Diy Recycled Pocket Notebook

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make a simple, portable, pocket notebook perfect for jotting down ideas and inspiration using recycled scraps!

Posted by Vanessa T.

About

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and inspiration but I can't tell you how many times inspiration strikes at the most inopportune time: when I'm out and about but there is (of course) no paper to be found. I often end up scribbling it down on a questionably wrinkly napkin only to lose it in the depths of my black hole purse.

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You Will Need (12 things)

  • Stapler
  • Ruler
  • Scrap Cardboard or old cereal boxes!
  • 1 Paper
  • Elastic (I used hair ties from the 99c store!)
  • Rounded Corner Punch
  • Drawer or Shelf Liner
  • 1 Pencil(s) with eraser top
  • White Acrylic Paint
  • Scissors
  • Xacto Knife or rotary cutter + mat
  • Metallic Marker Pen(s)

Steps (4 steps, 45 minutes)

  1. 1

    1. Cut your cereal box to your desired size. To make it easier to fold, score your cardboard lightly at the halfway point with an X-acto knife or rotary cutter.

    2. Cut your pages slightly smaller than the size of your cardboard. I did about 12 sheets, so I had 24 pages. Fold your pages in half.

    3. Position your pages inside your cardboard and staple the spine.

  2. 2

    4. On your back cover, make a small slit with your knife at the top corner edge.

    5. Grab your elastic/hair band and thread it through the slit. Make a knot and secure it with nail polish if desired.

    6. Repeat with the bottom corner edge.

  3. 3

    7. Optional: Using your corner punch, round the edges of both your cardboard and your pages.

    8. To decorate, I used the end of an eraser and white acrylic paint to make a polka dot pattern. I also had a scrap piece of white contact paper/drawer liner that I used to cover the spine. I then used a gold sharpie and pen to title my pocket notebook.

  4. 4

    Feel free to decorate this any way you like; I just wanted to use up some odds and ends materials that I had lying around. I also used the same polka dot technique here! With a cute pocket notebook like this, there shouldn't be any excuse to not jot your ideas down. Keep calm and stay inspired!