Make a Project Book

 by Spaceman Spiff
Featured
IMG_0149.JPG
IMG_0121.JPG
IMG_0124.JPG
This is something every DIYer will love.  It's very easy to make, very cheap, and extremely useful.  After discovering Kaptinscarlet's great ible on binding books I began turning many of my e-books into hard copy's.  After finding out about the maker's notebook I decided to do it myself and save twenty bucks.  By using word, excel, and a few handy resources found on the web, I created my own project book.  What's great about this is it's fully customizable, which is what DIY is all about. 

Since making this I've already filled it with a great deal of projects on my mind.  It's proven to be a great tool for keeping myself organized and in the DIY mindset.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: What You'll Need

For this ible you'll need a few things, and here they are:

Microsoft Word I made a template that can be downloaded, edited, and printed; if you wish to use this then you'll need a copy of word.
Printer - The book I created prints on 40 sheets of paper, each sheet will then be made into 4 pages in the actual book.  This means you'll be making a 160 page book. 
Hard Cardboard - This will be used to construct the hard cover of your book.  You can buy these at a craft store or find them.  I happen to work at a company that throws away a lot of three ring binders.  Behind that plastic cover is some great cardboard perfect for making books.
Book Cover Material - In the Book Binding Ible I have referenced you will use fabric to make your cover.  I will not do this in this ible.  I will be using a plain old brown paper bag which is easily obtainable at the grocery store.  Feel free to use whatever material makes you feel good about your finished product.
White Glue - I have used white glue in my book binding with great success.  Use whatever you wish, but in this ible I will be using the white stuff.
Scissors - Used to cut the paper bag.
Box Cutter - Used to cut through the cardboard.  I suppose an exacto knife could be used here as well.
Rubber Band -  We'll be using a rubber band to keep our book securely closed at all times.  This is optional.
Staples - These will be used to bind your book together. 
Common Sense - There will be no political correctness found here.  You are responsible for your own actions, this means that if you slice through your hand to your bones with a box cutter it is not my fault.  It is your own, you dumb dumb dummy.  Seriously though, be careful with this stuff.

1-40 of 69Next »
elisa5665 says: Feb 10, 2013. 5:16 AM
This is a wonderful instructable! I will try this sometime soon!
dj. navarro says: Nov 17, 2012. 2:11 AM
Nice! I've always wanted to make my own notebook/project book! :D
dur.sk8 says: Mar 12, 2012. 7:38 AM
I was going to buy a notebook like this
but now i can make one by myself
thanks for sharing
joespicnictables says: Aug 9, 2011. 11:43 AM
here's mine.. NOTE: i couldn't print the graph paper supplied with the files so i bought some instead. P.S: i stuck a qr code on the back of it so if i ever lost it, someone would know who it belongs to. i used this site: www.goqr.me
Picture 009.jpgPicture 011.jpgPicture 010.jpg
pfred2 in reply to joespicnictablesFeb 25, 2012. 5:37 AM
You'd better print your name and address next to that QR code thing. Because if I was the guy that found your book I wouldn't know what to do with that.
qr_code_generator in reply to joespicnictablesOct 12, 2011. 9:50 AM
next time try by creating you QR code with uQR.me QR code generator, you'll be able to change the QR code destination if you want without having to reprint it...
that's very convenient when you print your QR code somewhere... you never know when you'll need to change the content
pfred2 says: Feb 25, 2012. 5:35 AM
I like how you use binder clips in step 8. I've "bound books" with just those. For my shop notebook I use a 3 ring binder. Do they still make those? I even have a 3 hole puncher for mine. Makes it easy to add pages!
Plo Koon says: Dec 16, 2011. 5:46 PM
dude that is an insanely awesome username! i like the pic too
TashaDax says: Dec 16, 2011. 9:27 AM
I think I love you :)
carsoncool says: Aug 7, 2011. 7:56 AM
Can you please make it a non zip file?
glier says: Jun 19, 2011. 8:13 PM
completely love the idea, make a book out dedicated for a proyect with complete info on how, why, and what are you really doing, excellent for a time capsule :D.

my first will be how to make a proyect book :D
sebgonz says: Jun 19, 2011. 2:37 PM
Great instructable. I've been wanting to do something like this for all my little electronic projects that do. I think I even have a Harmons bag lying around somewhere that I could use. :)
nutsandbolts_64 says: Apr 27, 2011. 6:22 AM
I should have known a simple project book can get you 15k views in 4 months. And you published it while I was celebrating my birthday! How did you know? o_O

Oh well, I'm making one. Food for thought for 'ya: Swiss Army Project Book (SAProB) complete with arc welder and high temperature induction furnace! Oh no, idea... You see, this is why I need one of what you made! I'll just do a smaller version and put technical drawings in there to make it look cool when in fact the random circuits and whatnot are just random symbols put together lol. Rate rate rate...
lionel1024 says: Dec 23, 2010. 8:33 AM
Awesome instrucable, and awesome user name!
m.shabbirrahi in reply to lionel1024Mar 24, 2011. 12:01 AM
who r u?
SageMinto says: Feb 20, 2011. 7:20 PM
This is exactly what I need! Muhahaha! >:D

