DIY Cheater Notebooks for your art or stationery business 📔

Today I'm going to show you how I make these cute little notebooks/journals with my art on the cover! 📔 I'm using blank notebooks as a base (hence the "cheater" aspect) but you can definitely skip that and make them from scratch with your own paper. I just wanted to share my exact method which balances time spent vs cost vs quality, in my opinion!
🌸 Products Used:
(affiliate links ahead - any purchases help me save up for a new cutting machine!)
- 48 pack of blank notebooks: amzn.to/451ES1K
- needle and thread (strong thread recommended)
- beeswax (optional - find local or use a candle!)
- bone folder, ruler, scissors, seam ripper
- printer with ink; mine is an Epson Ecotank 2400 (amzn.to/42ISxJL) which I love but isn't the best for really heavy cardstock (works for this project though!)
⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 introduction
5:23 demo/materials
11:18 different options for covers
15:40 preparing the cover for my printer
17:50 Canva tutorial
20:46 printer settings I use
23:43 sewing the binding
🤗 Hi, I'm Rebecca and I run Lucky Sprout Studio! I am an artist and graphic designer and love making cute artwork and fun stationery products. On my channel you can find art/product tutorials, business advice, and now studio vlogs! I hope you'll join me~~
Also find me here:
🌸 connect with me: / luckysprout.studio
🌸 my art studio shop: luckysproutstudio.com
🌸 learn more with me on Skillshare: www.skillshare.com/en/r/profi... (that’s my referral link - get 1 month free & try my classes!)
please subscribe if you love being a cute artist and doing cute artist things w me~

[@luckysprout]

What would you like to see next? More diy bookbinding videos? Advice on pricing your products? Other?? Let me know! 💕

[@alicejohnson9080]

Definitely pricing products. I must say the demo of the simple booking binding technique was just what I needed. I have all these ideas of creating journals from old books. But the signatures was one of stumbling blocks. The type of journals is my next hurdle. I am not going to take up more of your time. Oh ideas of becoming a vendor at a farmer’s market or any type of venue.

[@Kat_and_Luna]

This was, hands down, the most clear, easy-to-follow, and encouraging video on making notebooks I’ve seen, thank you 🙏🏻

[@Kat_and_Luna]

Oh, and I’m looking forward to the pricing video!

[@jogauthreaux6774]

Journals

[@PrairieDoodle]

I like how you show small items to sell at markets and online. It feels more possible to sell five small items than one large one.

[@Princess_karen]

I am 67 and my 18 year old granddaughter and I want to start our own little business, she is amazing at art and wants to make stickers. I am very crafty and make journals and folios, and I also sew and make cards and can do book binding. Thank you for your videos, they are helping me help her get started. Pricing items would be helpful

[@blujawsiii6884]

Great video, thanks so much for showing the canva tutorial! ❤

[@cythree]

I love these. I ordered a box and made some personalized books for my grandkids for Easter. I created a unique character inkscape for each grand kid. They loved them. Thank you.

[@coffeebreak100]

Love this idea, thank you so much for sharing. ❤

[@suzannemountfort9912]

Love them! Thanks for the step by step video!

[@mellularphone]

Very smart! Thank you for this.

[@Kat_and_Luna]

These are so adorable ☺️ I’ve got my first markets coming up here next month and think I’ll order some notebooks and give this a try! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@luckysprout]

Amazing, I hope your markets go well! Good time of year to dive in 🤩 Let me know how the notebooks work out for you!!

[@EmpressNatiLocs]

This is so cute. You’re so talented. Thank you so much for sharing❤ I can’t wait to give this a try😊

[@luckysprout]

Thanks so much!! I appreciate you watching ☺️

[@michelepisanospence3371]

Adorable.

[@reneebutler7730]

Hello. Just discovered you. Love your honesty and how easy you are to listen to. Thanks so much for the videos.

[@luckysprout]

Thanks so much for your kind words and for watching! I appreciate you being here ☺️

[@AllIsWellaus]

Had you considered hand printing as it would save you from having to unstitch and restitch. Another idea. Creating a hole maker for the pages from a hard plastic, creating a guide. My thoughts is it would be from a large enough sheet over the paper helping to lean on or brace. There would be holes in the plastic making it easier and more importantly, quicker. This way you can reduce some time as some of it will be transferred to the fresh pages you plan to make. Another significant benefit would being able to choose the paper, its weight, texture and of course, colour. :)

[@ChantelleArts]

great tip ❤✨

[@luckysprout]

Thank you!!

[@luciabarreto2526]

Thnaks for your vidéos!😀

[@LourdesEsmeralda]

When you do a PNG. file always click on preserve transparency

[@loraearley6422]

I am making a special journal for my daughter. I have used cardstock for cover sheets but bit sure of paper weight for journaling. I like constitution paper feel what would you recommend?

[@alicejohnson9080]

Rebecca, thankyou for this demo. I had a question about the Epson printer , printing on card stock. I just commissioned my niece to create designs but the card stock was making a funny noise. I was thinking of purchasing another printer-not that I have $$$ but ... I have taken the notebooks and covered with other paper but I like your idea. I first saw these notebooks at a women function, they used the big clear mailing labels.

[@luckysprout]

Yes, the Epson is definitely frustrating for thicker papers! I have found that you can push the thicker cardstock through and as long as the noise isn't paired with a bad print job, I think it's mostly okay - but would it be helpful if I did an Epson tips & tricks video? I get a lot of questions about getting this printer to work well so I'd be happy to share my strategies!

[@lucychan_art]

@@luckysprout yes please! that would be helpful!! ♥

[@annspires8380]

Ok, my question is how do you feed the paper through? Do you adjust the sides and center the page in the middle as it feeds through? I've never done this.

[@marshakopeika9671]

Do you have to use your own drawing or is there a stock photo you can use?

[@luckysprout]

You can definitely use stock images! Canva's library is full of them and lots of great things to choose from. You can also use images from Creative Fabrica, Creative Market, etc. just check the license you're purchasing for them ☺️

[@ReliableProductions]

Loved the vid and wanted to follow, but when I clicked on your Instagram link here, it was broken. Could you repeat the link here?

[@manojsope-cs8zw]

10000000005

[@wardaniendang9038]

I need subtitle, Miss. Thanks for your information.

[@jenyoung6919]

Hi, I’m also for NS in Hammonds Plains and just found you. Could you Watercolor on these covers?

[@luckysprout]

Hi neighbour! You probably could, but I think the kraft paper would wrinkle a lot so you might need to iron it afterwards to make the book sit flat again.

[@patdawson3555]

Not, sure if someone mentioned to you your camera needs to be right on your project for people to see it better.

[@RuanFourieStix]

It's funny how you say you don't want to do bookbinding because it's time consuming and then you take the notebooks apart and do bookbinding anyway. 😂

[@luckysprout]

Honestly it's a good metaphor for my whole life 😅😂