Handmade Sketchbook

The blogging community is full of wonderfully talented people and I love seeing what ideas other blog friends are coming up with! This got me thinking about the process of creating... I don't know about you all but I love my sketchbooks! I love to doodle, make lists, do quick watercolor sketches, journaling, etc.

This inspired me to make my own sketchbook! This is the book I ended up making, although this picture was taken before I stained the edges with some watered down acrylic paint.. {notice the cardstock fraying a bit when it was folded.}

These are the tools you will need:

mod podge {like every good crafting project}

scrap book paper

cardboard {the graham cracker box}

paper {for pages}

eyelets

crop-o-dial {there may be other brands, but I got this one for $10 at JoAnn's with my 50% off coupon}

embroidery floss & large needle

This might seem a little intimidating at first, but trust me, it is all in your head! :)

The first step is to cut your cardboard into the size that you want your sketchbook or notebook to be. I chose to do a little 5x7 so I could toss it in my bag easy!

You will also cut paper to fit inside the book when folded in half! My pages were 6x10, so when they were folded I had a 4x6 page to work with... {note: if any of this is confusing you can always email me with any questions!}

Next glue your scrapbook paper to the outside with the mod podge. As long as there is enough room to fold the paper over your edges then you are fine, I wasn't very specific with measuring these pieces.

After the glue has dried {preferably under something flat and heavy so there are no bubbles!} you can punch holes with your crop-o-dial (or hole punch) and place the eyelets inside each hole. The crop-o-dial will also press your eyelets so they stay in place! {note: the eyelets are not mandatory, but they will keep your cover from fraying with wear and tear.}

The last step is probably the most intimidating, the actual stitching! Instead of risking confusing everyone with wordy directions, watch this video! This is how I learned to do it! Some of the materials she uses vary a bit but the end result is the same!

And there you have it! You're very own homemade sketchbook! There are a lot of different stitches and styles to explore but the reason I chose the Coptic Stitch is because the book will lay flat when it is open, which is ideal for any kind of sketching!

I hope you enjoyed this little endeavor and don't be afraid to ask questions! :)

Wishing you all a lovely little day!