I'm going to really need this when I go to college in the fall. Thank you!
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to SageMintoMar 2, 2011. 7:23 AM
You're welcome, I'm glad you liked it.
bumbums says: Feb 25, 2011. 3:20 AM
Does this mean you need a3 paper and an a3 printer?
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to bumbumsFeb 25, 2011. 10:46 PM
No, I did this on regular 8.5 x 11 paper so you should be fine using a basic printer. The only thing is you will have to fool around with the settings to get it to print right. For me it was as simple as selecting booklet mode. Usually any printer that prints on both sides will have this capability. If yours does not you may need to fool around with printing onto one side first and then the other second. The split files should help you with this.
TheHobbit81 says: Jan 1, 2011. 1:57 AM
Love this ible. :) 5 Stars.

One problem, the links to most of the files don't work for me, can you please re-post them or whatever? I think that the last one worked but not the others.

Thanks in advance.
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to TheHobbit81Jan 1, 2011. 4:31 PM
Thanks for the rating, and I'm glad you liked it. As far as the files go I'm not sure what's going on. I was able to open them up with no problems. Either way I put all the files on a zip instead. Rather than downloading each file I thought it would be easier to just download one zip. I hope this helps; let me know if it doesn't.
TheHobbit81 in reply to Spaceman SpiffJan 1, 2011. 9:48 PM
That did the trick, I'll post back with pic's of the finished product.
TheHobbit81 in reply to TheHobbit81Jan 6, 2011. 4:44 AM
I can not get this to print the way I'm expecting it to. I want it to be half-page duplex meaning that it print is a way that you can just stack the pages and staple them, resulting in having all pages in the correct order.

I found this link but it requires a full version of CutePDF or an expensive plugin for Adobe Reader. Not going to pay to do this. :(

Any thoughts?
ybedull in reply to TheHobbit81Feb 5, 2011. 6:45 PM
You could always print it to double sided pages and use a bander to bind it using those plastic wring bands maybe. Check out staples to see if they could do that for you.
yoursubconscious says: Jan 28, 2011. 10:40 AM
This is AWESOME! I made one and it became a cute webdesign project book. I used some origami paper for the cover and added little satin laces to decorate it. Very useful! Thanks for this!
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to yoursubconsciousJan 30, 2011. 8:06 AM
You're welcome, glad you liked it!
matt.e.jenkins says: Jan 3, 2011. 10:43 AM
This was a great idea. I loved making mine. Thanks so much!
probablepossible says: Dec 23, 2010. 8:46 PM
I made a wider gap between the spine and the larger peices-- about twice the thickness of the cardboard. You might find your notebook opens and closes easier that way.
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to probablepossibleDec 23, 2010. 11:44 PM
I'm actually binding a book this very moment. I'll try it out.
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to Spaceman SpiffDec 24, 2010. 2:11 PM
That worked out great, thanks for the tip. It wasn't very tight at all.
probablepossible in reply to Spaceman SpiffDec 24, 2010. 3:53 PM
Yay!
My first book using your ible-- not perfect, but not bad for the first bookbinding attempt in decades!

And i really like your project template. i don't need electrical engineering, reference, so I left that signature off. If i come up with another one, I'll add it to the collection.

Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to probablepossibleDec 25, 2010. 6:46 PM
Yeah it took me about three times before making a really good quality book. The first two were ok, just not as good as I would have liked.
probablepossible in reply to Spaceman SpiffDec 25, 2010. 7:53 PM
Well, the one I made got grabbed up by my daughter's boyfriend. He was looking at it, and I said; "would you like one of these?" and he said "Oh yes, thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!" And carried it off!

So book the second is on its way....
augur45 says: Dec 23, 2010. 2:00 PM
Sewing the signature (step 4: "8 sheet combo") is just as easy and much more durable. Upholstery or Button&Carpet thread is best.
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to augur45Dec 24, 2010. 2:38 PM
Do you just tie it off at the spine?
augur45 in reply to Spaceman SpiffDec 24, 2010. 5:48 PM
http://www.diyplanner.com/node/442

I'd use at least 5 holes. They should be between 1 and 2 inches apart.
i.e. 1 in the center, 1 at each end of the page about 1/4" in, and one on each side of center splitting the difference between center and edge of page.
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to augur45Dec 24, 2010. 6:43 PM
I have wanted to try this, thanks for the link.
Aeflock says: Dec 23, 2010. 4:10 PM
Excellent! I have a few artist giftee's that would love a blank one of these for Christmas! It would make a nice sketch book! Thank you for the idea!!
Spaceman Spiff (author) in reply to AeflockDec 24, 2010. 2:44 PM
No problem, I'm glad you liked it!
CellyOneill says: Dec 23, 2010. 1:47 PM
Great idea !!!
1-40 of 69Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!