30 minute DIY Vintage Notebook
I know this has been done before, but thought it would be tragic if this ideas was overlooked this holiday season. The great thing about a personalized notebooks from old storybooks is that there are endless possibilities of old books that with their old titles, can be very nostalgic, funny and personal. I love notebooks, I have MANY notebooks that serve many purposes. I write my to-do lists in them, grocery lists, ideas and I LOVE them. With my absolute obsession with journals and notebooks, it seemed fitting.
SUPPLIES
- scissors
- Cinch binding machine or other binding machine
- Cinch binding coil either plastic or metal (for this I used the .75″ copper coil)
- vintage children’s storybook or other book or choice
- additional paper (I used a 40lb cream colored paper)
This Christmas record notebook was given to me last year by my dear friend Tanna! I would pay so much to have a vintage record cover like that!
STEP 1: Â Take the book apart. Carefully cut the pages as close to the middle of the binding as possible. Cut the cover away from the binding. Clean cuts look much better since those edges will show when the book is bound.
STEP 2: Â Take each piece of the book (you can include all pages or just some of the pages) and punch the holes in stacks of about 20. Line them up as close as possible so they match when put together.
STEP 3: Â Use one of the pages as a template and cut extra paper (for writing). Insert groups of blank pages in between the original pages to add character.
STEP 4: Â Add all pages to the binding coil.
STEP 5: Â Use the Cinch Binding Machine to close the clamps of the binding coil around the pages. 
ENJOY!!!! Repeat and make a unique notebook each time!!! Find books that might in some way be relatable to certain friends. For example, my mother in-law loves horses and I happened to find an old book with horses on the cover. It was perfect!
THERE YOU HAVE IT…A COLORFUL, CUTE, and completely unique notebook for someone special!
Merry Christmas my friends & happy crafting!
XO,
KIRSTEN
Thank you for sharing Kirsten! I love this idea.
Oh, that makes me sad to see a book cut apart like that.
Well it’s still getting used. Probably used and enjoyed more now than ever. At least it’s not getting thrown in the garbage.
Thank you for posting this! I’ve never seen these and I love this idea!
Hey Kristen, Love this project. Is there a particular binding machine that you recommend or any tips on shopping for one?
Hi…hope you still see comments…are you able to punch through the cover with the Cinch??
Thanks!
Did you ever hear back on whether or not the machine will punch through thick covers? Wanting to do this project but wondering how to punch through old book covers? Thanks!
It will punch through chipboard, but not sure about old book covers. I guess it would depend on how thick they are.
What sort of tool or machine do you use to punch through the hardback book covers?
It’s a Cinch Machine that punches through it all.