how to make your own notepads

We're blogging over at Make & Takes again today, but it was a post some of our long-time readers may have already seen. So we decided to give you a bonus!

I've turned into a list maker. I wasn't always that type, but I find I tend to forget just about anything I don't write down. That's why I collect notepads. I can never have enough. Did you know you could make your own notepads? I mean the kind that you can tear a sheet off of? There's a cool product called notepad adhesive that gives you the ability to turn any stack of paper into a notepad. As soon as we saw it, we knew the Little Birdies would have to try it. It was calling to us.




Make Your Own Notepads Tutorial



What you'll need:
*Stack of paper, cut to your desired size
*Something for your cover (think cute patterned paper or card stock, or pictures), cut to the same size
*Something for the back (like thin chipboard, a piece of card stock, or a piece cut out of a cereal box), cut to the same size
* Notepad adhesive (you can find it online at The Crafty PC, but we also found it in a bigger bottle at Paper Zone and Ben Franklin)
*Foam brush
*Clamps or binding clips
*Two pieces of wood, or two rulers, to hold the paper in the clamps

1. To make this notepad, we started by cutting plain white copy paper with a die cut from the scrapbooking store where I work (Lasting Memories in Lynnwood, WA--the best scrapbooking store in Washington!). We used the 4" x 5.25" rectangular die because it would make all of our pages completely uniform. We cut the front and back covers with the same die. But you could also cut up pages with a paper trimmer. You might have some uneven edges, but that never hurt anyone (unless one gives you a paper cut--ouch!).

2. Stack up your paper and put your covers on either side. Make sure it is all even. Then place the end you wish to be the top between two pieces of wood. We used some scraps from the garage, but rulers or small books may be just as useful here. The goal is to make sure that there is even pressure on your notepad.


3. Next attach your clamps or binder clips.


4. Using your foam brush, apply the padding compound to the straight edge of your pad. You may need to put a couple of layers on. We did about three.


5. Wait 10 minutes or so until the compound is completely dry and then remove the clamps and wood. Voila! Your notepad is ready for embellishing.


One of these would make a cute teacher gift.


But you don't just have to make blank notebooks. Beyond plain white paper there are so many options! How about printing games like tic-tac-toe and the dot game on paper, and creating a little game notebook to keep little ones quiet in the car? Or make your own tear-off grocery lists or babysitter checklists. You could also create a play checkbook for the kids to play "house" with, or a collection of fun notes you can tear off and put in your child's lunch bag each day. I have a great idea for gifts to papercrafting friends: buy some cute 12x12 paper you'll both love, cut it up into 6x6 or 4x6 pieces, and turn it into a custom paper pad, perfect for card making! Then you each get a few samples of the paper, and it's stored in a handy little notepad. I know, pretty brilliant.

See, now the notepad adhesive is calling to you. You're welcome.