The Amazing Twist-Locking Cardboard Sketchbook

I'm an artist. A year ago, the cover of my old sketchbook finally wore off from its ring bindings. I went around with a pitiful rubber band holding everything together for a month. I finally got sick of it and vowed to revive my beloved tome of imagination. One day I was looking through an idea book my art teacher had let me read when I stumbled upon what I was searching for. It was a hand-made book.

"Why don't I just rebind my sketchbook? " I thought. "Okay, I'm going to need to rebind it with something."

I searched for a material for my new book covers. Wood? Metal? Plastic? I couldn't find anything cool like that. But then I saw a box of large sheets of corrugated cardboard from old boxes. I love cardboard. Cut it, bend it, glue it, paint it, it's nothing but corrugated brown goodness. Not only is it a lot of fun to use, it's pretty durable and helps recycle. Armed with a hot glue gun, this was my process that I used to resurrect my sketchbook from the dead.

Step 1 Things You'll Need...

You'll need-

-Sketchbook in need of repair or in need of new style (or both)
-Cardboard sheets
-A single hole punch
-Hot glue gun
-Box cutter or paper guillotine

For a twist-lock latch-

-An old CD spindle
-Dremel cutter or a hacksaw

You might also want a few items for decoration-

-Old circuit components
-Wires
-Hardware bits
-Buttons
-Gears
-Metal pieces
-Glass
-More cardboard (because you can never have too much cardboard)

Comments

[nteri81]

I LOVE IT!!!!!! Going to make it for my wife. Maybe ill upgrade the cardboard to some particle board after i build the prototype out of the cardboard because i have some leather id like to wrap it in and that gonna be a pain to take apart if it needs repairs. thanks for sharing. Where can i find the instructables for Radial art marker holder & Colored pencil belt cylinder carrier.

[eyebot117]

Thanks! Well, the radial art marker holder and pencil belt carrier were not documented when I made them and I haven't had any time to make new ones. I have another interesting locking mechanism that's a little more subtle that I did document, but I still have more work to do on that.

[parrster]

Simply awesome. I've also got a bit of a thing for making stuff out of cardboard, and I must say that I really like your creative ideas, brilliant design and detailed presentation. Love your work.

[mcneilre]

I love this instructable!!! Do u think you could make ables on the pencil holder and marker holder shown in the last picture of step 10?? Thanks a lot!!

[curious youth]

SUPER GREAT IBLE !
quite literally exactly what i was looking for.
but do you have any ideas for the same twist latch on a smaller scale?

[mdawson2]

Here's my sketchbook. It looks backward but I accidentally took this photo upside down. I covered it in 'Tie-Dye' design ducttape. I hacksawed the top off a plastic jar instead of a spindle.

[cookie_chris]

hey great instructable i rate it 5/5 but can you make one for those radial marker holder and colored pencil belt carrier. i think i'm gonna make one of these but i don't have a spiral bound sketchbook maybe i can improvise

[eyebot117]

I'd love to make another radial art marker holder and pencil belt cylinder, however I feel that I can come up with a far better design than I already have. It's on my to do list nonetheless. If you're sketchbook is spiral bound, you can just unscrew the binding, add your covers, and then screw the binding back into place.

[mdawson2]

This works but it took me almost two hours to rewind... whatever.

[mdawson2]

This is amazing I made one only I hacksawed the ring off a plastic jar, and I used a spiral bound note pad (which by the way do NOT do it took me about two hours to rewind it with the new covers - but it does work great) Mine is lacking some of the beauty yours has. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for other really cool latches??? ESPECIALLY eyebot117!?!?!?!

[eyebot117]

Post a pic and I might be able to give you more ideas, but I'm considering painting mine with a faux metal finish (copper or bronze and gold trim). A painted faux stone finish isn't out of the question either. For a latch, is there a specific shape that you favor? Triangles? Circles? Hexagons? I derived my latch from a book- The book of the Dead (From "The Mummy")-which actually uses a key to turn the latch to open it. It all depends on what you want. I simply wanted something that wouldn't fly open at random. It might be possible to make a combination/cryptex-esque lock on the cover or spine. I eventually intend to make a much more.........elegant book (solar powered LED's included), that uses an actual key for a lock, but until then, I'm just formulating ideas. There are also apertures and irises that you could make on the cover as well for a cool look.

