DIY

DIY: Mini Notepads

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Even in these times of crazy technological advancements and rapid development, you can still find yourself needing just a pen and a piece of paper. There may be an app for freakin’ everything under the sun, but seriously '“ paper is a system that’s worked for thousands (and thousands) of years.
So it makes sense that notepads are an ubiquitous intro-DIY project '“ in addition to being super useful, it’s obviously stupid-easy to slap some paper together with staples or glue and call it a day. However, like a good horror movie, it’s gonna look a lot better if you put five minutes of original thinking into it.
Therefore '“ mini notepads!
Still ridic simple '“ just get some card stock (or, if you’re so fortunate to have a supplier, vintage matchbooks), paper to fill the notebook, an xacto blade (straight edge/cutting mat too if you’ve got '˜em), stapler, stamps/markers/stickers/various embellishments. If you’ve scored some vintage matchbooks then remove the matches by undoing the staple holding them in place, card stock folks will cut a piece of card stock 4 ¼' x 1 ½' and use a ruler or straight edge to make creases in the top and bottom folds. (Note about card stock: anything from cereal boxes to paint samples goes here).
The easiest way to know where to make the folds is to line up the paper alongside an actual matchbook, but this isn’t rocket surgery. You can eyeball it. Next measure the area of the matches/area for blank pages and cut your filler paper to size (if you’ve got a sewing machine you can even run the paper through it '“ unthreaded of course '“ and make the pages perforated for easy pulling out). Then just stack the pages, put them in the book, fold the bottom lip up and staple. Now you’re like the George Romero of tiny DIY notepads.

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Amber Bouman - Crafty & Cashless

Amber Bouman - Crafty & Cashless

A freelance writer, blogger and poet based in San Francisco, Amber has written for PC World, InfoWorld, and the 16th & Mission Review. She has performed at City Hall, Litquake, the Brainwash, 16th & Mission, BlueSix, and SFSU among other places. Amber is also consummate fan of swearing, organizational freak, yoga practitioner, music geek, caffeine addict, and tattoo enthusiast who enjoys platform shoes, making out, thumb wrestling and fighting the good fight. She owns a bicycle named Gretel, a motor scooter named Elroy and a cat named Simon. She can be found in various virtual locations all over your interwebs.