shopEvalicious.com: typewriter

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:

Field Notes Stamps

happy note stamps

this way snipsnip labels

Hello everyone! Today I am so thrilled to show you one of the layout and another decorated notebook that I make using my beloved typewriter stamps from Shop Evalicious.

This is actually a very simple layout because I really love the photos that 4 of us recently (yes 4 of us as we are expecting a new baby in July ;)) I love the big bright smile from my hubs and my son - too too sweet. Since I wanted the typewriter image to be the focal point of the page, I stamp 4 of these on a piece of white card stock, paint it with Neocolors (or any watercolour) and fussy cut it.

Once I am done with some layering and photo matting, I added the 4 pieces of typewriter stamped image, add the alphabet letter stickers on it as title. I also decided to add some sewing machine stitching to add subtle texture to the title - and also to secure the puffy stickers from falling off =)

I completed this layout under an hour - colouring and fussing cutting the typewriter probably took up most of my time. Then I decided to stamp the typewriter on one of my notebook on my Happiedori / fauxdori. Stamp it, colour it with prisma colour pencils and add some puffy sticker - Voila! So simple & pretty!