[mdawson2]

Your work with cardboard is unbelievable.
As for the latches, I was only wondering if you had other ideas. I'm actually think of some. I've made one with a slide mechanism. If you have any ideas like buttons or wierd ways to lock the latches, you have some cool ideas already.

Also I really want to know how to make that marker holder ratio.... I'm not sure what you called it now but I hope you know what I'm talking about.

Your a genius. Thanks for the awesome ideas.

[CosmicBrambleclaw]

Oh yeah what size pad do you suggest to use for this because my little one is driving me crazy the spine doesnt want to work and with it on I'm not sure I have room for the lock

[eyebot117]

I wouldn't go so small that you can't use the lock, but really you can only go so small with thick cardboard covers. If the cardboard is too thick for the bindings, I would suggest using cardstock instead, since it's thinner and probably a bit stronger too.

[CosmicBrambleclaw]

Thats ok I found a big one about the sanme size as yours, but I gotta either buy a spindle or wait for my Mommy (yes I call her that) to use up the cd's in hers

[CosmicBrambleclaw]

I'd love to see the marker spiral and colored pencil belt if you ever have time to do a instructable for them :D

[CosmicBrambleclaw]

Aww I love this! So cool ^_^ I always get so irritated that my noebooks and sketchbooks are so drab and monotone, this solves everything! Awesome

[TheStott]

pretty cool

[graphicartvark]

I love this project. I didn't have a spiral bound sketchbook s I improvised by using a sketchbook with binding and cut the cover off with an exacto knife.

[eyebot117]

Hey guys, just a quick update here..... I'm contemplating on adding another step or making this the first of a two part series of instructables, but I'm going to be painting and further decorating this sketchbook next week or the week after. Also, I'm happy to report that I'm well underway with my next project, of which I'm hoping you will enjoy almost as much as you did this one. You'll get to see the concept art once it's done-don't want to spoil it!

[eamc317]

Can't wait!

[bubblebut]

this is really awesome i can't wait to try it i could not find any cd spindles localy so i used the locking thing on my shampo bottle.

[eamc317]

Thats a really smart idea! Thanks

[ehudwill]

This is great. I might just make one.

[timothymh]

Some of those look insane. O.O
For this one, though, doesn't the left spine get bent tightly when you open the inside front cover? It seems to me this wouldn't be good....

[eyebot117]

Cardboard is corrugated and is able to flex perpendicularly along the corrugations. It does indeed bend, but only because it can. I made fairly sure that I laid down a good glue weld joint to attach the spine cover to the front and back covers. As far as I know, it's worked great with now issues whatsoever (I carry and use this book every day at school, so it's pretty durable).

[Ben Nguyen]

It kind of reminds me of the companion cube... only it is a notebook. Perhaps you could style it after such and make it into a "companion notebook"! :D A light inside of the cap would be pretty cool too... For those of you who do not have access to a CD holder, you could instead attempt to use a bottle cap (a large cap, like the ones off of a Powerade bottle). Nice Instructable!

[theviewingstation]

Thanks for the idea! I couldn't get the "CD" latch to work so I ended up using a rubber band latch.

[ninja_maker]

Hey, about the belt cylinder, i was wondering if you have to push it back in. Because if you do then attach a mech that will make it come back when it is pulled completely out.

[eyebot117]

Nope! See, there's these two parts on either end of the cylinder. One of them spins and opens/closes the opening for access to the belt, the other winds the belt back up!

[ninja_maker]

btw this is one of the top instructables ive ever seen

[jwoo2023]

Luckily my CD spindle was a twist off one! so i could just twist off the rod! istead of having to cut it!

[jwoo2023]

also my cd spindle was flat so i could store my cd's in it! as well!

[astrong0]

Absolutely epic designs.

[astrong0]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!! (WTF in NATO phonetic alphabet language) you should post something on the marker holder or the belt cylinder.

[sylrig]

Great instructable all around. It's clear and well-detailed, plus I love that you used everyday objects to make a simple notebook into something fun and extraordinary!

[eyebot117]

Thanks!

[alexsparrow]

hey can you send me the instructions to make that radial art marker holder

[eyebot117]

I'll make an instructable at some point. I'll keep you posted.

[alexsparrow]

you spelled unlocked wrong