I desperately needed a day planner. With so much going on I can no longer keep it all straight in my head ’cuz something’s always falling through the cracks. So on my way home from the morning school drive today, I went to the office supply store to shop for one. Nothing bulky, nothing leathery, don’t need pockets, grid paper, address book or all the bells and whistles, just a plain ol’ planner, but a spiral one for sure, so it will lay flat while I’m planning. I chose a monthly planner that also has weekly pages. Perfect. Just what I wanted, but, in a word, boring. Right?
Enter: A cute vintage book from my stash, one simple but pretty file folder and this simple tutorial!
Find a cool vintage book close to the size and thickness of your planner and either a manila folder, decorative folder or heavy card stock.
With a craft knife, gut your book. I needed to cut the strings to remove the innards.
Save the pages for your craft projects.
Trim away any extra scrap along the inside of the book cover, but careful not to cut through the cover itself.
Turn the file folder inside out, and lay the book cover onto it with the fold of the folder lining up with the inside edge of the cover’s end paper and trace around the cover.
Draw fold lines just inside the drawn book line.
Cut the folder about 1″ outside the fold line.
Trim away the fold creating two cards.
Trim away the two corners just inside the fold lines.
Use a ballpoint pen to press fold scores into the cards.
Fold the flaps inward.
I chose to add packing tape along the non-folded edge for additional reinforcement. Run a strip along the edge and trim away excess.
Using a strong adhesive on the folded flaps only, (I used E6000), glue to the inside covers with the open sides towards the book spine creating pockets.
Place a piece of paper inside the pockets to keep any oozing glue from gluing the pockets shut.
Place stacks of heavy books on top of the pockets as they dry.
Trim your planner if necessary to fit into the pockets.
With book cover folded backwards, slide the covers of the planner inside the pockets.
Once the planner is centered and in position, add a piece of double stick tape inside the pockets to keep it from shifting. This can be removed later for inserting next year’s planner.
Start planning.
FOR MORE EXAMPLES, CLICK HERE!
So clever! A great way to have a modern agenda while keeping things vintagey… love love love this!
very, very, neat.
Such a great idea!
THIS is smashing, Cathe! What a FABULOUS way to keep track of your shelf, with such fine style! I love it! Terrific inspiration!
This is excellent; I want one just like yours!
This is a really neat idea. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Could also be used to make a cover for a small notebook.
Aloha Cathe;
You have an awesome blog site. I love your vintage book planner tutorial. I found you while visiting Tera's wish; glad I found you.
I'm fairly new to blogging, but I'm trucking right along.
By the way, we have something in common, my husband is also a firefighter. He is a captain here in Hawaii.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I'm happy to follow your blog.
Aloha for now-Wayna (otherwise know as Creative Grammie)
get.out. seriously. get out! that is awesome!
Oh goodness. i love it!! Thank you!hotsly
How wonderful! And the perfect book for it too! Thank you. I'll save your tutorial and go on the look-out for the perfect book.
How delightful! Your cover is PERFECT for a planner! I've used a wall calendar for 30 years, but decided it was time for a change in January, so I made one similar to yours (I used an old book for the cover), but I made my own pages as well and stamped the dates. It was a fun project.
What a great project!!!
OMG…this is FABULOUS!!!!
That looks awesome!
super blog!!!!lovin'it!!!
http://www.ffffashionmixxxx.blogspot.com/
This is very inspirational. I hope to use similar techniques to create a few book covers for myself and for gifts. Great Job!
You sure picked the perfect floral for those pocket! I love it!
BRILLIANT, woman, brilliant!
Simply, WOW.
I can't believe how perfectly the title of that book suits its new purpose! Fantastic project!
How freaking cute is that! You have some of the best ideas! Lucky duck!
That's really cool! i must make one
Cathe, you never cease to amaze us!
Another great project with easy to follow directions and also very helpful how-to photos.
Now I just need a book that I don't mind deconstructing…
So smart! I am such a "book" person that I am wondering if I could actually take the pages out of a book. I am very tempted. Great idea.
Love It ~
great job! love it!
cute!
Wow this is so cute! I lovet his!
I am once again amazed at how creative you are
This is just brilliant!
~Rebekah
omg brilliant. I can't wait to make one! Thanks so much for sharing all of your many cool ideas in such an easy to understand way.
oh my, that IS pretty! what a super idea! why live with boringness if you don't have to?
Love this idea!
What a wonderful personal date book. You are super clever. Happy appointment keeping…
That is beautiful. I don't know where you come up with these things!
What a fantastic idea and tutorial thank you!! It would make a lovely gift for Mothers's Day (and great for Dads too). Thanks for you all your wonderful ideas.
This is probably the best tutorial I HAVE EVER SEEN! I am going to use it RIGHT NOW!
Rad. I'm so doing that.
Love that project, what a fabulous idea. Thanks for the excellent tutorial.
This is just brilliant. I spend days browsing racks of daybooks looking for just the right one. I like like something fashionable and fun as I am stuck with it for the entire year. Great idea. Bravo.
Ooooh… I know what I am going to want to do now
Thank you! What an inspired idea!
super cool! PS: I have those file folders hehehe and I have some amazing vintage books that I get for $1 each at Strand Book Store … looks like I have some projects to do!
So smart! Love it!
Oh my word! You are such a creative soul. I love that idea and will definitely be trying it. Thanks so much for your continual stream of inspiration. xoxo Cindi
Such a clever idea! Very cool.
What a wonderful way to give an old book new life! You continually amaze me!!
