How much money I save by making my own watercolor sketchbooks (and it’s fun)

[@nordicview4837]

Thank you so much for this inspiration. I just made out of my sketch block a sketch book with tape, black cardboard, and stickers. I loved this immediately. Now I know how to do this in an even better way. 🙂

[@klwebuga]

I love this! I also started by making some pretty “lightweight” (not stitched, no hard cover, etc) books, which are also fine and sometimes preferable. But these Coptic-bound hardcover books have been a delight.

[@karma13612]

Yup! You cracked the code! Commercially made journals are astronomically priced. I make my own writing journals and love the individuality and unique style I can get. Customized to fit my needs. Love your Beautiful artwork too! Thanks so much for your great video! ❤️🖋🙋🏼‍♀️📗🎨 Sea lemon is great! Check out Bitter Melon Bindery as well.

[@klwebuga]

Ahhh, a kindred spirit! :-) Thanks for the lead to check out Bitter Melon Bindery!

[@kath2142]

The best part is you end up with a one of a kind, unique sketchbook! :) I've only made a few simple pamphlet stitch sketchbooks as gifts, but hope to try coptic soon.

[@klwebuga]

For sure! I’ll never pick up the wrong sketchbook with such unique covers. :-) Thank you for your kind comment.

[@TamaraChauArt]

Beautifully done 💛

[@klwebuga]

Thank you! 😊

[@stacyg8847]

Thank you for sharing. I've made multiple small sketchbooks to take out and about. Each of mine would amount to one of your signatures. I think binding my finished small signatures using the hard board and coptic stitch you have shown may be the way to go to compile and store my small sketchbooks. I have a very difficult time using old books for art. Books have been an important part of my life and I feel like a part of history would be lost in the cutting up and reusing. I guess it just hurts my heart. No computers or internet in my childhood and we spent hours looking through encyclopedias, Time Life books, periodicals and other reference books. Peace.

[@klwebuga]

I started that way, too! Just a single signature with just 4-6 pages. Then, if I liked the sketch, I could easily tear or cut it out and put it on the wall. :-) I also felt reluctant at first to cut into old books… but then I noticed how many old books are offered up in my neighborhood’s many “Little Lending Libraries,” or are available at second-hand stores for just a dollar or two. I suspect that many of these great old books get thrown in the landfill. Once I got to that conclusion, I felt great about reusing the covers for my own sketchbooks. :-)

[@stacyg8847]

Thank you. Logically, I'm all in. I see lots of books in the little neighborhood lending libraries and second hand stores too. May be time to try making my own journals with fancy old book covers using a new attitude. Peace. @@klwebuga

[@DotyML]

I have made some small sketch books but thank you for the great ideas!

[@klwebuga]

Thank you for your kind comment! Maybe you’ll have to make some BIG sketchbooks now! ;-)

[@StephanieCorralArt]

Super inspiring, thank you so much for sharing!

[@klwebuga]

Thank you!

[@glittergrandma]

Thank you. Great video.

[@klwebuga]

Thank you! :-)

[@sequinb7155]

Thank you so much for a very useful video.

[@klwebuga]

You are welcome!

[@zenandink3531]

Very nice!

[@klwebuga]

Thanks!

[@larrymisiak915]

Nice sketchbooks, for sure. I made only one so far and have used it pretty exclusively. I started a watercolor on a single sheet yesterday for the first time in a long time. There is something about using s sketchbook, especially one you’ve made yourself, that encourages me to paint, on one side, both sides, and across to pages. Yours are beautiful! Larry Misiak

[@klwebuga]

Do you also love the process of making the book? For me, there is something really meditative about cutting the pages, folding them, and stitching.

[@larrymisiak915]

@@klwebuga I did not find it meditative, although In do meditate. It was a construction project. I wasn’t confident I would be able to complete it, and that it would be useable. I took some shortcuts. Pushing the needle through the many layers was sometime painful. The most satisfying thing was adhering two paintings to the front and back cover. I will take it to our art club here sometime and hear what others think of it! Larry M.

[@katsmith8263]

The cost of watercolor paper is what drew me to gouache😅😅

[@klwebuga]

It’s such a huge difference! I’ve been testing out acrylics on different papers this week and I’m amazed at how awesome it is. I love the magic of watercolor, too, but for a bit, I’m going to play with gouache and acrylic. :-) Thank you for your kind words!

[@ladyflimflam]

Before Hobby Lobby withdrew their 40% off coupon I was using it each week to buy a 9x12 arches pad for $15. I cut each piece in half so I have 6x9 paper and punch a short side for discs so I have a discbound sketchbook that is almost infinitely flexible. I can keep just a few sheets together at a time and I tend to move finished pages onto the large discs that live in a drawer. I just split the top cover of a couple pads in half so I can use them as front and back of the sketchbook to protect the paper. I do have the backs of all the pads I’ve cut up. I’ve made a couple meander sketchbooks out of hanamulle imperials and used the chipboard from pads to make covers for those. I know I bought the imperials on clearance at a local art store so I’d say I paid $4 each for them.

[@klwebuga]

Wow, imagine a Arches 9x12 block for only $15! :-) Thank you for sharing!

[@larrymisiak915]

You’re up to 3.31k. Hope you’re happy.

[@klwebuga]

The subscribers just keep going up. :-)

[@chrisrasmussen4612]

Very cool. But what did you do with the pages from the books?

[@klwebuga]

I haven’t tossed them yet… do you have cool ideas for them? Thanks for your kind comment!

[@chrisrasmussen4612]

I would use them in junk journals or sell little bundles.@@klwebuga