How can I make a notebook out of recycled materials?
Hurrah! We’ve had a “Reverse This” question from Kathryn for our new, hopefully regular feature – Recycle This working backwards :)
Kathryn says:
I’ve been into recycled crafts lately, and want to make a notebook out of recycled materials. How can I do this with easy stuff found at home?
Ooh, I’m sure there are loads of ideas for this one, probably somewhat more creative than my usual bulldog-clip-around-scrap-paper efforts.
Any suggestions what Kathryn can use for covers? Or ways to hold it all together?
- Got something you want to make out of recycled stuff but need a bit more inspiration? Send me an email about it and I’ll feature it on here: reversethis@recyclethis.co.uk
i always thought flattend out tin cans would make a cool cover for a notebook – shiny and bumpy!
This one is attractive:
http://cindy50.blogspot.com/2008/02/crafty-farmgirlaltered-book.html
Or here is a tutorial about how to use those flattened tin cans for this purpose, too:
http://wisearts.com/2008/06/03/recycled-tin-covered-book-tutorial/
in the forums of threadbanger.com, i read that someone saved all her notes and papers from class and at the end of the year she bound them all and pasted things in, etc…
http://www.instructables.com/id/Totally-Recycled-NOTEBOOK/?ALLSTEPS this has a good basic recipe. I made one of two giant brown paper bags, and used only the bag, and bit of glue to make it (about a5 size, and the paper handle keeps it together).
I used to work in an internet computer book store/warehouse, and nearly every shipment of books that came into the warehouse from the computer book publisher was topped off with 2 uncovered, perfectly beautiful book covers- the nice square inside boards. Of course, my co-workers were throwing them in the trash, but I saved a hundred of them with the idea that I will make my own book covers or something else with them.
If there is a similar discount book warehouse, they may be willing to save some for you if you ask them.
Use old greeting cards for covers.
I use an old Christmas card every year to make a notebook of reminders for Christmas pressies, preparation, shopping, guest lists etc:
this is cool! i made a bag that is out of a hard covered book!!!! its sooo easy!!! you just take all of the pages of a book and sew some fabric on the sides, and make/buy a handle and hot glue it on!!! it was fun
Re the handbags from hardcover books – I have an art teacher friend who gave this as a project to her high school classes- what they came up with was AMAZING. There’s no end to creativity once you put your mind to it.
HINT – You can do similar work with leftover construction tubes! You’d be stunned by what my high school kids created out of them! I want to create a book about it!