How to Make Notepads Out of Old Table-top Calendars and LetterheadsThanks to Lynnette for submitting this great article (also published at Velvet Notes). The following are steps on how to recycle table-top calendars and old letterheads into Notepads. I’ve made a number of them and have donated them to charities. For this project, you will need:
Old Calenders
Old letterheads or paper you would like to use up (don’t use too many or you can’t fit it into the spine)
Needle-nose pliers
Glue
Bull clip / paper clips
Access to a comb binder 1. Get your materials
2. Remove the spine from the calendar. Hold one side of the spine with your finger and thumb and the other with the pliers. Pull spine apart.
3. After spine removal
4. Open up the calendar body and cut it in the middle. Each half is a big piece of calendar with a smaller flap (calendar base) attached to it.
5. Now cut very lightly at the fold of the calendar base. Do not cut through.
6. The back must remain intact. DO NOT CUT THROUGH.
7. Trim the sides of the calendar base. This will allow you to peel the cardboard support away from the cover.
8. Peel cardboard support from cover. Peel carefully.
9. You will end up with this:
10. Cut the corners off. About 0.5 cm in.
11. Apply glue to the cover flap.
12. Fold cover flap over.
13. Use the bull clips to hold it together. You can use long paper clips.
14. Leave to dry. I usually leave them overnight.
15. In the meanwhile, start trimming your letterheads / paper:
16. It should fit the size of the covers.
17. When the glue has dried, you will be ready to go on to the next step.
18. Using the comb binder, punch the holes.
19. Make sure the holes align with those on the covers.
20. Use only enough sheets to fit into the spine.
21. Place the covers back to back (with what will be the inside of the notepad facing out. See step 22. photo for an idea) and thread the spine into the holes of the covers. Start sliding the paper in. Sliding the paper in makes it easier to fill the spine.
22. Here is how it looks when the paper and covers are in. The next step is to close the spine.
23. Place the almost completed notepad into the comb binder as shown. The spine is then closed by pulling the lever. A clamp then closes the teeth of the spine. Do not pull too hard. If the teeth overlaps, you will have a hard time pulling them apart.
24. Properly done, you can easily open the notepad flat out.
25. TA-DA!!! The final product. The black notepad is my favourite as a white spine was paired with a black cover. Look out for different coloured calendars.
This notepad is made 100% from recycled materials. If you do not want a hardcover for your notepad, you can use cardboard. I use the cardboard salvaged from boxes the letterheads came in. Please
send feedback if the steps are a little difficult to understand. Source: Velvet Notes.
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