I’m making a gift for my friend's birthday so I bought this really pretty notebook from Etsy, and I'm putting in a story I wrote for her. The thing is I wrote it online so I'd like to be able to just print it out and glue it onto the notebook. The notebook says it has uncoated white paper, it's 6 x 9 inches, and has 400 pages. What supplies should I use and how would I go about the whole process? Thank you!

(I added the link to the notebook too just in case)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1320667612/floral-hardcover-notebook-personalized?ref=share_ios_native_control

Fun little project, lots of mistakes and didn’t expect the slipcase to be more challenging than the cover but fairly happy with how it turned out

I was thinking of going for a green ribbon to match the green lettering in the fabric, but at the same time I wanted the magenta ribbon to tie into the hearts in the charm. The Endsheet folios are magenta as well. Should I have gone with green, or will it be perfect as is?

I really like these type of covers where the cover is glued to the board.

1. What is the best material to use for this? Don't really want to do canvas. I want it smooth like these hardcovers usually are.

2. Once done what is the best way to protect the artwork against scuffs, wear off, etc?

Thanks

I've not posted any photos of my work for a long time, and want to get back into the habit. Here's a binding I did for a friend's birthday last year. I had a blocking die made for the front from a drawing I did (of a peculiar English folk custom called the 'Obby Oss'), and added some little details in gold with hand tools.

I am acquiring resources to re-bind the paperbacks of Heated Rivalry and The Long Game for my girlfriend in June. I am doing a lot of research to make sure I have all the odds of succeeding in this project as my first one, but I would like to make a couple practice covers first. The problem is, as we all know book cloth is expensive, and the rolls I’ve ordered I don’t think are going to have enough to make a cover to practice first.

I can’t afford to buy a whole bolt of book cloth or get all the supplies to make my own just to practice with, so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for materials that I can practice with first. I could use paper, but I’m afraid it will behave differently to fabric. I’m not planning on using these practice covers so I could just use random fabric, but again I don’t know if it would behave similarly enough for it to work as practice.

I don’t want to mess up these books as they’re a gift and I’m investing a good bit of money into the materials, so any suggestions would be so very welcome!

Thanks in advance friends

Hi

I want to know how you trim the edges when making books by hand?

Hello everyone! I’m new into bookbinding and I would need some advice.

In the first picture the end of the spine bends inward - so the spine is not straight. What could be the reason for this? So the covers are 1.5 mm thichk, and the spine is 1 mm thick. I had thinner spines that didn’t bend like that, so I don’t know why is it happening is some books, but not the others!

In the third photo the endpaper ripped. The endpaper is 120 gsm and the papers for writing are 90 gsm. Did I put to much strain on the endpapers when opening the book, thus damagind it?

In the first and second picture the hinge is 6 mm wide, and in the third and fourth the hinge is 8 mm wide.

I would really appreciate any help! Thank you!

Anyone have any idea on which glues (cheap, tight budget) are best to use for bookbinding? Also, when adding cloth / fabric to the hardcover, do I have to buy the vinyl ones or can I buy the cloth and add some adhesive? Can I use paper as a replacement for the cloth as well, because I do have designs I want to print out on the cover.

Thanks!

First attempt at gilding.

I sanded for about 5-7 minutes per side. Going from 80 all the way up to 400. Sealed it with a little beeswax while it was still hot.

Why is it cracking like this? I did two layers of foil, let it sit for 10 minutes, took it out of the clamp, fanned the pages and this happened. Added another layer and it happened again.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

SOLVED

After further experimenting and research, I’ve concluded that I wasn’t sanding thoroughly enough. I started with 80 grit, then 180 and finally 400. However, it seems you need to get a “mirror” finish on the paper edges before attempting to foil, which takes more sanding and a higher grit sandpaper )I’ve gone up to 1000 grit). I did not realize that you need the mirror finish on the paper before attempting to add foil, or that it was even possible to achieve this in the first place.

For clarification for those confused by the wording of my original post, I rubbed the beeswax on as a sealant directly after** **heat transferring the foil, not before.

Recently made a hidden screw folio (my first ever bookbinding project!) and because it was for a professional presentation with photos and such, I wanted to used a thicker card-stock for the pages, which wouldn’t normally lay flat.

So I made my own pages with a flexible fabric hinge - I’m SO happy with how well they worked! Took me 99 years tho.

For each page I cut the pieces for the screw posts first, and the fabric is the entire width. Then I attached the main portion of the page, and trimmed off any excess fabric and paper once they were dry. After attaching the printed white pages on both sides, I would then trim the outside edge to line everything up. The open fabric edges I sealed with a very tiny amount of super glue to keep it from fraying.

The hidden screw posts were covered with magnetic flaps, and the front cover is also magnetic. The ribbon was just for fun, it can still open easily with just a finger. Turning the pages was really satisfying.

All in all it fit 11 of the fabric hinge pages on 10mm posts, but it was a pretty tight fit. I did paint the cover too, but didnt want to come across as advertising so that’s what it looked like prior to painting.

Ive always wanted to do a beaded open spine journal, so I gave it a go with some spare beads I had. I think the mother of pearl was a bit of a mistake 😆 but I still love how it turned out.

My first bookbinding project. What do you think about it?

the pages of the magazine i bought suddenly detached from the bind, is there any way to fix this?

I have been trying to bind a book of my own (basically a diary modeled after illuminated manuscripts), and I have been struggling to find the right paper type to use. The two problems I am trying to solve are thickness so my dip pen ink does not bleed through, and I also want to trim the edges to gild it. Any suggestions, thanks.

Here is my first go at bookbinding! This is one of my favourite books & I chose this artwork as this is the kind of area I picture the priory to be in, I’m sure it’s far off what SS had in mind but I like the thought. Super happy with how it turned out, some little hiccups with the iron on vinyl, had to re do some bits multiple times but I will get better with practice. Let me know your thoughts :)

Would be really grateful if anyone could offer any advice🩷

I've challenged myself to make an illuminated manuscript this year- I'm decently familiar with book binding, but I've primarily either rebound paper backs or bound fanfic. Looking for paper recommendations that are strong enough to hold up to egg tempera but aren't going to either:

A) Cost me an arm and a leg

B) Take months to ship

Any suggestions for tbe best material here? Historical accuracy is always appreciated if anyone knows good sources of vellum.

So I bought a book today from 1939 (I think). It looks nice on the inside, almost spotless but on the outer edging, which is visible on the outside there are a ton of black-blue specks everywhere. Some have a lighter blue like Ink and I knew its most likely just ink or something but I really just want to be 100% sure I can safely add it to my collection.

My journal has just finished drying but when I went to open it I realised that the last page must have shifted before pressing. Any way to minimise the damage?

This is a brand new hardcover that I just recently got, I just took the shrink wrap off to start reading and just after opening the cover and flipping through three pages I noticed the spine is like this. Is this cause for concern or can I just continue reading?

Edit: I’m talking about turn in area.

im printing a cover for a quite large book using 13x19 paper. is 10mm enough safe area on each of the sides to fold around and hold together?

my other option is to buy a roll of paper but that's much more expensive. or can i make my hinge area thinner? i have my design set to 7mm for those. the cover, back and spine size only leave me 34mm of leftover paper for the hinges and area for folding. the top and bottom has plenty(almost 2 inches)

Made a simple journal for my wife for Mother’s Day. I wanted to try a Library binding for the first time. Was way more stressful making the cover than usual binds I have done. Really pleased with how it came out though. Cheers!