DIY: Paperback Book

A couple of weeks ago a fellow blogger, that just so happens to be related to me, told me about a website that will take your blogs over a period of time and compile them into book form. I'm not quite sure how the transition happened(it may have something to do with her email or watching too much "How It's Made" on Discovery Channel), but I started to research how involved it would be to make my own paperback book. Turns out it's pretty easy.

Just like in Mcgyver episodes the first thing you need to do is figure out what you'll need to build your book:

Glue (preferably flexible, but must be strong, so hot glue is out)
Paper
Exacto knife
Clamps
Card Stock

For this project I wanted to make a pocket design booklet out of graph paper. Cut the graph paper down to size and tap it on a table like a stack of cards to line everything up, then clamp it together using binder clips.



To get the pages to hold to each other as well as the binding you need to get glue between the pages. To do this simply fan the pages out by folding the free edge over like so:


Once you have done this simply apply glue(I like to use Gorilla Glue which requires you to dampen the surface before applying the glue) along the exposed areas and repeat in the opposite direction.

Next just press the stack with some weight for an hour or so to let the glue dry. Once that is done it's time to attach the binding/cover. Place the free edge of the paper stack along the edge of your card stock and crease and fold the card stock along the glued edge with backside of the exacto knife.


I like to add a extra crease about a quarter of an inch from the first crease for mark the edge of where the glue will go on either side of the cover.You're going to want to measure the thickness of your insert here and make another crease and fold where the back will line up. Once you have made all your creases just apply glue to this center portion and press it once again. When finished it should look like this:

Finally all you have to do is cut the card stock down to the appropriate size. A nice little notebook that's much cheaper than store bought you can personalize it all you like.

I also printed and made a full size screenplay. I won't say which movie I picked, but it was easily the best movie I saw this year.


I had to apply the colored band on the edge because I couldn't find card stock that was big enough for printer paper. Oh and by the way the website that my fellow blogger pointed me to was blurb.com if you're interested, but I might just try and make my own.