https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/satchel-notebook • Posted by Cat Morley
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.
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.
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.
Trace out a rectangle of leather on the reverse of the bag, big enough to cover an A5 notebook when folded in half.
Leaving a small 1/2" margin around the outside of the notebook, neatly cut out the rectangle with a cutting knife and ruler.
Cut a small rectangle of leather, half as wide as your cover and a couple of inches tall.
Glue the leather rectangle to the very right hand edge with strong leather glue.
Place a heavy object on top to hold the leather down until the glue has dried.
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.
Leave to dry before closing your notebook.
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.
Press the front of your notebook down flat and decide where you'd like to position the window and buckle.
Glue the side and bottom edges on the reverse of the window.
Stick onto the front of your notebook.
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.
Slip something cute into the window of your notebook and it's ready to use.