It is time to pull a dusty old book off the shelf and breath new life into it by creating a super cute Notebook Holder. Today on the Graphic 45 blog, G45 Brand Ambassador, Elizajane aka Tiny House Journals shows us how to upcycle a vintage book in the most creative way, by making a folder full of pockets, interactive elements, and lots of space for notebooks, photos, and mementos. Be sure to take the video tour, jot down your favorite tips and tricks, and when you are done leave your love for this project and Ellizajane below.

Bird Song Book Folder with Notebooks

#G45PopUp

By Elizajane aka Tiny House Journals

“This project was created using the Bird Song Collection combined with an antique Asian book cover and an old file folder to create this book with two interior folders with notebooks and a Pop-up.

I began by deconstructing the antique book and covering the inside front and back cover with Bird Song patterned paper. Remember, that if you choose to close the completed book with ribbons, be sure to attach them before adhering the patterned paper.

Tip: It is also a good idea to score the patterned paper every 1/8” just where it will be attached to the book spine. This will not only help it adhere to the spine better and but also make opening and closing the book easier.

I then created two folders, one for each side, repurposing the old file folders as the base. The left side opens horizontally and the right side opens vertically. Then covered each with patterned paper.

The inside left folder is decorated with fussy cut images and attached to the inside cover of the book. I also affixed a small strap using the repurposed file folder and magnets to keep the folder closed.

The right-side folder is covered with patterned paper and a side pocket created to hold ephemera, then the whole folder is adhered to the back cover of the book

I covered the inside of the left-handed folder with Bird Song patterned paper and fussy cut images. As well as, a second fussy cut image of the birds is adhered with foam squares. I also created a pocket using the repurposed file folder and covered it with patterned paper.

The inside of the right-handed folder also has a pocket covered with patterned paper and a three-dimensional pop-up made with Bird Song fussy cut images.

I then created the two mini notebooks. For the first one, I deconstructed one of the Graphic 45 black notebooks. I did this to make the notebook thinner and to repurpose a few pages from the antique Asian book. I then coffee stained the paper and put the notebook back together using a three-hole pamphlet stitch, covered the front with fussy cut paper and the inside front and back pockets.

The second notebook is just a notebook I had on hand. I cut the entire notebook to the size I wanted and tore out pages to make it thinner. Then I coffee stained the entire notebook and covered the front with Bird Song patterned paper.” ~Elizajane