Cheap and Easy Moleskine - "sort Of"
Intro: Cheap and Easy Moleskine - "sort Of"
I love Moleskine journals they are classy and always handy, but a bit pricey for the size (around $12 for one), excellent quality tho. I work in an office were we shamefully spend large amounts of paper, and good one, although always goes to recycle I came with a better idea of making "sort of" moleskine journals for my notes and sketches, this is my latest project.
STEP 1: Materials Tools and Dimensions
Ok, did i mention that in my work we trow away industrial quantities of paper? I can't imagine multiplying that same amount of paper for each office in the rest of the US, I don't even want to think about it., of course recycling its always a good thing but at the end encourages people to keep wasting paper, lets save some trees reusing it.
I was trying to do this project the fastest, cheapest and easiest way possible, so this is not a professional bookbinding instructable per se.
The main material is "recycled" paper 60gr.. (I collect pieces of good paper cut outs of architectural drawings)
I also collect pieces of cardboard for the cover boards
waxed thread or dental floss (this one is very handy and cheap, but i wouldn't recommend reusing ;))
Gaffer Tape
Needle
Utility knife
Pencils and a ruler
Small drill or hole puncher for paper
Paper clips
The Dimensions of the Moleskine Pocket size: 9 x 14 cm (3ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂý x 5ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂý") , I did mine of 3.75" x 5.5", don't ask me why.
I folded 4 pieces of paper in half and I cut them to the dimensions above and I got 8 pages, I did 13 pieces to get 104 pages the Moleskine sketchpad has 100.
I was trying to do this project the fastest, cheapest and easiest way possible, so this is not a professional bookbinding instructable per se.
The main material is "recycled" paper 60gr.. (I collect pieces of good paper cut outs of architectural drawings)
I also collect pieces of cardboard for the cover boards
waxed thread or dental floss (this one is very handy and cheap, but i wouldn't recommend reusing ;))
Gaffer Tape
Needle
Utility knife
Pencils and a ruler
Small drill or hole puncher for paper
Paper clips
The Dimensions of the Moleskine Pocket size: 9 x 14 cm (3ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂý x 5ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂý") , I did mine of 3.75" x 5.5", don't ask me why.
I folded 4 pieces of paper in half and I cut them to the dimensions above and I got 8 pages, I did 13 pieces to get 104 pages the Moleskine sketchpad has 100.
STEP 2: Sewing and Final Touch
I put the 13 pieces together between two pieces of wood, as a contraption to avoid movement and to create the stack. With a small hand drill I literally drill six holes (1/2" apart symmetrically spread) in the stack of paper to later pass thru the needle.
I use cheap dental floss as my waxed thread, easy.
Later I cut the cover board out of a piece of thin cardboard, 1/8" larger than the paper dimensions and 1/2" in the middle for the thickness of the stack.
As I mention before this is not a course on Bookbinding, so I did three very primitive sewings thru the holes tighten the stack as much as I could with the cover on and that was all.
With black gaffer tape, (which I prefer over duct tape) I tape the "backbone" which is the thickness of the stack of paper and the covers, to hide the stitches and the threads, also as a reinforcement of the back and as a final stylish touch.
I use cheap dental floss as my waxed thread, easy.
Later I cut the cover board out of a piece of thin cardboard, 1/8" larger than the paper dimensions and 1/2" in the middle for the thickness of the stack.
As I mention before this is not a course on Bookbinding, so I did three very primitive sewings thru the holes tighten the stack as much as I could with the cover on and that was all.
With black gaffer tape, (which I prefer over duct tape) I tape the "backbone" which is the thickness of the stack of paper and the covers, to hide the stitches and the threads, also as a reinforcement of the back and as a final stylish touch.
STEP 3: Final Products
I have made a few of this guys and I'm very please with the results, although I always prefer a Moleskine one, but this a cool way to recycle and keep on sketching and writing on the cheap.
43 Comments
Cactuscat 12 years ago
a rigger 12 years ago
imagic 13 years ago
yoyology 12 years ago
Place the midpoint of one edge of the half-strip of tape at the corner of the board, such that the other edge of the tape makes a 45deg angle with each of the board edges. Wrap the tape around the inside of the board and trim.
arte.sano 13 years ago
chijjmes 12 years ago
Here's my version to share - http://wp.me/pMkFM-u3
p4olom 12 years ago
Buzzsushi 13 years ago
tropiz 13 years ago
sr1sws 15 years ago
multiplecats 15 years ago
orangewolf22 14 years ago
EpicZombie 13 years ago
orangewolf22 13 years ago
thatbellevuekid 14 years ago
mbear 14 years ago
You could fold the outer edges of the duct tape over (about 1mm) to eliminate that problem.
DeathZap 14 years ago
nomeoslo 14 years ago
Capelare 14 years ago
Coulro 14 years ago