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Jack of all trades. Master of none. That’s a pretty accurate description of your’s truly. I dabble in all things crafty, but I’d hesitate to call my self a expert in any of them. I’m cool with that. That’s what keeps this blog fun. You never know what I’m up to.DIY Composition Notebooks | Damask Love Blog

Today I’m excited to launch a series of posts called “Bookbinding University.” A few weeks ago, I sat down and taught myself some basic bookbinding techniques. I posted the finished product to Facebook and Instagram and the response was great…so here we are, tackling bookbinding together.

Now, let’s get the disclaimer out of the way! If you are a master bookbinder…turn away now. Go do something else. Whatever you do, don’t read this post. By no means and I an expert in bookbinding, but I have come up with some doable tutorials on the subject and I think most of you will enjoy…at least I hope so!

For today’s tutorials, we’ll be making composition notebooks that are way more stylish than the black & white ones you’ll find in the school supply section.

DIY Composition Notebooks | Damask Love Blog

For this set of composition notebooks, I partnered with Webster’s Pages to showcase their newest collection: Postcards from Paris II that will be released at the upcoming Summer Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show (wish I was going to be there!) Inspired by the name of the collection, I created a pretty ensemble of Parision papery goodness that would be great gifts for a friend headed abroad. If you take a little trip over to the Webster’s Pages blog, you’ll find my guest post along with lots more inspiration from other talented crafters. You can also enter to win the entire Postcards from Paris II collection!

The Tutorial Header

[ylwm_vimeo height=”400″ width=”600″ ]70337056[/ylwm_vimeo]

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The Packaging HeaderFor the packaging, I kept it simple and added elements that reflect the theme of the set. I used several stamps from Papertrey Ink’s Postmarks Stamp set to create the tage, which fit the theme perfectly!

DIY Composition Notebooks | Damask Love Blog

DIY Composition Notebooks | Damask Love Blog

This bookbinding technique is a simple one that allows you lots of flexibility! Go home and scour your patterned paper to see what you can use to create your own customized composition books!DIY Composition Notebooks | Damask Love Blog

SUPPLIES:

Paper Source Bookcloth | Webster’s Pages Postcards From Paris Patterned Paper | Papertrey Ink Postmarks Stamp Set | Lawn Fawn Sally’s Alphabet

Keep on crafting with these other posts

32 thoughts on “DIY Composition Books

  1. Thanks much for sharing this! I totally forgot how simple this binding is, and this reminder is just in time, these would make cute gifts for my bridesmaids.

    And also, where do you recommend getting great papers?

    Thanks!!

    1. Great patterned papers? Oh, there are sooooo many choices! I often use Paper Source wrapping paper for bookbinding covers. They come in really fresh and contemporary patterns.

  2. I am here almost everyday.. checking new posts and going back to the old ones for a quick eye soother ๐Ÿ™‚ … Thanks for the video tut.. it’s helpful for novice like me.. I am so going to try this ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. I CANNOT wait for more signatures ~ that is what I really need. Anton watched with me ~ he said you have nice hands lol he is 6. I am leaving for Montauk this week for 3 weeks which means mornings with Amber and a cup of tea on the deck. I want to have cocktails with you one day and laugh.

  4. Amber – As I have said many, many time before LOVE you website and you are the “Master”. Thank you for all you share. Those papers from Webster Pages are beautiful.

  5. Love these notebooks!!! I wish you had posted this 3 weeks ago so I could have gathered supplies and made some myself. I’m leaving for Japan next week and this would have been perfect to take with me. I prefer unlined pages and it is so hard to find journals with no lines.
    I’m definitely trying this out when I get home from my trip.

  6. Very niec tutorial, everything is very understandable and nicely explained. Thanks for the idea, I’m gonna try it myself too.
    I love your style!

  7. Love this tutorial. I’m all about notebooks ~ I’ve made lots but never one like this. Where do you get bookcloth? Also I wondered what kind of glue do you use? I couldn’t catch it in the tutorial as it wasn’t familiar to me. Thanks.

  8. A couple of weeks ago I “prettied up” a storebought composition book. I just got a chance to watch your video and see that you actually made the book. HOW COOL IS THAT???? Thank you for this video. You could make your own composition books for anything – with or without lines, different color papers, etc. LOVE this idea!!!

  9. Hi Amber, you are such an inspiration to me and you always jump start my creativity when I am feeling like I’m getting in a slump. Thanks for your inspiration and freely sharing what you know. I can’t wait to try the composition books and the signatures!

  10. Fabulous tutorial and gorgeous website! Just curious – what are your thoughts on using a sewing machine instead of hand stitching the pages together?

  11. I stumbled across this tutorial just now, and loved it! Thank you for sharing this.
    Now I am off to look at the rest of your book binding tutorials. ๐Ÿ™‚
    Cerri

  12. This tutorial just solved a bit of a snag I hit with a project I’m dreaming up! Thank you so much!!!!

    I’ve browsed your site a bit, and I was wondering if you had a list somewhere of what type of craft tools you use. I confess I’m lusting over your amazing pink mat! I was also wondering where you purchased your book binding tools at.

    Thanks again and I’m looking forward to more of your tutorials!

  13. Thank you for your terrific video. You explain the steps so clearly and I can see exactly how to make a book. I especially liked that you showed how to do the book cloth binding and use a buffer to smooth the edges. I will have to explore more of your tutorials.

    I think I can see myself making a whole lot of these lovely books and giving them as presents with some pretty matching pens.

  14. how did you adhere the pretty paper to the cardstock for the cover? I love the rest of the tutorial, but I don’t know how to make the cover part. thanks so much for your help!

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