Matchbook Notebooks- Instruction

So here are some instructions for the matchbook notebooks. I used all recycled materials but you could use whatever you would like. I think they would look particularly attractive with some decorative papers that are available.

For my 2.5×3 inch pad of paper, I used a strip of cardstock that was 2.75 inches wide and 8 inches long. Depending on what you have around you could used longer paper and wider paper.

To start this notebook out. place your stack of paper right side to right side of the cover. Press in your staples. I used a 1/4 inch stack of paper and a heavy duty stapler and 2 staples, You could do this with one staple through the center.

IN the picture above you can clearly see the score marks that allow the cover to fold around and cover the staples. I scored about 1/2 inch up from the staples. I then folded on that score and wrapped the cover around to the back of the notebook.


As you wrap the cover around to the back press it into place. The pressure from your fingers will cause it to crease around the block of paper.

Now flip the stack over. You’ll be looking at the right side of your paper and the inside of your cover, At the top part of your pad, score a line for the cover to fold up and around the block to make the cover. I then scored again 1/4 inch (the thickness of my pad) above that score. Fold the cover up and over your pad. You’ll have a lot of overhang, I folded and glued my overhang to the cover.

3 days

I got an amazing amount done over the last few days off. 3 days really up s the ability to create and do. Not only is it relaxing but it frees one from the confines of work, in my case my commute.

So I finished several jotters, 7 hedgehog journals, 2 large hedgehog journals, listed an amazing amount of items on ebay and etsy. Packed and shipped quite a few items.

I took hundreds of photos of journals this weekend as well. So I’m ready to list them at a moment’s notice.

Cant’ wait for my next 3 day weekend- next weekend!

Giant Hedgehogs!

I’ve been playing around with making hedgehogs in larger sizes fo awhile now, I make them in a VERY limited amount because I don’t like the size as much as I like the smaller size. After all its all about making what I like. Occasionally I’ll make something with other people in mind, but I conciously believe that my work turns out better not only when I believe it but when I like it. If I don’t like it, they they don’t turn out good at all.

Anyhow here are the 2 giant hedgehogs I made. I’ll be listing them soon!




















Up on ebay and etsy.

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time in my studio the last 2 days. It happens to be the coolest place in the house! I’ve made a few penslips- listed 1 on eBay and 3 on etsy.


I’ve listed a recycled sign journal on eBay. I’ll be listing a few more to etsy later today. I’ve gone through a frenzy of photography today and I must say that I think it’s been good. I probably shot another 75 or so pics of journals. Crazy huh?

Jotters. Like I wrote below I made a load of them the other day, and you can expect fresh ones coming soon. I just got some fresh/ old signs to make new jotters. Some of them have a lot of print on them so they will be very interesting!

I’m melting

I’ve spent the majority of the day working on books and gluing up spines. I finished 3 small notebooks, with cardstock pages and place markers. 2 of the 3 have leather covers, flap and strap and the other is covered in recycled sign vinyl in pink.

I also spent a lot of time sewing up some hedgehogs. I did a bunch of them in card stock and a few with the new graph paper. It took a lot to make a regular thickness hedgehog, I think it was something like 250 pages! (Just checked 256!) That’s just a lot of paper. I’m used to cutting and folding about 160 to 180 pages for a hedgehog. This paper is SO thin. It’s nice though.

Tomorrow I’ll be gluing up the spines and putting them all in covers.

I also got some more recycled covers ready to go, so I folded up a bunch of paper for them. I’m going to print lined paper tomorrow morning and get that ready for Sunday.

Hopefully tomorrow will not be as freaking hot here in the North East as it was today. Luckily for me my studio is in the basement and that stayed pretty cool all day, but it is warmer than it was. This heat is crazy!

PIcs of the new journals tomorrow AM too.

New Jotters and Recycled journals

I made a bunch of new jotters and I’ve loaded a bunch of them up to ebay and etsy, find links below. I finally found a moderately priced pack of gridded paper, well, I suppose it moderately priced, as compared to other graph paper. 5 lines per inch instead of the overly large 4 lines per inch. I’ve got 2 packages up on eBay now and 1 on etsy.




Lined Sign Vinyl Journal on etsy.

Unlined Sign Vinyl Journal on etsy.

JOtters 100% recycled set 1.

Jotters 100% recycled set 2:

Jotter Wausau Paper Inside.

Jotter Recycled Graph Paper eBay.

Jotter Recycled Graph Paper 2 notebook Set.