Our love of functional DIY crafts is as strong as ever and Netra shares with us a fun way to make your own note pads and agenda folders. What a great idea for teacher gifts, coach gifts, big sis gifts, stocking stuffers or hostess gifts. You can design them with everyday Canvas Corp papers or choose a holiday theme, the choices and combinations are endless. You can also personalize them by stamping, stenciling or painting their name onto the note pad and folder. Add a pen, pencil and eraser and you have the perfect little gift.
Hi everyone, Netra here. Since planners, agendas and journals are all the rage, I thought some DIY items would help personalize your fave planners or inspire you to make gifts for the upcoming holidays.
I am in love with the White on Kraft papers from Canvas Corp, so this is my ode to them!! There are sooo many coordinating papers you can use to create the perfect planner or journaling set. So, have fun.
Materials used:
- Canvas Corp White and Kraft Fleur de Lis sheet
- Canvas Corp Journal Lines on White 12×12 sheet (also available in kraft and ivory)
- Canvas Corp White and Kraft Tile Reverse 12×12 sheet
- Canvas Corp White and Kraft Lace 12×12 sheet
Tools used: sewing machine; clear tape; hot glue/glue gun; binder clip; paper cutter, ruler, scissors
Let’s start with the Folder
Step 1: To make a folder, cut a 12×12 sheet down to your desired size. I used 9×11. Add some clear tape in the center so that it can stand up to being opened and closed. You might want to use a wider packing tape size.
Step 2: Choose a sheet for your pocket(s). It should be half the length of the first piece. Mine is 51/2 inches wide. The height is unknown. LOL. Just eye ball it.
Step 3: Now, use your trimmer to cut the piece from step 2 on a diagonal.
Step 4: Use that piece to trace and cut another one for the opposite side, flipping it over so you have the same side of the paper showing on each side with the diagonal going in the opposite direction.
Step 5: Now, to the sewing machine! Use the longet and widest straight stitch. Sewing along the sides and bottom of the pockets. If sewing is not your thing, you can glue them in place with a strong glue like Beacon’s 3 in 1. You can try you tape gun, but make sure it is a permanent adhesive.
You folder is done and ready for some goodies. You can also sew two pieces of paper together for the outside folder to make it even stronger and hold up to more wear and tear. 
Now let’s make the note pad to go inside your folder:
Step 1: Cut a sheet of Journaling line on white. Each piece is 2×6. This paper is just lines, simple and perfect for making journals, note pads and spots for writing on scrapbook pages, recipes and more.
Step 2: Use your hot glue to glue the sheets together. You can also do this with wet glue making sure that all the pages are captured and the glue is flat. Use a binder clip to hold them in place until they dry. This may take a few hours, you will want to let them dry completely. If you are planning to do many of them for gifts, it is a good idea to to them first and do them all at once.
Step 3: Now, cut a sheet of paper to be 2×3. Fold it around the spine of the glue sheets to create a spine. Glue ONLY the spine to the pages. You want the pages to be free so you can remove your list. If you want to add a monogram, initial, name or fun saying it is a good time to do so before you glue it into place.
Step 9: Glue the back of the spine piece to a sheet that measures lightly bigger than the journaling lines pieces. About 2 1/4 by 6 1/4.
You now have a DIY coordinating stationery set that is a perfect gift. Great for the office, school or notes for around the house. The oversized pockets are great for storing restaurant menus, coupons, shopping lists, recipes and meal plans for the week or use it to keep the kids appointments, schedules and dr. visits all organized. However you plan to use your set it sure feels good to know you made it yourself.
Add a quote from the 7gypsies Collection Gypsy Moments or American Vintage to top off your gift and to inspire!!!
Netra inspires us with her DIY projects that are so functional, trendy and simple. It is fun to see our paper transformed into pretty things that we can use every day.
To check out more of Netra’s stuff, click here!
Happy creating!
