UpCrafted Book Journal

Create your own UpCrafted Book Journal for Back to School

It’s back to school time and that means school supplies!  After you buy the pencils, pens, and markers, add a personal touch to your school supplies and make your own notebook from a recycled book.  Check out what my friends have done and scroll down to the bottom of the post to get even more DIY ideas for Back to School. Make one and make them all!

Supplies

old hardcover book,
plain copy paper,
hole punch and binding machine,
paper trimmer,
wire binding comb,
wire cutter,
table saw or box cutter and metal straight edge,
scissors

To start, grab an old book; maybe it’s one from your childhood or one that catches your eye at the thrift store or a garage sale.  Look for a children’s picture book, or art book with a vibrant hardcover.  Books should be treasured and passed on to others to read. They are one of those things that are hard to get rid of, toss out, or destroy so look for books that are not in great shape and could use a new life.  Remember this, if you repurpose a few old books for your school supplies, they are not ending up in a landfill and you are being eco-friendly.

Remove the book spine

Cutting off the spine and binding of the book can be tricky but there are several methods that will give you a clean cut. You can cut off the spine with a table saw if you have access to one; we asked a neighbor to help us out with this project.  Or, you can remove the spine by hand using a box cutter, metal straight edge, and cutting mat. This process is more time consuming but will give you a nice clean result.

After the spine and binding are removed, and the pages are free, select a few pages from the book. We will save these to add in the front of the journal.  Only select a few pages, maybe 7-10, to tell part of the story or pick your favorite images; just choose a few so you can add them into your custom handmade journal.

Since we are big on repurposing, save the other pages to create gift tags, book marks, wallpaper, jewelry, use them for a decoupage project, or any other paper crafting ideas.  Old book pages make a great addition to your crafting stash. We always say, save your scraps!

Prepare the Book

Measure the book cover and pages then cut your plain copy paper to fit.  Use a paper trimmer with built in ruler to get even results. Be sure to cut 30-50 pages of plain paper as this will be the main portion of your journal. After all, you are creating this journal to take class notes in, write down thoughts and ideas, and maybe even use it to doodle on the pages in between.

There are several inexpensive spiral binding machines on the market; we went with a combo hole punch binding machine that has adjustable sizing to fit all your repurposed book covers. 

Using your binding machine, punch holes in the front cover and back covers. Next, punch holes in the salvaged book pages, and finally, punch holes in the plain insert paper. 

Assemble the Journal

Using a binding wire comb, add the back book cover to the comb, then add the front cover to the comb noting that the right sides should be facing each other. Add the salaved book pages on the comb wire and then the plain paper. 

Remove the spiral comb and the pages, place them in the cinching area of your machine. Gently press the comb binding together. The closure of the new wire binding should be hidden inside the back book cover.

Finish your Journal

Once the binding comb is cinched, clip the excess wire with cutters and bend the raw end in and under.

There you have it, a repurposed hardcover book turned back-to-school journal.  Make one for every subject and a few extras to give to friends or even a teacher’s gift. 

Most important thing to remember, study hard and get good grades. 

Make more for gifts!

With some inspiration and a little imagination, you can recycle an old book and bring it back to school with a purpose.

Print

UpCrafted Book Journal

Repurpose an old book into a journal to use for this year's school supplies. They are easy to make and eco-friendly.

Course: Intermediate

Keyword: DIY journal, DIY notebook, DIY project, journal, school supplies, upcrafted book

Yield: 1 journal

Equipment

• 1 Binding and hole punch machine
• 1 paper trimmer
• 1 wire cutters
• 1 Scissors
• 1 table saw Use expert assistance when using a table saw

Materials

• 1 Hardcover storybook or picture book
• 30-50 pieces plain white paper
• 1 piece wire binding comb

Instructions

• Remove the spine of the book using a table saw if you have access to one; we asked a neighbor to help us out with this project.  Or, remove the spine manually using a box cutter, metal straight edge, and cutting mat.
• Select 7-10 pages from the original book to keep in the journal.
• Measure the book pages for sizing
• Trim the white paper to the same size as the book pages
• Punch holes in the book's front and back covers. Using the same measurement, punch holes in the book pages and in the plain white paper.
• Attach the binding wire onto the machine and add the back cover to the binding comb. Next, add the front cover to the binding comb making sure the front sides are facing each other
• Add the book pages to the binding comb and then add the white pages.
• Remove the binding comb and pages from the machine and cinch the edges together to close.

Video

For even more Back to School DIY inspiration check out what my friends have done!! 

Beth of Creatively Beth is sharing an Upcycle Wine Cork Apple that would make the cutest back-to-school gift for that special teacher.

Create a sweet gift for your new teacher with a fun set of Back-to-School Themed Bracelets that you can make in about an hour. Lindsay of Artsy Fartsy Mama shows you how.

Greet your new teachers with a Free Printable Pencil Card created by Liz from Liz on Call. Tuck a gift card inside!

Heather from Homemade Heather is creating sweet treats for Back-to-School with yummy Sugar Cookies and free printable gift tags.

Create colorful Paint Pour Notebooks with this fantastic step-by-step tutorial created by Blanca of Creativities Galore.

Candice of She’s Crafty Crafty is showing her team spirit with a colorful set of Back-to-School Felt Flags. A great way to learn your ABC’s and 123’s.

Learn how to make Back-to-School Stickers with your Cricut cutting machine. Michelle of Michelle’s Party Plan-it is sharing a complete tutorial.

Make those first day photos the cutest with Back-to-School SVG Cut Files that can be made into shirts. Diana from The Girl Creative is sharing the free files.

Laura of Me and My INKlings has created an Upcycled Book Apple, the perfect back-to-school gift for your favorite teacher.

Laura from Me and My INKlings has created a set of hand drawn and water colored Back-to-School Lunchbox Notesthat are available to download for FREE!

Create the cutest DIY Pencil Case made with felt and embellished with a strawberry. Smitha from Smiling Colors has the full tutorial on her blog.

Shani from Sunshine and Munchkins is sharing the CUTEST Back-to-School Pencil Wreath created from yarn. Fun for the classroom door!

Download and print a set of Lunchbox Notes to inspire the kiddos during back-to-school time. Head over to Laura’s blog Laura’s Crafty Life to get the Free Printable.

Justine from Little Dove has created the cutest DIY Apple Garland from book paper. What a cute way to decorate the classroom for back-to-school.

Make a fun Friendship Bracelet Style Bookmark for your bestie with this step-by-step tutorial from Erica of 5 Little Monsters.

Kelsey of Poofy Cheeks is sharing a fun DIY Pencil Sign with the FREE SVG Cut File. The perfect back-to-school teacher gift.

Make sure to keep all the kids school supplies organized with Personalized Notebooks. Get the editable sublimation files from Katie over on the Crafty Blog Stalker.

Chelly from We Can Make That is sharing the cutest SVG Cut File to create a Home Sweet Classroom Clipboard for that special teacher.

Create a fabulous back-to-school gift for your new teachers with Lindsay’s Resin Pencil Keychain tutorial over on her blog Artsy Fartsy Mama. Makes the perfect backpack charm too!

Beth from Creatively Beth is channeling her inner Dad Jokes with a set of Punny Lunch Notes to keep the kiddos in stitches.

Hydration is super important, so do it in style with Personalized Water Bottles. Marissa of Rae Gunn Ramblings has the full tutorial on her blog.