https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/mini-matchbook-notepad • Posted by Ria S.
I saw some of these little notebooks in a boutiquey shop recently and they were £4 each! So I thought I would raid my paper stash and have a go myself. I didn't need to buy any materials as like most crafters I have a beautiful stock of papers just crying out for a project like this!
I saw some of these little notebooks in a boutiquey shop recently and they were £4 each! So I thought I would raid my paper stash and have a go myself. I didn't need to buy any materials as like most crafters I have a beautiful stock of papers just crying out for a project like this!
You will need: Heavy weight paper or light card for the cover (I found Mulberry type papers worked really well for this), scraps of papers for the leaves, pencil, ruler, stapler, paper trimmer or scissors and embellishments and stickers to decorate.
First cut a strip of paper for your cover. You can choose to make them as big or small as you like, but for this one I cut 19cm by 8cm
Then measure up 2cm, score and fold and then another 2cm score and fold, which makes a nice firm 'flap' to tuck the top cover into. I used a bone folder to get a nice sharp crease.
Next, fold down the top to about half way down this folded flap and crease well. Don't fold to the bottom or you won't be able to tuck behind the flap when it is stapled.
Now you want to make the 'leaves' of the note book. Cut these slightly smaller than the inside back of your cover - using a paper trimmer means you can neatly cut several pieces at once - about 10 or 12 is a good amount - you want your stapler to be able to go through them all, plus the front flap and back cover!
I cut some yellow and some white and alternated them in the stack to make an interesting little book with yellow and white pages! Place the stack of leaves neatly and snugly into the bottom fold.
Holding the top part of the cover over the bottom flap so you can see how far up you can go, staple through the flap and paper leaves - I used 2 on this one but one will hold it too!
Make sure the staples are well flattened at the front and not sticking up at the back, you don't want to snag yourself on a sharp staple - ouch!
Finally, embellih to your hearts content! I used some flower stickers to cover the staples at the front.
On the Daisy Cow covered one I just did one staple and covered with a larger daisy overlapping the front and the blue one I layered a leather flower embellishment onto a pink paper circle and used a statement sticker to cover the staples. These are so quick and easy to make you will be making them for everyone! You could also use some 'boyish' paper as they would also make a good pocket notebook for a guy as they can be made as big or small as you like!