Make a Fancy Notebook

I can't find cardboard or a hole punch — what can I use instead?

Use flattened cereal boxes or heavy cardstock cut to the same size as your folded pages for the two covers, and replace a hole punch or awl by carefully making holes with a thick sewing needle or small nail under adult supervision or by stapling the spine instead of threading yarn.

The pages move around and the binding feels loose after I thread the yarn—how do I fix it?

Realign and clamp the stacked pages and cardboard covers with binder clips before marking and punching the three spine holes, then use a double-length yarn, sew a backstitch through each punched hole, and tie a tight knot to secure the pages.

How can I adapt this notebook project for different ages?

For younger children have an adult pre-cut the pages and covers and pre-punch the three spine holes so they can fold, thread yarn, and decorate with crayons and stickers, while older kids can cut their own template, fold multiple signatures, sew the binding with embroidery floss, and add glued-in pockets or decorative stitched spines.

What are some ways to make the fancy cover even more special or add extra features?

Following the 'sketch a cover design' step, personalize the cover by gluing patterned paper, ribbons, stickers, adding laminated corners, an elastic closure or ribbon bookmark, numbering pages inside, and then photograph the finished notebook to share on DIY.org.