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 would keep my daily to do list in this awesome journal or maybe I would actually journal.
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all about adventures!
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It’s crazy how many comments you get when you give away things!
When I was younger, my best friend and I used to go to church conferences… and instead of listening to the preachers, we’d pull out a notebook and have “written conversations”. We’re both married with kids now, and we live 2600 miles apart. I would use this to start a written conversation with her, that we mail back and forth. 🙂
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Great project Elise. I would use this book to record favorite quotes.
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Daily to do lists and project ideas would go into this journal!
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I would make lists… of everything!
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I’m currently in flux career-wise and would use this fantastic notebook to replace my battered moleskine and draft a few more ad campaigns for my spec book. I always need more space to create! (and gridded paper is kind of my jam!)
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i’d love to write journals about my baby boy and put some pics of him, his drawing, his first writing,etc. so me and hub can see his growth through the journal 😀
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I’d use this to write down blog ideas. I need to get myself organized in that section of my life. 🙂
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I am planning to make a list of things that my 104 year old grandma has said over the years. Her wisdom and outlook on life are a combo of Winnie the Pooh (and Eeyore) and Yogi Berra in a style that is distinctly her own. My whole family delights in a “mama-ism” so I’ll probably need a book to collect them all!
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Lists! Lists of my kids words, gift ideas, to do’s, etc etc!
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Ca semble si simple à faire en te lisant.
C’est une très bonne idée de créer son propre livre 🙂
Tu es toujours une mine de bonne idée 🙂
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I would love to record things I’d like my kids to look back on years from now, like things they’ve said, quotes I like and little bits of “advice” from me.
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you make everything look so easy!
The squared pages would be perfect for designing knitting patterns!
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I’d love to use it as my weight loss journal for this year – filling it with magazine clippings, inspirational quotes, progress photographs, motivational pictures and diary entries 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win xx
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This is so cool and I would love a new notebook, for all the making plans I have for this year. Plan no. 1: use the book making supplies I have from way back…
Thanks for sharing this nice project!
Good luck!
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What a great first project! I would use this journal to plan some special projects of my own
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I would use it for my knitting designs.
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Since it’s a grid paper, I’d write down new ideas for knitting projects. I’d really like to start creating new hat patterns with intricate cables and designs. I’d love to design a sweater someday, and hopefully a journal like this will help me get there.
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Awesome journal! I am expecting baby #1 this summer and I think I would record all the little things of the first year with the little one so that they could read it down the road but also for me to read when we are having more children!
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I’m a mom of two and I do okay at documenting their happenings, but this would be just for me. I’ve neglected my own thoughts and musings long enough. This would be my place to imagine and wonder and dream. 🙂
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Observations during my study abroad next semester!
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I would write down all the things my daughter is starting to say.
So far we have bubbles, fish, mama and dada
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looking so forward to all of your projects this year ! this book would probably keep my to do lists in order !
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I would use it as my monthly goal tracker 🙂 I love the hand printed cover, you’ve inspired me to have a go at making my own gift wrap xx
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I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer currently living in rural southern Morocco. I’d use the journal to document the experiences in this country that I never want to forget.
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The book is beautiful…I want to take a crack at bookbinding now. I would use this book to list, plan, and document all the home improvement projects/decor ideas we’re planning to complete in the next 2 years!
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Such a fun journal! I would draw/paint lots of folk art animals inside of it to keep the pages company. 🙂
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Layout ideas for my Hawaii album. I’ve been writing them down on scraps of paper and they’re taking over my desk! 🙂
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my great big ideas 😉
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That looks great! I would use it as a travel journal for an upcoming trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 🙂
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I need a journal just to keep track of the books I read. I think about doing this all the time and if I don’t win, I am still going to do it finally!
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I would use this as a journal to record my thoughts and prayers.
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I would totally write thoughts re: my impending little one in there! My daughter is due in less than two weeks (!) and I’ve been typing her letters- but I know that I’d rather have something more conducive to being on the go that I can keep in my purse and jot down funny things she says, pointers I want to give her, and thoughts on parenthood, etc.
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What a beautiful journal! Congrats on your first official project for make and give. I would use this to keep lists – I am a list person at heart whether it is things to remember, groceries, funny moments. My life is a bunch of lists.
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I took a bookmaking class in college and LOVED it! We read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Keith-A.-Smith/e/B000APA26C/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=daidoi-20&linkId=2UXOJFLAKNQPR4S6 I think you would enjoy it. It’s time consuming, methodical, but totally worth it!
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Love the tutorial Elise ! Can’t wait to see more of your make&give30 serie. 2 years ago i had a stomach surgery and lost 80lbs. I’ve been thinking about making a journal about each part of my body and saying what i like/dislike about each…
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I would use it as a family journal. With my 18 month old son there is so much happening everyday I want to remember.
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Lovely tutorial! I would love to win this notebook since it would be sprinkled with your magic like inspiration and would help me jot done my ideas and projects! You are awesome as ever.
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Evil plans, genius ideas, admonishing and encouraging notes to self
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I would do grocery list AND homework things to read.
Plus blogging, project life, and books I want to read and ideas.
the options are endless!
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I’d write down my “want to do” vs. my “have to do list”
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I love the journal. I would use it to write down the things my three kids are doing…a diary!
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I’d write poems.
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Gorgeous! If I had this little book I would use it as a gratitude journal. I have an app but I’m ready to move to a “real” one.
Pedita
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Look at that, it’s just beautiful! It’s reminded me that I used to cover notebooks as a girl. I’d forgotten it til now; funny how that happens. I use notebooks all the time, mainly for ‘to do’ lists and plans, but I feel like a special book like this needs something more… I think I’d use it to start writing again. Sometimes I lie awake thinking amazing literary things and then by morning I’m all average-Jo(e)-writer again. This could solve that problem! Thanks for the chance to win x.
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I think this is amazing. I’m starting training to become a nurse from September and I think this would make each day a little brighter!
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I think I would use this to write down things I would want my sons to know about me that they would otherwise never know. Like an unofficial memoir. Things I remember from my childhood, things about their grandma and grandpa. Oh boy…now I have the itch to write!
Thanks for the chance to win!
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my list of places I want to go and what I will do there….kind of my bucket list! But really more of a “someday” list!
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To-do Lists, for sure.
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