Here is a 5 minute lesson to show you how easy it is to release your creativity. Make a single-section book you’ll use every day and change along the way!

Materials needed:

about 10 sheets of standard size writing paper

larger sheet of heavy cartridge paper

large-eye needle and good quality heavy duty cotton or linen thread

inks, paints, oddments ie. old magazines, ribbon, string, buttons or other old pieces you have been saving for just such an occasion

Step-by-Step Instructions for sewing section:

Fold the writing paper in half and press down firmly and neatly along the spine. Measure the fold line and mark 3 holes evenly – call the middle hole number 1, the top hole number 2 and bottom hole number 4. The middle hole is also number 4.

Thread large eyed needle with strong linen thread and with outside cover facing you insert thread into center hole (#1) through pages.

Pull thread through hole #2 (to find this point easily from the inside, first push the needle through the marked spot from the outside to make a hole right thru)

Push needle and thread thru hole #3

and bring out through hole#4 (which is hole #1)

Pull thread firmly and tie over the center thread securely.

Cut about 5cm (2inches) from knot.

Once you have sewn these pages together, take the heavier paper and fold it around the pages so that it forms a loose cover with an extra half-size page – and cut or tear so that there is an edge in the middle of the cover. A fastener or string (ribbon etc) can be glued or tied onto the middle of this cover to tie around the book.

Now you have a simple booklet you can use for an infinite number of purposes – keep shopping lists, take class notes, use as a journal. To make it something unique and creative try some of the following ideas. Let your imagination expand, don’t be afraid to experiment – there is no ‘right’ way!

Ideas for manipulating the finished book:

Tear pages, burn, drop ink, wax, cut windows, sew pockets. Use some of these methods for adding personality to your blank notebook.

Tear along page edges – wet edges for a different torn effect

Dip, splash or paint part of any or all pages with any of the following: eyeshadow, lipstick, tea, coffee, wax, ink, shoe polish, mercurochrome, gentian violet, gesso, shellac or bitumen paint – try wetting some pages first for different effects

Carefully burn along some torn edges or make burn holes in pages

Melt a candle and dip the edges of pages into the liquid wax

Cut or burn a window in a page to highlight a feature on the following page

Cut a slot across page to insert small notes, photos etc.

Make a miniature one section-book to insert into a page.

Glue envelopes inside the front and back covers to store loose notes, tickets or memorabilia.

Make the cover suit the purpose – glue a photo collage, beads, string, stamp your name all over, paint a scene or an abstract, dip in wax.

Mainly – have fun!