Pocket Sized Denim Paper Pad

For a while I have wanted a small graph paper pad to jot down ideas on. Today at a local stationary store I found a nice pocket sized graph paper pad. After remembering several other instructables about binding things with denim, I tried my hand at it.

Here is what I ended up with:

You will need:
Materials:
1. Paper pad,
I used a Rhodia graph paper pad that was 80 sheets and 8.5 X 12 cm, 3.3 X4.7 inches. You can find a pad you like with the lines you like at a stationary store.

2. Jeans,
I used jeans that don't fit me anymore.

3. Velcro,
mine was adhesive but it doesn't really matter.

4. Sharp scissors,
preferably sewing scissors.

5. Hot glue gun and glue,
any glue gun should be fine, but make sure you a few sticks of clear glue to use,you can use normal glue, but it will take forever and a half to make.

6. Ruler and pen.

7. Black binder clips, (Optional)

Using sharp scissors, carefully cut next to the smaller seam, it should be the one on the outside of the jeans as your wearing them. Cut most of the way up the leg to let it unfold.

After you do this, rip off the top half of the seam on your left.

Place the pad in between the bigger seam and the seam that you ripped off. Align to the top of the big seam.

Use a black pen to trace the outline of long sides of the pad. you might want to go over the lines to make them stronger.

Use a ruler to extend the lines.

Then put the pad on the other side of the big seam and repeat with drawing and extending.

Cut your denim keeping about 1/8 of an inch from your line.

Place your paper pad next to the big seam, the same way you did when marking the outline. Apply the hot glue in two lines across the big seam. Tightly pull the top part of the denim over the big seam to ensure good contact.

Hold it there for a while until it is starting to set, you can use the binder clips to hold it firmly.

Apply lines of glue to the denim that will become the back.

Fold the back over and press down firmly until the glue begins to set. 

Apply 3-5 lines of glue at a time about 1/4 of an inch apart and press down.

Repeat until the backside is fully attached.

Repeat with lines of glue on the front of the pad.

Apply lines to the inside cover and fold over front flap of denim.

When you are done you should have extra material coming off of the back of the pad, and material covering over one half of the front inside cover.

Place a piece of Velcro on the end of the extra flap of material coming off of the back and cut it to size. I put the spiky part of the Velcro on the tab.

Take off the adhesive backing and apply two lines of glue for extra strength. place on the end of the tab.

The best way to place the other side of the Velcro is by sticking it to the first part, taking off the adhesive, applying glue and folding it over the pad and press down.

Wait a while for the glue on the Velcro to dry. Then slowly peel the Velcro from the corner in order to not rip the glue bonds.

Enjoy your cool, grungy, tattered, homemade, pocket sized, graph-paper, pad!

Please comment if you made one or if you have comments on my instructable.