Summer Activities Notebook
We’re making an activities notebook, just in time for the summer. It could be used as a holiday diary, a herbarium, for sketches or as a photo album, to name just a few of the possibilities.
Materials:
For an A4 format you will need:
- A4 paper (with different colors and patterns – see photo)
- A4 cardboard
- Glue
- Ribbon
- A special instrument for perforating
- Needle and thread
- A button
- Stapler
Younger children will need your help with some of the steps, so it can be a great way to spend a rainy afternoon together.
Instructions:
- Take 20 to 30 sheets of paper (depending on how thick you want the final notebook to be) and make sure all the edges are aligned.
- Start perforating along one of the longer edges, one perforation every 2 centimeters or so. Make sure the edges remain aligned, in order for the next step to go smoothly 🙂
- Using a needle and some string, start sewing from one end to another. Tie the string firmly when finished.
- If you want, you can also add a bookmark, or two in this case. Through the first hole, push a piece of ribbon or string.
You can also make a utensils box, which can be glued to the notebook or used separately. For this:
- Take a rectangular piece of cardboard. Fold and unfold two centimeters on three of the edges (see photo). Now, cut out the little squares that form on the corners, like in the picture.
- Fold again and staple the edges, two by two, as shown. On the other end, staple the lid of the box. To make the back, cut a rectangle with the same dimensions as the front of the box. Glue together.
- To make the closing system, you just need to sew on two buttons, on two pieces of cardboard, and then glue them to the box, like in the picture. Tie a piece of string from the lid button and close the box by going round and round a few times over the bottom button. Ready to fill!
Text and photos by Laura Munteanu
Laura has studied journalism and advertising, and has worked as a journalist and an illustrator. She illustrates for magazines, websites, charity and diverse campaigns. She lives in Zurich with her husband and eight-year-old daughter.
