Journal (cardboard & Duct Tape)

These are directions for making a very easy and inexpensive journal.  The following steps will produce a book slightly smaller than 7"X10" with 20 pages. All steps can be adjusted to make a variety of sizes 

The supplies are very basic

*cardboard 2 pieces 6.5 X 9.5
several sheets of paper for the pages, I used white 9X12
*duct tape
assorted papers for book cover and inside cover lining
exacto  or scissor
awl
hammer
thin ribbon
lg. eye needle
glue stick
large clips
newspaper 
block of wood

choose paper for cover of journal. Make sure it is slightly larger than the cardboard piece. I  used an old piece of marbelized paper  (remnant of a different project!) that was 9X12.

turn paper over, place cardboard in center and fold up each paper corner to meet the corner of the cardboard

lift cardboard and fold the corners under, replace cardboard, then fold up each of the sides along the edges.

glue sides as flat as possible.

next select a paper to use for inside the cover. This paper needs to be slightly smaller than the cardboard.

glue the liner paper inside the cover...this is where the newspaper comes in handy.  Turn the paper over and cover the back completely to the edges. If you go over a bit the newspaper keeps your work area clean.

Place inside cover, rub smooth.
Repeat steps to create back cover.

place covers (good side up)  about 1/2 inch of space between (if adding more pages make the separation between the cover a bit bigger. )

pull a length of duct tape to wrap around the binding of the covers, cut to size using scissor or exacto blade

neatly press tape in place closing the "gap" on the inside of the cover binding. 

Depending on how many pages you want in your journal choose half that amount of full size sheets of paper....I wanted 20 pages so I took 10 sheets of 9X12 paper and folded them in half to create 20, 6"X9" pgs.

use large clips to clamp the pages in the book (this keeps them in place so all the holes you make in the next step line up properly.

open the book flat, with cover up, place on wood block. Using the awl and hammer, make holes 
through the duct tape and pages, making the awl enter the wood block, slightly. Using a wood block under the book will protect your work space. 

put two sets of holes on either ends of the cover about 2 inches in from the ends... and 2 inches apart from each other. 

The inside should look like this, keep pages clamped until book is finished.

pull out about 24" of thin ribbon, thread large needle. beginning on the outside of the binding push the needle and ribbon through. DO 
NOT pull it all the way through. 

go back out through the other hole

after the ribbon comes out of the second hole make a very tight knot, if someone is available have them hold their finger on the knot. If the ribbon isnt tight enough the pages will wiggle around. 

when knotted nice and tight , cut needle off

tie the ribbon in a bow and remove the clamps.

The book is ready to start journaling!