I've been kinda stumped with Christmas ideas. But another one came to me! Penelope and I made a few of these for gifts for her to give away. They make the perfect gift for guys or girls, too! Once I got all the supplies together, each book takes about 10 minutes to make. Perfect for mass production, or that little extra handmade touch to your perfect holiday gift.
I've styled this purple and liquid gold-leafed leather book in a gift "basket". Perfect for the young lady needing a respectable purse and purse contents. Details:
They're ever so simple to make. I've made these with the leather scraps I have on hand (I have a giant overflowing bin full!), but these could easily be made with felt, fabric fused to paper with Heat 'n Bond. Let's make one together!
EASY Leather-Bound Pocket Notebook Tutorial
Supplies
Read more to learn how to assembly this easy
easy book!
If you want dot gridded paper, lined paper or blank paper with punch guides,
download the free printable here. Cut your paper in half so it measures 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. You will make 2 signatures with 8 sheets.
Fold your paper in half, creasing in the middle with your finger, then creasing outward from the middle with the bone folder.
Fold both signatures, now you're ready for punching holes!
You can use a regular hole punch, but if you're looking for an
awesome punch and rivet/eyelet/snap setter all in one, you'll want this one (c/o WRM, and I LOVE IT!!!). Use code
LOVE at checkout for 20% off.
You'll want to measure 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch in from each end and punch a hole along the fold. Download printable dot grid, lined and blank sheets with these hole guidelines here.
No accurate measuring required, though. Just take the center page of your first punched signature and nest it into the second. Use those holes as a guideline for punching the second set of holes.
Now you're ready to prep the cover!
Cut out a piece of leather, felt or reinforced fabric to 5.5 inches x 11 inches. Line up the edge of the signatures and the edge of the leather up and wrap leather around. You should have some extra on the bottom.
Pick up the pieces and feel for an indent of your paper holes.
Mark that indent with your pencil or marker and punch. Most hole punches will go through leather no sweat. Punch those holes.
On the end that sticks out a little extra, cut two slits about 1/2 an inch long and 1/4 an inch apart in the middle of that section. (see pattern for slits) Be sure to use a protective mat as you cut!
Cut a length of cording about 18 - 24 inches long. Thread from the outside of the leather to the inside of one of your signatures. Leave a 3-4 inch tail on the outside.
Thread through the bottom hole back to the outside cover.
Pull cording tight.
Thread the cording back through the first hole, but into the middle of the second signature.
Thread back to the bottom and the outside cover.
Pull cording towards the top and bottom of the book to make sure it's all tight.
tie a square knot and trim the ends to about 1/4-1/2 inch long.
Cut a strip of leather 16+ inches by 1/2 inch. Alternatively, you could use a structured velvet or grosgrain ribbon.
Thread the leather through the slits, leaving a 1/2 inch tail on the inside of the cover. Glue down. I used Barge's leather cement, but PVA or e6000 will work, too.
Wrap around your book and trim the ends as needed.
Download the printable insert pages here:
Download the printable cover template (to go with the above pages) here:
*This tutorial/freebie is free for personal use and should not be distributed/republished without my consent. Altering any files is NOT ALLOWED. If you would like to use this freebie for commercial purposes, please email me. Thanks!
I also got sick. The state of Utah has all been passing around some miserable intestinal bug. And I caught it. I was in bed for two days. Leaving Christmas to the last minute. Literally.
I had the fabric laid out and the patterns all cut, but it wasn't until 1am Christmas morning that I was able to sew these babies up.
Instead of embroidering the names on the stockings, I just made quick calligraphed tags and tied them on with baker's twine. It was simple, but created a really fun, simple Christmas feel.
I was channeling a more traditional style after watching The Polar Express. Has anyone else noticed the calligraphy in the note from Santa at the end? Maybe that's just a me thing to do? I decided that Santa likes traditional Copperplate stylings.
I drafted the stocking pattern by hand. I wanted to get as many stockings out of the 3/4 yard of chambray I got from Michael Levine as possible. I used this mocha chambray, courtesy of Michael Levine.
So this was the size I settled on. It's something like 7 inches by 20 inches. Plenty big for candy bars and art supplies (my ideal stocking stuffers).
The top of the stocking is made out of an interlock knit, kind of a-typical, but softer and fluffier than cotton but not felt. I didn't want to do fleece or felt. I feel like sometimes felt doesn't age well (unless you get the nice stuff, and I didn't have any around at 1am). If I were to do it again, I might go for a minky or faux fur. But the interlock is soft and simple.
The interior is a simple white cotton poplin.
I also used a bright red leather for the tabs at the top. It's a fun little detail that screams "Melissa made this". Maybe next year I'll have a mantle to hang these stockings from! We already have the fireplace, I just want some kind of shelf or mantle above!
I hope your Christmas was fun and family-filled! Also, anyone else leave Holiday decor or gifts to the last minute like me? I'd love some solidarity here.
Each year I try to make most of my gifts. It's become increasingly harder with two kids and calligraphy work. So I like to go for things that are simple, thoughtful and/or cute. I was playing around with an idea for a ring design using only these small beads and gold wire. That's when the idea for this little ring struck. It's so easy, you could make up a bunch for of your besties this winter!
