Hi everyone! Christine here today to show you a tutorial on how I made my own Midori-style notebook for my Midori Traveler’s Notebook! If you’re not sure what a traveler’s notebook is, I googled some images for you. The original traveler’s notebook was created by Midori in Japan. It is a leather cover with a series of elastic bands. You can include from 1-5 or so notebooks inside it, and use it for scrapbooking, journaling, list-making, sketching/drawing, or anything else you want! You can even use it as a planner. The Midori-branded notebook refills are slightly pricey and also very plain, so I thought I would make my own notebook refill with Evalicious goodies!
These are the main supplies I used to make my notebook. Some 8.5x11 cardstock for the cover, and filler paper for the insides. A ruler, paper trimmer, rotary trimmer, long-reach stapler, and ink and stamps.
I measured my authentic Midori notebook that came with my Midori leather notebook cover. The cover is about 8.75” x 8.25”, or 22cm x 21cm.
I trimmed my cover cardstock to the size above.
Then I trimmed the filler paper down to the same size. I used Hammermill 32 lb. color copy paper, because that’s what I have on hand and it’s nice and thick so pens won’t bleed through to the other side. Yes, I’m very picky about writing paper and I love this paper. It’s very smooth.
I stamped the cover cardstock with various Evalicious stamps. I used Field Notes clear stamp set and Happy Note stamp set.
I spaced the stamps out for the front and back cover of the notebook.
Then I folded the filler paper pages in half, using a bone folder to get a good fold.
I unfolded both the cover and the filler papers and lined them up and secured them with binder clips. Then I used my long-reach stapler to staple the middle seam of the notebook all the way through. If you don’t have a long-reach stapler, you can unfold a regular stapler, put a mouse-pad or eraser underneath the papers, and staple it through and bend the wires shut on the other side.
Now you have a notebook! But wait, the inside papers are showing past the cover, due to the thickness and the folding.
I trimmed off the paper overhang with a steel ruler and a rotary trimmer.
Then I added a label from This Way Snipsnip Labels to the cover. Once I start using the notebook I’ll stamp or fill in the title and dates onto the label.
I slipped my new notebook into one of the elastic cords inside my Midori traveler’s notebook. Now I have two notebooks in there.
I love how the stamped images look on the front cover of my notebook, all lined up down the middle!
I can’t wait to start using my new DIY notebook for my Midori! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make your own refill notebooks. Now go forth and make notebooks, it’s addicting!
Christine
Evalicious Products Used:
