I absolutely love sharing my projects with you each and every Friday, but what I love even more is that you guys get ultra creative and actually make and share your projects with us! It’s beyond rewarding and honestly you all impress me so much, I get giddy every time I check our hashtag: #somethingturquoisediy ! Sometimes I even tear up! I say that because I feel like today’s project is one that you will love to make and share because it’s simple, darling and takes very little supplies (they are also super cheap). In fact, many of you already have everything you need to make these lovely wedding notebooks – and in less than an hour you could have them completed, bow and all. Wether you are the bride making them for yourself and your bridal party, or if you’re the bridal party making them as a gift for the bride; these will absolutely come in handy. As the bride you can even add important details before you give them as gifts; ie. venue info, wedding planner contact, bachelorette party date, etc. Big enough to take real notes, small enough to fit in any purse, and so cute that you’ll actually use them. You never know when you might have to write something down, and how fun to look back on this special little journal when your journey is over. They would make awesome additions to any “ will you be my… gift “, just saying!
SUPPLIES:
- 1 sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock (for each notebook)
- 10 sheets of regular printer paper (for each notebook)
- paper piercer (or thumbtack, or the like)
- 2″ jumbo gold paper clips
- large embroidery needle
- cute twine
- bubble wrap
- corner rounder
- cat eye ink pad
- paper trimmer
- our FREE downloads below!
Visit our shoppable widget below to find links to all these items!
Grab your free download designs at the end of the post!
We are going to start by printing the cover design onto 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock paper. Choose from bride, maid of honor, bridesmaid or groom designs… or create your own. Trim (down to 10″ x 7″) using the marks on the print out. Fold the cut card in half.
Each finished notebook folds to 5″ x 7″.
Next, download and print the inside cover page onto regular computer paper. Trim using marks (down to 9 1/2″ x 6 3/4″) and fold in half.
How To Cut The Paper For The Notebook
I have some very specific tips and measurements so that when you cut and fold this notebook paper – it will all line up perfectly! I’m a little OCD and trimming excess paper after folded just didn’t appeal to me, so here we go:
You have 10 – 8 1/2″ x 11″ pages of printer paper for each notebook:
- One sheet has already been printed, cut and folded in half
- Take three sheets and trim them to 9 1/2″ x 6 3/4″ – fold that stack in half
- Take two sheets and trim them to 9 7/16″ x 6 3/4″ – fold that stack in half
- Take two sheets and trim them to 9 3/8″ x 6 3/4″ – fold that stack in half
- Take two sheets and trim them to 9 5/16″ x 6 3/4″ – fold that stack in half
If you were wondering, I didn’t use bright white printer paper – I bought soft white.
Now stack all folded pages together, the shortest of which being on the inside.
When you fold a large number of pages together, the folds gradually push the pages outward. So if all the pages were cut at the same length, along the edge they would end up staggered. You can either cut them with an exacto knife (no thanks) or trim them before hand like I did above.
With the pages being cut slightly shorter than the next, once folded and staked together – then ends will all match perfectly!
Assemble Your Notebook
Now that the cover and pages are cut and folded, place them together.
Use the 2″ jumbo paper clips to hold the cover to the pages.
Using a paper piercer (or thumbtack or the like) – start in the center and punch holes across the fold line. Widen the hole by wiggling the piercer around so that when you sew it will be easy to pull the twine through.
I did my holes about 3/4″ apart but you can do any length and amount you’d like. As long as you have 5 holes, you’ll be fine.
Cut 40″ of twine, thread an embroidery needle and start sewing! Start at the hole on the top of the notebook, from the outside and stitch inwards. Leave about 10″ of twine hanging free on the outside of the notebook, we will use this to tie a bow with at the end. Sew in and out along the spine of the notebook.
Once you are finished sewing one way – go back the opposite way!
You should end up on the inside of your notebook. Put your needle under the first stitch and go back through the very first hole. This will tie a small knot and allow you to tie a bow on the outside.
Tie a bow and double knot it like you would a pair of sneakers, this will ensure that the bow stays put. Trim the excess twine.
That’s it! From start to finish it should take you less than an hour for each book; it took me about 20 minutes.
From here on the steps are optional and they are just embellishments… round the corners of your notebook if you’d like. Get creative and embellish your books to match your wedding theme!
Use a cat eye scrapbooking ink pad to add a little color to the edges.
Fill in your name, wedding date and number to call if someone finds your darling little book. If giving them as gifts, you could fill this out for the receiver and even write them a nice little note of love.
I added the 2″ jumbo paper clip for a few reasons. When first created these books have a tendency to flap open – this will help to keep them closed and after it’s on for a while, they won’t flap open anymore. If you’d like to save pictures, business cards or receipts in your notebook – the paper clip will come in very handy… and I just like the way they look.
One for the Maid of Honor…
…and one for each bridesmaid!
When printing from Adobe Acrobat, you’ll want to choose “actual size” to make sure the program doesn’t shrink the design down.
As with all our DIY tutorials, if you create one of our projects please send us a picture – We Love Seeing Your Creativity! If you use Instagram or Twitter please use the hashtag #SomethingTurquoiseDIY and it will show up on our Get Social page. Happy Crafting!
DIY Tutorial Credits
Photography: Something Turquoise Photography for wordpress.com // DIY tutorial + free download designs: Jen | Something Turquoise // Brown Sugar Twine: Amazon // 2″ jumbo gold paper clips: Staples // fonts used: Bombshell + Sweet Sans ExLight // ColorBox Cat Eye ink pad in Succo + cardstock: Michaels // Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper: Amazon // nail polish: OPI – Withstands the Test of Thyme
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