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VHS Spiral Bound Notebook

VHS Spiral Bound Notebook
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  • finished_both-crop.jpg
  • intro_tools.jpg
I, like many people, have a good number of old VHS tapes laying around. Some of the movies I now have on DVD, others I no longer care to keep and whatever falls between I can digitize should I wish. This makes the collection of VHS tapes about as useful to me as a collection of rocks. So, I took a note from ivylanedesigns on Etsy and decided to make custom, one-of-a-kind, spiral-bound notebooks.

You can get just about anything flat spiral bound at copy stores or you could buy a machine to bind things yourself. But with the low cost of pre made notebooks and a do it yourself attitude I find it appropriate to take a pre-made notebook and replace the cover. This instructable will tell you how to do just that.

Goals
My goals for the project were:
  • to make unique spiral bound notebooks,
  • to reuse VHS boxes,
  • and to complete the project with minimal costs.
Tools
I used the following tools:
  • Small hole punch (~3.25mm diameter hole.)
  • Knife
  • Pliers (Two pliers may be useful.)
  • Tape
  • Ruler (Optional)
Costs
  • Hole punch - $4
  • Spiral bound notebook - 25¢ to $2
  • 15-30 minutes
 
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Step 1Obtain a Suitable Spiral Bound Notebook

Obtain a Suitable Spiral Bound Notebook
The first step, assuming you have a VHS box to cannibalize, is to obtain a suitable notebook. You will probably not be able to find a spiral bound notebook exactly the right size so you will need to find one that is close and get it cut. Depending on where you get it you can expect to pay as little as a quarter. If you buy from an office supply store you can have them cut it for you. (This is what I did.)

VHS Tapes are 7 3/8 x 4 1/16 inches. So, I got two notebooks that were 7x5 and had them cut down. I had one cut to 4" wide and the other cut to 3 7/8" wide. I preferred the 4" wide notebook.
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41 comments
1-40 of 41next »
Dec 2, 2010. 6:14 AMjnifrwebb says:
AWESOME!! I just sold my VHS collection at a yard sale, but I've been wanting one similar to this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63433846/golden-grahams-cereal-box-spiral?ref=sr_gallery_15&ga_search_query=spiral+notebook&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade But knew I could make it myself. I just didn't want to have to buy a bind it all. This is great inspiration, I knew it could be done.
Jan 15, 2010. 10:37 PMarrowcrest says:
 great idea, but if those star wars boxes were in great condition, which they look like they were, and if so were the tapes themselves, then they would have been worth a lot as a collectible.
Jun 28, 2010. 11:44 AMTabbyDeAnne says:
That is quite true. I have a huge record collection that is almost priceless to me. I went on eBay just to get an idea of the vast fortune I must have had in my fabulous collection and to my dismay, records are still about what they were worth back in their heyday. Still, in my eyes, my vinyl is gold. Lol Nice ible. Will do again and again and pass it on! Thanks.
Jan 25, 2010. 1:52 AMfrikkie says:
I used to watch that star wars movie when I was still in pre-school.It a lot better than the new star wars.Lol  but anyway very nice instructable!
Jan 22, 2010. 7:11 PMDaxterp says:
lol from afar I thought those were the family guy parody films haha but great idea
Jan 21, 2010. 4:30 PMMarcusAvery says:
This is so COOL! I am SO going to try this! What a great use of outdated technology!
Jan 21, 2010. 6:24 AMjello666 says:
 That phrase "about as useful to me as a collection of rocks" and others like that were once used to describe 33 1/3  and 45 rpm records. Sure glad I kept mine. 
Jan 21, 2010. 11:04 AMwhiteoakart says:
You have done a really nice job and I commend you.  However, couldn't you have simply glued the cut-down VHS cover over the stock cover?  That would have saved a lot of time and made for a stronger surface.  Admittedly, it wouldn't have looked quite as nice.
Jan 21, 2010. 12:10 PMZachariasmith says:
 The finished product looks sooooo good. I would love to do this but I don't know if I could take apart my copies of the original trilogy. Maybe I'll just print them out and put them on.
Jan 15, 2010. 3:00 PMDoctor What says:
 Oh cool!  Now what to do with the leftover VHS tape?
Jan 21, 2010. 5:37 AMRanie-K says:
kite tails..
Jan 15, 2010. 3:18 PMJayefuu says:
Weave a rug? :D
Jan 15, 2010. 3:49 PMDoctor What says:
 Hmm.... Maybe crochet a sweater?
Jan 15, 2010. 5:34 PMSunbanks says:
That would be really cool! 
Jan 21, 2010. 3:57 PMFruppi says:
It kinda sounds like it would be really sweaty, actually :)  But you could crochet a rug too.  Or knit one!
Jan 21, 2010. 7:40 PMSunbanks says:
Hehe yeah :P I so wish I could chrochet... I just saw that you crocheted a giraffe and I'm so jealous! Giraffes are amazing. 
Jan 21, 2010. 7:47 AMblueyedaddy says:
These are pretty cool.  Great step by step instructable.  Any ideas what to do with the plastic mold VHS covers...?
Jan 21, 2010. 5:35 AMRanie-K says:
Great idea! I never even thought of swapping the cover -I just unwound the spiral and printed a funny message on the upper part of all the pages (used a laser printer).

I used it as kind of a gag gift -I actually just threw it into the mail-slot for the MASH unit in my battalion -one of the medics claimed it and none could find out who made it for a long time.
Jan 15, 2010. 2:17 PMzieak says:
I love this.  Maybe i will be able to part with my VHS collection after all...
Jan 19, 2010. 7:13 PMzieak says:
I went looking for them over the weekend and remembered that i took them to the thrift store a few months ago.  Drat.
Jan 20, 2010. 3:46 PMfungus amungus says:
They're probably still there!
Jan 19, 2010. 2:17 PMfwjs28 says:
Jan 19, 2010. 7:41 PMYerboogieman says:
Beat me to it!
Jan 20, 2010. 8:31 AMfwjs28 says:
heh-heh

snickers
you are no match for me, BUWAHAHA!

ahem-oh...did i say that out loud? 
*blush*
Jan 20, 2010. 8:32 AMfwjs28 says:
yup!
i frequent LH alot, so i see articles coming from Ibles and i usually try to leave the author a comment on it 
Jan 20, 2010. 7:38 AMottouberalles says:
I made these over the weekend. They turned out awesome; thanks for the idea!
Jan 19, 2010. 2:27 PMtsaman says:
As a suggestion - If you don't want to punch all those holes by hand (and finding a tiny hole punch like the one shown may be more fun than you'd expect), most office supply stores offer binding services!  You can take your cover and back tot hem and have them punch it!

The only caveat is that lining up the first hole with the rest of the pages may also be a lot of fun... I'd recommend leaving it a little longer than needed and then trim it to fit/line up with your paper once punched!

Great idea!  Nice writeup!
Jan 18, 2010. 6:58 AMthecheatscalc says:
Great job! looks fantastic... just makes me sad to see those starwars boxes go like that.
Jan 16, 2010. 4:22 AMMichelMoermans says:
Great instructable!

5 stars :)
Jan 15, 2010. 5:25 PMNinzerbean says:
 Fantastic!
Jan 15, 2010. 4:40 PMChrysN says:
Matching bookmarks too, nice!
Jan 15, 2010. 3:17 PMJayefuu says:
This is awesome.
Jan 15, 2010. 3:09 PMslimguy379 says:
wow!? star wars fan much? lol NICE... pretty cool idea
1-40 of 41next »

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