More notebooks and a watercolor sketchbook

I started to do a small run of notebooks following my process developed over the last weeks. These are the first 3 notebooks. A6 sized with fabric covered cover.

As an addition I made a 5x7 inch sketchbook with watercolor paper. Hopefully I can do some sketches on vacation in this one…

Fabric covered notebook: Seventh and probably last iteration

Finally I am perfecting the book binding of this little notebook. The result is a nice small A6 sized 88 page notebook with a fabric cover. The paper is 80g/m² , the cover, final and first pages are reclaimed cardboard and envelopes.

By using the glued spine method, I got a nice alignment of the pages.

Fabric covered notebook: Sixth iteration

This is the next step in notebook development. I was not happy about the layer of fabric between cover and signature block and the alignment of the signatures in general. To change the process a bit, I glued the spine instead of the long stitch used before. The fabric is sewn to the cardboard cover. The page alignment is quite good and the spine sturdy. I think I will go with this technique for the next ones. The fabric cover still needs some refinement.

Fabric covered notebook: Fifth iteration

I am back again with another iteration of the notebook. Again it is approx. A6 in size with 9 signatures of 4 double pages.

Fabric covered notebook: Fourth iteration

Well, this week I made another notebook to eliminate some quirks in the process.

Fabric covered notebook – Third iteration

Changing some minor things in the process, I went on to make another fabric covered notebook, Again it is about A6 ion size and has 9 signatures of 4 folded pages. The cover is recycled cardboard and envelopes.

Fabric covered notebook – Second iteration

Trying to make a better notebook, I bound by hand another one. with 9 signature in a recycled cardboard cover. The pages are roughly A6 sized. Again this was done in long-stitch binding with green thread.

To cover the threads and give the spine more stability I glued recycled envelope paper over it. Gives a nice look.

I’ve sewn a fabric cover for the notebook with an elastic band for cling the book. The combination of the two fabrics looks good, I’d say. On the inside you can see the envelope paper used to glue the cover to the first and last page of the notebook.

The Recycled Mini-Notebook (Matchbook Style)

Here I present you how to make a recycled mini-notebook:

1. Cut a strip of cardboard of 14.5x5.5cm. Cereal boxes work great!
   
2. Score the cardbord 4 times. Distances 1.5cm, 1.75cm, 8cm and 8.5cm measured from one edge. Optional: Put  sellotape over the scores. This prevents the cardboard from ripping on the folds.
   
3. Cut an A4 paper down to 12x5cm strips. IF you have leftovers, you can try to get some more 6x5cm pieces.
   
4. Fold the paper down the middle and make a stack.
5. 1cm from the fold make an incision with a cutter. This will help to rip out pages easier. If you do not want to rip out the pages, you can just skip this step.
6. Cut a cover page 6x5cm. You will need this if you have followed step 5, because the front flap will hang up on the cuts, when you close the notebook.
   
7. Stack the cover page on the blank pages and put the pages in the cardboard cover. Staple the pages to the cardboard (staple through cardboard latch, pages and cardboard back).
   
8. Slip the front under the latch and you finished your matchbook style notebook.

Recycled Notebook

From a few pages of paper I had laying around and a bit of cardstock I made this 9x14cm notebook. The pages are sewn to a cover sheet, which is glued into the cardboard cover. On the cover I sew green lines and felt pieces and glued on buttons.

Watercolor Wednesday: Mini art album #5

This week I present to you the fifth mini album. They are 7.5 x 7.5 cm and are made from air mail envelopes. Check out the fake stamps on this one. I carved a cork and used it to make the postmarks with acrylic paint.

The album has an accordion fold with pockets.

Every pocket contains a card with a 5x5cm post-themed watercolor painting.

Here are the paintings in detail. Can you spot Postman Pat?

Watercolor Wednesday: Mini art exhibition album #4

 

It’s that time of the week again. Watercolor Wednesday brings to you another 7.5x7.5cm mini-album. This time it is fruits & vegetables themed. The cover has self-adhering felt flowers.

The back of the album has a slide-out card.