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Cost: $ $ $ $ $

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Time: 25 mins

Recycle your old satchel into an adorable matching leather notebook!
If you love satchels just as much as me and tote them around everywhere, eventually they'll get a bit worn out but rather than saying goodbye to your trusty bag, recycle it into an adorable notebook.

Posted by Cat Morley from London, United Kingdom • Published 1st September 2015 • See Cat Morley's 1145 projects »

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Becky favorited Satchel Notebook 15 May 23:35
C.J. M. added Satchel Notebook to Leather 20 Apr 13:43
C.J. M. favorited Satchel Notebook 17 Apr 19:30
Alvin Y. favorited Satchel Notebook 23 Aug 11:17
Allan C. favorited Satchel Notebook 11 Aug 08:55
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neal d. favorited Satchel Notebook 01 Jul 11:30
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Carlos W. favorited Satchel Notebook 23 Mar 09:46

Step 1
Carefully deconstruct your satchel, unpicking the stitched with a seam ripper and cutting around any bolts. We want to keep as much of the fabric as undamaged as possible.
Step 2
Trace out a rectangle of leather on the reverse of the bag, big enough to cover an A5 notebook when folded in half.
Step 3
Leaving a small 1/2" margin around the outside of the notebook, neatly cut out the rectangle with a cutting knife and ruler.
Step 4
Cut a small rectangle of leather, half as wide as your cover and a couple of inches tall.
Step 5
Glue the leather rectangle to the very right hand edge with strong leather glue.
Step 6
Place a heavy object on top to hold the leather down until the glue has dried.
Step 7
Slip the cardboard back of the notebook through the fabric loop and then glue the left hand edge of the rectangle into the middle of the satchel.
Step 8
Leave to dry before closing your notebook.
Step 9
We're also going to recycle the window from the front of the satchel and one of the buckles. If you're satchel was too small to have a window, you can make one out of scrap leather.
Step 10
Press the front of your notebook down flat and decide where you'd like to position the window and buckle.
Step 11
Glue the side and bottom edges on the reverse of the window.
Step 12
Stick onto the front of your notebook.
Step 13
Unbuckle the strap and glue the buckle side of the strap to the front of your notebook. When dry, buckle up the back of the strap before glueing in place on the back of your notebook.
Step 14
Slip something cute into the window of your notebook and it's ready to use.