already had white bookcloth and kraft paper on hand so it was a no-brainer to use white paint.
I love the look that results from a hand-carved stamp. The imperfections really make it. (I you want to carve your own, this is a great kit, I love this brayer and I have had great results with this printing ink – though any craft paint works.)
The hardest part of this project is (sadly) sourcing the book kits. You need a text block and precut book board which isn't easy to find. Paper Source has these square ones in limited quantities. Blick has these smaller ones at a great price if you want to make a bunch (teacher gifts anyone?). I am sure there are more, but these are the only brands I have tried. Other than that, you'll want:
- PVA glue
- a glue brush
- pencil
- ruler
- book cloth
- bone folder
- scissors
STEP 1 : cut your book cloth down so it's a few inches taller than your book and about 4-5 inches wide. Fold it in half the long (hot-dog) way. You now know where the center of your spine will be. Place your ruler on the fold and measure out about the width of your text block on each side.
For this book, my text block is 10/16 inches thick. I went 9/16 out on either side of the 6 (see those marks on the ruler?) We measure out this far to be sure our book will open and close properly. Mark these spots with a pencil in two places of the book cloth.
STEP 2 : apply glue to the bookcloth starting at the pencil marks and pulling out all the way to the edge of the bookcloth. Line your bookboard up with the marks and push down to adhere.
STEP 3 : do the same on the other side, being careful to line the top of the two bookboard pieces up.
STEP 4 : apply glue to the top of the bookcloth and pull it tightly over the bookboard.
STEP 5 : use your bone folder to smooth out any wrinkles of the booktape on the back and front sizes. (At this point you can add a bit more bookcloth to the back center – see final photo in step 12 below – but it's not necessary.)
STEP 6 : congrats! You have just combined two pieces of bookboard (your covers!) with a spine!
STEP 7 : we are now going to cover the book with paper. The amount of paper you'll need will vary based on the size of your book. You will want 2 pieces (one for the front and one for the back) and you should shoot for a few inches taller and wider than what your final book will be. Apply glue to the backside of the paper, taking care to pull the brush off the edge (on to scrap paper). We need that whole edge covered with glue.
STEP 8 : turn the paper over and line up the glued edge against the spine so it covers the bookcloth edge but leaves about an inch of cloth showing. Use your bone folder to smooth things out.
STEP 9 : turn the book back over and use scissors, to cut wide U shapes out of the two corners, making sure to leave about 1/8 inch of space between the paper and the bookboard corner.
STEP 10 : apply glue and fold down the top and bottom sides of the paper.
STEP 11 : use your bone folder to tuck in the extra little bit corner – this will give the book a polished look.
STEP 12 : apply glue and fold over that final side. Pull tight and smooth out with the bone folder.
Repeat steps 7-12 for the other side. Congrats! Your cover is complete!
The final step is to drop in the text block. The text block is a "pre-glued set of pages" and it slips right into your covers. Stick yours in and be sure that it fits. To hold it in place, we need to cover the whole front and back pages with PVA glue. This part always makes me nervous.
What I like to do is get it lined up in the cover exactly how I like it. Then I carefully set it on the table and open the front cover. Slip a piece of scratch paper under the front piece of the text block and apply glue to the whole thing, pulling the brush over the edge of the page and on to the scrap paper. Without moving the text block, close the book and firmly press down the cover. Remove the scrap paper.
Then flip the book over and do the same to secure the last page of the text block to the back cover.
Tuck fresh scratch paper (without glue on it) behind the covers to protect the pages and stick it under a heavy book for a few hours. The extra scratch paper will absorb any extra moisture. This glue is no joke and your book will hold beautifully.
Hooray! A REAL BOOK. I've learned a lot of DIY tricks over the past decade but book binding is top ten for sure. When I make stuff, I am trying to make stuff that I would actually want to buy. This is one of those projects for sure and a perfect kick off to MAKE&GIVE30.
And now! The giveaway. Since this is a journal… leave a comment telling me something that you'd write down in it. Grocery lists? Dreams? Things your kids say? Funny Leslie Knope quotes? I'll draw a random winner by the end the week. Giveaway open to anyone, anywhere.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Random.org chose #278 as the winning comment which is Sara (Kanapi). Sara, please email me at elise.blahaATgmail.com and I'll send out your book. Thank you!
enJOY it 
432 responses to “PROJECT 1/30 : a handbound journal”
I LOVE grid paper… so I would want to use this for sketching out design ideas. Thanks for the inspiration!!
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Beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial.
I’ve learned the hard way over the last month that digital storage can fail me. I’d love to use this book as a way to keep track of my writing notes or to-do lists or dreams, I don’t know yet honestly. But I’ve made a return to paper & pencil after my old iPhone & computer conspired against me and ate my memories/pics/writing notes! This precious book would aid my grieving process. 🙂
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Every year I interview my kids on their birthdays. I make a video and write down what they say. This would be a perfect notebook for that. Love it! Thanks for the tutorial.
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Hey Elise! I love the journal – it’s beautiful! I would use the journal during my time in medical school (starting in July 2015). I am worried about getting burnt out and I’m hoping to keep my heart open and compassionate while I’m working with patients. I would use this journal to document stories of my interactions with patients, inspirational quotes, etc. to help me stay positive during a very tough four years! 🙂 Even if I don’t get your journal, I’m planning to buy one for this purpose. Thanks!
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Thanks for the giveaway! I read a quote recently (maybe here?) that said “moments that let you know you’re alive” and I knew that would be the title of a journal/mini album detailing those amazing times in my life where I felt bliss. Magic moments like finding starfish in pools near a seastack on the coast of Washington with my family. Magical moments I never want to forget! This is what I would use your journal for.
Thanks!