Cut the wire about 8 inches long. bend one end about 2 inches from the end. The bend will keep the beads from falling off.
With the straight end, string the beads, about 4-5 inches. Some glass beads won't fit at all, while others will slide on smoothly. Just keep picking out more beads until you find one that fits.
Wrap the beaded wire around a marker or finger. Above I have 4 wraps. Only wrap the marker twice. Remove any excess beads, then trim and kink the straight end about an inch or so in.
Coil one wire around the other, tucking the end in as much as you can.
Coil the second end around the first coil tightly.
Growing up we did sub-for-santa almost every year. There were some years when we gave to strangers and others to families in our immediate neighborhood. I have such fond memories of door bell ditching presents. I remember the panic I felt when my brother's pants got caught on a chain link fence. Not panic for my brother's behalf (or behind), but panic that the unsuspecting family may find out our plans. Good times.
The most memorable was my first Christmas at college for one of the girls in our complex:
For nearly two years, Hanni's only contact with her Germany-based family had been email and Instant Messenger. Two guys in our building knew how much she missed her family and saw the most beautiful opportunity. For about a week they canvased the complex for any donations, each of us giving as much as we could.
I remember sitting in my apartment, hearing audible shrieks and sobs coming from the hallway the night those guys ditched the plane ticket on her front door step. I can't express the joy that filled my heart, knowing that she would be able to have her family near during Christmas break.
After the break she told us about her surprise trip. She didn't inform her parents about her upcoming arrival. It was Hanni's sister who picked her up from the airport, wrapped her in a large box and delivered her to her parents on Christmas Eve. For a while, Hanni's parents insisted they wait until Christmas Day to open the large gift. It didn't wait.
I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall at the moment Hanni's parents realized their whole family would be together at Christmas. For a moment, our complex wasn't about selfish desires and school finals. Through serving, we were in sync with the real Christmas spirit.
Perhaps one of the most important ways I can "give back" this year is to teach my children that Christmas is not about gifts. It's about something more. For our family it's about remembering Christ and about being just a little more patient, kind, loving and giving. All things I've been terrible at lately. Holidays stress me out. It's my goal this week to get out of our house and do something kind for someone else.
What are your favorite ways to give back during the Christmas season?
In addition to being busy, it's been cold around our neck of the woods. The chill has been anywhere between -14º and 5ºF. Our furnace chugs nearly 24/7. Naturally, if I'm going to sew anything, I'm going to sew something cozy and comfortable.
I found this crochet-like sweater knit several months ago. I can't remember where, but there were only 3 yards left. I bought all 3. This yardage called my name every day since September, begging to be something warm. It took me until a few weeks ago to figure out how I was going to finish the edges. It's a really loose knit, so I couldn't do a blind hem and call it good. It's also too bulky to use for a cuff. That's when I found this lightweight oatmeal knit that matched perfectly.
I used the oatmeal for a lining (this hoodie is technically reversible), for the cuffs and the hood. The hood is technically functional, but it works more like a scarf than anything.
The 
I also sewed the leggings from the 
I just love the striped patterning in the texture!! I've seen so many great oatmeal/off-white/angora colored sweaters this season, maybe I can fit in with the cool crowd?
What are you wearing non-stop this winter to stay warm?
Outfit details:
Last year we were in such a rush I ended up doorbell ditching most of my candy boxes on our way out of town. This year I look forward to getting these babies done in plenty of time to spare. And this year's design is so easy, I'll have a load of these boxes made up in no time.
Each year, I'm limited to the constrains of the print margins of an 8x10 piece of paper. It's really not much room when it comes to making boxes. I've found that pillow boxes are great, but they can be a pain in the rear to score and fold.
Regular boxes can be easier, but there are too many sides to cut and glue. However, a three-sided box is just the trick! I can make it nice and roomy, it's easy to cut and fold, and the triangles are fun. I was able to cut the whole template with regular scissors and fold with just a bone folder (a credit card would do just fine).
The box is 5.75 x 2.5 x 2.5. It's the right size for a small assortment of candies, jewelry, baby clothes (a onesie would fit perfectly in here) and gift cards. I designed the box very much like 
I found this laser cut scale leather in a scrap bin at Michael Levine back in May when I went to LA. It's such a small piece. It's so nice to be able to use small scraps for things like this, I feel like there's no waste that way!
Make one with me!
Cut your wire to about 3-4 inches, curl one end with your pliers.
Fold the leather in half with both right sides facing downwards. Center your wire just above the loop.
Curl the right end in and to the left. Tighten just a little.
Curl the left end through the loop and to the right. Tighten all the way along the wire.
Paint the tips and trim the ends.
Cut the extra wire about 1/4 inches away from the end of the leather. Curl the end to loop all the way back over.
Trim your chain in half and lay findings out. Connect chain to closure and pendant with jump rings.
Instead of cutting the chain in two, you can attach the pendent to the middle of the chain and allow a little bit of slack go overtop the pendant.
Enjoy! This project took about 10 minutes to put together. It's perfect for last-minute gift-giving/making or last minute accessorizing for all of your holiday parties.