I found this fun vintage student notebook at an antique collective on Wednesday and couldn’t wait to get crafting with it! I think a smaller version would make for a fun teacher’s gift, a fabulous high school reunion invitation, or just a cute notepad for your favorite little scholar. All the images needed are below for downloading.
I created mini notebook graphics and printed out 3 letter-size sheets with the notebook paper images printed on both sides and one sheet of the inside folder graphics.
I found a 25-cent black pocket folder with the perfect texture tucked away in my studio to use for the outside section of the folder. You can also use black or colored card-stock or construction paper.
After printing out the notebook paper pages, I cut the top and bottom graphic sections apart then folded all the pieces together before trimming off the non-printed margin areas. My trusty old paper cutter was perfect for this project, but of course, an X-acto knife works well also.
Using 3M spray adhesive, I laminated the trimmed-out inside graphic to a section of black and scored down the middle with the back of a butter knife for folding.
Again, with spray adhesive, I added the spine section to the center back of the folder, folded it over, and returned to the cutting board for trimming out the whole piece.
I rounded the edges of the folder and notebook paper with scissors.
I flat stapled the opened notebook pages to the folder. Turning over and bending in the staple ends in, it’s important to create a generous curve to the bend of the staple ends to keep the bulk of the paper from pulling in and tearing the spine area. You may choose to punch holes and string bind your piece similar to the orgininal folder. 
And, finally, I added a name label to the front. Then I pondered, did kids really go to school on Saturdays?
Click on the images below for the free PDF files to create your own old school notebook or other make other cool things with these fun vintage graphics.
ok, that is seriously cool! and fast. WOW… How does your brain come up with this stuff? Great idea for a gift.
Thanks for sharing how to make this and for giving the tools to make it. Have a great weekend.
This is fantastic, Cathe! Thanks!
I went to school in Germany in the 60s and early 70s, and yes, we did go to school on Saturday mornings!
Didn't have such cool notebooks though.
these downloads just made my day! thank you 🙂
wow hun this is utterly brilliant so love your ideas and your book is just stunning,great gift idea too hugs cheryl xx
really really neat!
This is fabulous! What a wonderful tutorial too! 🙂
Great fun!
Melinda
very cool! i hope you're doing well… xo kitty
Love it Cathe! Thanks for such a great project!
Very pretty! And I see Lululiz beat me to the, "Yes, there did used to be school on Saturdays," comment already, heh. Even when I was going to middle and high school in Switzerland (more recently than I want to admit!) we got Wednesday afternoons off as an artefact of when kids went to school on Saturday morning. Actually, I think I remember hearing once that some poor souls did still have to go on Saturdays, but I could be making that up — or those could have been scurrilious schoolkid style rumors, either way.
that is too cute!
Yay, I missed you! 🙂
Yay, I missed you! 🙂
This is charming and reminiscent of my elementary school years…and those 'composition' notebooks.
You're a Rock Star (always capitalized) with a limitless 'song list'!
Cathe – Super sweet as usual! You're like a magnet for cool vintage graphics. Thanks for posting this!
Oh, how I absolutely love the feel of a 'new' notebook.. I spend way too much time browsing the stationary aisle.. and vintage/antique is even better! Thanks!
xoxo~
Abbie
Very Cute!
Love it!
I just randomly found your blog and I am so happy that I did!! Thank you for this post and thank you for your blog!
Fantastic… once again~ simply fantastic!
Thank you so much for sharing~
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Michelle
Cathe, I have just caught up on your blog and am so very, very saddened to hear of your brother's passing. You are wonderful to reach out to others, even during this difficult time. Do take care of yourself. I wish you peace. ~ Angela
Cathe~ I just found your blog…. heaven!! I will be busy for a long time catching up on previous posts. May I please add you to my blog roll?
So cute Cathe! I have one of those notebooks in my etsy shop, a sports one. If you are interested I can scan it and send you the scans; I just love the work you do! Karen
Super cute!!
I love the downloads and your wonderful ideas! Thank you very much for sharing.
i love the girl swinging the golf club! what a cute project!
that is just the cutest! what a unique gift this would make.. you are so clever Cathe, just love it!
you are too cute! this is awesome!
This is fantastic, Cathe! Thanks!
Work from home India
What a wonderful blog!! You are so creative…..I copied your button and put a link on my blog page at http://www.visionsofbliss.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing your talents!
Carolee
Excellent project – thank you so much!
Love it! And some private schools in England are still open on Saturday mornings – poor kids!
Cathe….Your a wonder!!!! as my 4 year old grandaughter says "I like how your mind thinks"!!!! (who says that at 4?) Lol…That whole stick view post was awsome too…xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings…
Thank you so much for sharing how to do this. I just today BOUGHT a book to show how to make books!
This is DEFINITELY something I have to try in RL (real life) size and in mini! I can just see it reduced to 12th scale (if that's alright with you, of course)!
Smiles~
Marilyn
Thanks for the great project, my dd is having a sleepover party this weekend and I've been looking for a little crafty project to put in their gift bags. This is it!
I really don't think I've ever e-encountered anyone as crafty and creative as you are. Everything you do is so inspiring and fun to look at – thanks and keep it up!
Thank you so much for these beautys
I absolutely love this, thanks for being so generous and sharing this with us 🙂
Oh that is way cool! love these!
thank you
Yep Cathe – kids still go to school on Saturdays in France!
ol on saturdays… in winter we went country skying with the teachers !!! (it was in France, though… and quite some time ago… OMG !!)
Thanks for sharing this, it is lovely !
I just love these images, but am battling to download them.
Thank you so much for this great webite! It is very informative.
Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog. I love this and thanks for sharing! but the links appear to be dead…
I LOVE LOVE these. Can you please fix the links? I really want to download these. Thanks.
Updated! Thanks for asking. My old files housed over at Google have apparently expired, so it’s a slow update process on my end moving files to WordPress. If you make something with the files I’d love to see it!!
This ones amazing! I work with children at a church preschool and babysitting area so I’ve been trying to work out what to get the kids for Easter. I settled for a bunch of small items and these little notebooks definitely just went on my list 🙂 I recently stumbled up this site so I’m excited about checking everything out.
Just wanted to thank your for your generosity!
I love how you made this notebook. I used to love the new ones when I was a child (I won’t say how long ago that was just to say it was many years ago) and I think the old ones always looked better then the ones they sell today.
Thank you for sharing the directions and the patterns. My adult children do not believe that they made one’s that look like that when I was a child.