Ideas come to me at the most unexpected times and I usually forget them unless I write them down. Which is frustrating for me when I can't remember them.

I never liked carrying note books around all the time as they seemed too bulky. What I really wanted was something that was hands-free, but always on hand.

This was the solution to my problems.

It's small, light, and comes in handy when you need to write a note or a idea that suddenly strikes you.

Also, it looks quite nice as a necklace.

The book is 1 1/2" wide and 1 3/4" long.

Step 1: What You Need

For the book you will need,

A few sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper
Cardboard
Leather (or fabric which will work just as well)
White glue
A needle
White button thread (Regular thread will work too, but button thread is thicker and stronger)
7 large jump rings
Scissors (should be sharp enough to cut the leather/fabric cleanly)
A strip of cloth 1" wide and 2 3/4" long
Measuring tape
Paint brush
Pliers
Hammer
A nail

For the decoration and clasp on the book you will need,

A jewelery clasp
2 jump rings
An earring with some sort of colored stone set in the middle (mine had a goldstone in the center)
A large gold colored bead cap
Wire cutters
Pliers
Clear tacky glue

Step 2: Cut Pages & Cover

Mark off a 3" section on a piece of paper. Then fold it in half lengthwise and mark 1 3/4" for a page and cut. You can use the first page to measure the rest of the pages. After you have cut six pages, place them inside of each other. This is called a folio. My book has six folios and each has six pages.

The thickness of your book depends on how many folios you add. Because this is a small book, no more then eight folios should be added as it would be very difficult to open.

After you have finished cutting the pages and have made them into folios, line them up and trim any that are too long or wide.

Then, put a folio on the cardboard and trace it two times for the cover. Cut the covers out.

Step 3: Sew Pages

Thread your needle with button thread (as I have mentioned in Step 1 button thread is stronger then regular thread, thus able to hold the pages together more securely.) Tie a large knot at the end and stick it though the outside fold of the folio (see first photo.) The sew along the crease until the top.

The stitches do not have to be close together. Usually two to three stitches per folio is good.

After sewing all the folios, put them them between the covers and rubber band them together. Then press between two heavy books for a few hours and then remove the rubber band and the covers.

Step 4: Glue Pages & Cover

Take a binder clip and clip the pages together. Then spread glue on the back of the folios (the part that you sewed.)

Don't put so much glue that it drips, but coat it throughly. Then place in the middle of the strip of fabric and let it dry.

After it dries, coat one side of a cover in glue, then place it on top of the folios and press the cloth on the glue. Let dry, and do the same with the other piece of the cover and place it flat to dry.

When it has dried, open the book to where on folio ends and another starts. If it has been glued together firmly, there should be no space in between the folios (see last photo for this step.)

Step 5: Cut & Glue Leather

I, unfortunately, did not have enough leather to make the cover in one piece. So I had to make it in three pieces, two for each of the covers, and one for the spine.

If you do have enough for the whole cover, place the leather around the book in a way so that the pages are not covered and glue it on.

If you do not, follow my instructions below.

Trace the book twice on piece of leather, then cut out the pieces. Then stand the book on its spine and trace it and cut out the leather.

Glue both covers to the book and let dry. If any part of the leather overlaps on the spine, glue it down. Then glue on the spine. Trim off any excess leather.

Note: Depending on your glue too much glue applied to the leather might soak though and discolor the leather. So only put a thin layer on.

Step 6: Add Jump Rings

Before nailing the nail, place a piece of cardboard between the cover and the first page as not to nail though the pages. Then, hammer the nail close to the spine, but not on it, to make a small hole for the jump rings.

Do the same on the other side.

Open the first ring with pliers and then put it though the hole. Close it, and add two more rings, closing each one before adding the next.

Add three rings on the other side. Use the last one to connect them in the middle.

Step 7: Add Decoration & Clasp

Remove the ball post of the earring with wire cutters (see photo.)

Carefully bend it with pliers so as not to break it. Glue it to the middle edge of the book. Let dry.

Attach two jump rings together. On the other cover opposite the earring, glue the jump rings, then attach the clasp to the jump ring attached to the other jump ring that is glued to the edge of the cover.

While it is drying use a binder clip to hold the book in place so the clasp dries properly.

Spread glue around the edges of the bead cap. Place it in the middle and let it dry.

Step 8: Done Forever!

And now, you are done! Forever done with your wonderful book!

I am very pleased at how this project turned out.

Best of all, I really like how it looks as a necklace.

While making it I focused both on how it looked as a necklace and how it would be useful. Both have turned out great. Especially that it's very useful and small.

Thanks for reading! I hope that you enjoyed it!