How to Make a Sketchbook From Materials that You Already Have

If you follow me on instagram (teacher.kane), you know that I’ve been making a lot of sketchbooks/journals.

I’ve always had a love for paper, and as I looked through my studio, I realized that I have a pretty big paper stash. I decided that it was time to take all of the paper and turn it into sketchbooks. I use sketchbooks for everything. To record ideas, write my to-do list, and to journal, so I go through them pretty quickly.

For the current set of books that I’m creating here is my materials list:

For the cover:

• recycled cardboard. This is either from the backs of pads of paper, or boxes that I have around the house
• Canvas: The cardboard is wrapped in canvas that I’ve repainted and cut off of old stretched canvas
• Glue: I’m using Elmers. There is glue that is specific to bookmaking, but for this project, I’m sticking with what I already have.

For the inside:

The pages are made from old worksheets or various other printouts. They are all printed on one side and blank on the other.

Stitching:

I’m doing the Coptic Stitch, which is quickly becoming my favorite. I like how the pages lay completely flat when working in the book. I’m using cotton thread that I use for weaving, again because it’s something that I already have.

If you want to give this a try, here is the tutorial that I followed to get started. My process is slightly different.

a[selz background_color=”#7959c7″ text_color=”#ffffff” link_color=”#7959c7″ chbg_color=”#7959c7″ chtx_color=”#ffffff”]