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I have three grandchildren, I would write the funny things and the not so funny things they do daily. Thanks for the chance to win!!
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So cool! I’d record my thoughts, feelings and workouts as I work toward completing my first Ironman race this summer!
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My music practice journal, or Notes on music theory. Pretty.
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I’d write down my plans to make the future finally happen now. I’m so ready to make those dreams come true!
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I like to write down my to-do lists in little journals so they are all together!
This is such a cute journal – Thanks for the giveaway!
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A grid notebook! Swoon! My favorite! I’d probably use it as a sketchbook for my hand lettering practice.
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This would be a great prayer journal and quote book! I love the graph paper on the inside!
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I love this! I also like how the inside is graph paper. I would definitely use this for designing my own cross stitch patterns. Right now theyre all over the place and this would be great for keeping all my ideas and patterns so I dont lose them.
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We’re moving up to the Portland area in April and I’d love for this little journal to be a way to document how we navigate and figure out our new city. Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
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I’ve just started setting goals and keeping track of projects–in a large part thanks to you!–so I’m in need of journals! This looks like a lovely journal to write about goals.
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I love the graphing paper inside. Perfect for lists? Or goals? Or prayers? Or dissertation notes? So many options… 🙂
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Oh this is so pretty ❤ I would use it as a journal for my list of everything I’m thankful for. I currently have one, and am up to 1467, but it’s quite small and I’m getting through it! This would be the perfect book to challenge me to find even more things to be thankful for once I’m done with my current book!
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I would definitely wrote all my deepest darkest secrets, aspirations and intentions, and the ‘must do’s’ while I love and breathe on this planet.
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Journal and ideas!!
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I would use it as a place to document the things my kids say and do. I currently have a book which has dates in it to be written on everyday which is a little much. I need something more open to let go and just write when I want to. Thank you so much for the chance to win this gorgeous book.
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I’d use my journal as a “diary” and write my random thoughts, musings, dreams, failures, etc.
Thanks for the awesome tutorial and giveaway 🙂
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Lists, lists, and more lists!
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I’m two months away from finishing my practice-based Creative Writing PhD . . . as soon as I’ve submitted the thesis I have three dozen short stories I’m desperate to write – and that’s what I’d fill this beautiful book with. Thanks so much for the chance to win.
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A great start… lovely project. I’m a lover of books, in particular journals. Would enjoy starting a fresh one to capture creative ideas, snippets of cool quotes, inspirata, etc.
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creative foods that we make/eat/give…for sure!
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I’ve started doing something called “artist pages” where you write stream-of-consciousness for three pages every morning. The goal is to “unblock creativity” and it’s helping me find more creative outlets in my life! That’s what I would fill this book with. Happy Tuesday!
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Lately I’ve been looking for the perfect journal to write down everyday inspiration. There are so many times throughout my days that people suggest a great book or movie or famous person that I should know. It seems like such a shame that so few of those suggestions get remembered! I’d love to have a journal that could act as a reference guide to the many people in my life who give me inspiration!
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Daily thoughts/memories/things I want to remember 🙂
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I used to journal all the time but have lapsed! Now that I’ve started a business I would LOVE to have a beautiful journal in which to write thoughts and ideas. The book you made is so pretty!
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I would definitely use this for list making! I’m a compulsive list maker… No notebook is safe!
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Lists. I love lists. Grocery lists, to do lists, Christmas lists, packing lists, creative ideas lists…
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Great journal. I’d use it to record my 2 year old progress and the current pregnancy.
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I would use the journal to keep all my crafty ideas in one place…. And probably a to do list. I always start a craft and then have another idea and start on that before finishing the first project!
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I need a place to plan and document my knitting projects and I love grid paper for that so this book is perfect and 🙂 so cute. Love the DYI instructions. Teacher gift is a great idea. THANKS!
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Oh I love a good handmade book. I would use it to write down my daily to do lists.
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I love the grid paper! It would be perfect for sketching out quilt patterns 🙂
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This is so great! I have an obsession with journals and writing in them. I would create a list of all of the “little things” in life that I love. ie.: the smell of rain, bacon, clean sheets.
Thanks for the opportunity.
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A safe place for all my lists and thoughts. 🙂
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I’ve been thinking of keeping a notebook of craft ideas (card/scrapbook sketches, among other things)!
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I’d definitely write down my to-do lists! Finding little pieces of paper (everywhere) with notes on them after the fact is really driving my up the wall! haha! #getittogether #teamwork
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I would absolutely use it to track the things my little ones say. Love Make & Give 30, Elise!
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I would love this for my “bag book” – a little book I always keep in my bag that gathers random information – a website I want to check out, things I need to pick up at the store, a list of goals I want to achieve, an idea for an activity with my two year old. Endless!
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I love making lists, so definitely lots of lists! I could see it being a fun place to keep lists of the crazy things my kids do.
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Love this! I used to love making books, maybe I’ll have to get back into it!
I would use the book to make the ultimate TO-DO list – including my life list and more! I love lists and a pretty book is perfect for that!
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Gridded notebooks are awesome for quilt planning…and that’s what I’d use it for. 🙂
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I just listened to a lecture on fabric design so I’m very interested in that right now. I would use it to “doodle” potential designs. Thanks for the chance to win.
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I would write down generic and brand drug names until I know them by heart and soul ( I am in pharmacy school 🙂 )
And the margins would be filled with titles of all the books I want to read!
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I’m working on writing down the “history of us”.. of our family since my husband and I met, for the kids to go back and read someday. I am about ready for another journal to add!
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I will write my thoughts, dreams and ideas for making a house (tiny studio really) a home for the first time ever.
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I use my journal for everything really. I take notes from books, use it as a diary, quotes, garden layouts – everything! And love the paper in this! I always use a moleskin because I can get the quad ruled – this is so much better!!!
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