DIY Binder Clip Notebooks

Get ready for back-to-school with this easy book-binding hack. Instead of throwing away half used notebooks use this clever trick to upcycle them into brand new journals.

All you need is some paper, cardstock and a couple of binder clips for a totally unique DIY notebook.

How to make binder clip notebooks.

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Binder Clip DIY Notebooks.

Today I’m going to show you how to make a cute notebook using only binder clips (sometimes called bulldog clips) and some leftover paper. It’s a simple bookbinding technique that’s a foolproof way to create your own notebooks or sketchbooks.

Ever since college, I’ve always carried a notebook around in my bag but it’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve started making my own. So far I’ve made Quick And Easy DIY Notebooks using a sewing machine and these adorable mini notebooks with pockets on the inside of the covers.

For this quick and easy notebook, we’re going to use binder clips to hold the spine in place. I first saw this technique over on Sea Lemon’s YouTube channel and I’ve used it quite a few times now so thought it was about time I shared it here as well. I think it might be of the easiest bookbinding methods I’ve seen so far.

Materials for binder clip notebooks.

Supplies:

Blue cardstock on scoring board next to stack of paper and cardstock.

How to bind a notebook with binder clips (bulldog clips).

1. Trim down your card to the same size as your pages. I chose to make mine A5.

2. Measure your binder clips and score a line just in front of where your clips will be.

This lets your cover fold open easily and not crease. Do this for the front and back covers.

Blue notebook held together at the spine with yellow binder clips next to close up of hand removing the handle from the binder clips.

3. Sandwich your pages between your front and back covers and secure with a couple of binder clips.

4. To remove the handles from the binder clips gently squeeze them together.

Close up of blue notebook being decorated by stickers.

5. Remove the other binder clip handle.

6. To finish decorate your notebook with stickers.

I got these puffy quote stickers in the New Look sale for £1. You can also find a lot of fantastic puffy stickers over on Etsy.

Pink, yellow and blue notebooks decorated with stickers on white background.

So, what do you think? Pretty easy, right? And the great thing about them is you can refill them as much as you like. Simply attach the metal handles to the clips again, open them out and swap out the pages.

More DIY Notebooks ideas:

No time to make these DIY Binder Clip Notebooks now? Pin the image below to Pinterest so you can come back to it later!

DIY binder clip notebooks.
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Emma

Hi, I'm Emma.

I'm a crafter, blogger and paper enthusiast living in the North West of England.

Gathering Beauty is the place where I share craft tutorials and diy inspiration. I started this blog back in 2013 as a way of sharing all the things I love and make. I share paper crafts, clay crafts, origami, printables and desktop wallpapers as well as the odd crochet and weaving project. I hope you find something here that inspires you.