Cathe -
Excellent idea and project! Love how this came out. I will now start hunting for books to change.
Elaine Allen
Vintage book planner get in my life!! This is awesome, can't wait to try it!!
LOVE IT, Cathe!
This is FANTASTIC! I LOVE this project. I love planners and journals and combining them with vintage books is a great idea. Thanks for writing this tutorial. I love your clear pictures and easy to follow instructions.
I love this so much! I think I'm going to make one for my sister in law's birthday, but use a sketch book instead of a planner
Thanks for the inspiration – i need to go in search of some old books now. This was just what I needed!
Oh, I am swooning! I love vintage books and have a serious planner addiction. I am going to do this this weekend. Thanks for all of the fabulous inspiration!
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [16 Apr 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
That is the coolest thing ever!!! I would like to make one with like a 3 ring binder.. so it would lay flat but I don't have to get a new one every year.. That is just way to many planners lying around.. LOL
I am just stunned by the way your brain works!!!!!! I have had old cool books lying around for years…and every year I go looking for a date book and can never find one I like. Never put the two ideas together though like you are able to…Bravo – such a clever project.
That might be the best, most fun project I have seen in a long time. I am a huge planner addict, but never find 1 I really like so I get a new one all the time. Which is pricey and drives me crazy. This might just solve my problem. Amazing tutorial thanks for sharing!
This is really awesome! I have a ton of books just waiting to be rebound and re-purposed. Thanks!
I love it!
What a brilliant idea!
Love it!! Thanks for sharing.
Such a helpful tutorial-Great explanation and great idea!
Jana
Love the title of the book for a planner!
love this, thanks for telling how you made it.
This is so original. And, if you can somewhat match old book covers to someone's interests, a very creative gift. Thank you.
I love this idea. I will definitely try this. Thanks!
I can't tell you how excited I am about this!! Thank you so much!!
Great idea! Thanks for sharing it. I have some old books that will be perfect!!!
Utterly brilliant. Thanks so much for the tutorial, I've been wondering how to best pretty up my uni planner for ages. Cheers!
This is insanely do-able. WOW – thanks!!
I really love this project and your other work with vintage books. What a great idea, and such a clear tutorial. Thanks for sharing!
I love this idea! It would feel special to keep track of everything we have going on in such a cool planner. Thanks for sharing! Theresa
How wonderful! Thanx for sharing.
Sweet idea, but what did you do with the pages you cut out? I collect children's readers, intact, for their graphics and for their social history. Please tell me you did not discard the pages!! If you do more of these projects, and want a good home for the interior illustrations, please contact me. I blog about the illustrations, and use them, scanned only, for other projects. Thanks. Liza
i love this! especially the slip-in-pockets feature!
brilliant idea, thanks for the tutorial!
why aren't you clever! and oh, so cool…
I love blending new with old and the book title says it all!! Think I'm stealing that idea for next year. Will start looking for a book title; I know where to get the planner. Wal-mart has non-spiral planners that will work for me. Mahalo for sharing.
what a great idea! i love it… will keep an eye out for the perfect book/paper!
What a simple but cute idea. This would work for smaller journals that could be given as gifts.
Melinda
Such a clever idea. Thanks for sharing it.
What a great idea! Thanks for the tutorial. I'll try that.
Awesome! Could also be used to make a cover for a small notebook.
Just catching up on my blog readin. A wise man I married once said "paper never forgets" so even in the age of the blackberry…a good thing to remember.
That's lovely. I did something similar a few months ago but made it into a 2-ring binder for planning…
http://ahhh-design.com/repurposed-book-binder/
Amanda, your binder project is fantastic!! And I've so enjoyed going through your website and blog, etc. Thank you so much for sharing this!!
I'm so excited by your tutorial! I am a big fan of vintage books but have only ever used the pages for crafting and not the beautiful covers.
Thank you so much for your fantastic idea.
Lovely tutorial! And your vintage books look fascinating – Tumbling for Girls?
LOVE it!!! I'm a planner junkie – just planners, not planning!
brilliant…!
i'm always a fan of re-purposing discarded books ~
This is fantastic, thanks so much! I'll be linking.
Wonderful, thanks for sharing!
Absolutely love this. Thankso so very much for the tutorial. Indeed, thanks for all the fantastic tutorials you give us. Now I've got my eyes peeled for just the right old book.
That's fantastic … definitely have to copy that idea!
Thanks for the tutorial, I love this!
what a fantastic idea!! i love the upcycled notebooks made from the older books, but to make it into a cover..that is wonderful!
http://patchworkposse.com/blog
i love this craft! if you're looking for some cool vintage books to use, check out my etsy shop. i have a ton of interesting vintage titles.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tellmeyarns
Hi Cathe,
Posted a link to this tut today…I love it!
Have decided this book would be the perfect spot to store my passwords. In as much as I've forgotten the latest and greatest password for my e-mail account, I think it'd be to my benefit to start writing my passwords in a decent book.
Hopefully Microsoft will send me a new one in the not too distant future so I can return to an e-mail existance.
Nancy Ward
http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com
Love, love, LOVE this!
I'm a paper planner/fountain pen kind of woman. This is beautiful.
I'll be at Maker Faire tomorrow. I hope to see your demo. Such a great idea!
love it love it love it! Thank YOU!!
genius! thanks!
absolutely brilliant! Thanks so much
this is so awesome! and i left a post for the give-a-way also!
hi cindy,
love the tutorial,i have been looking for one,but, the ones i had found,were either so confusing
or i just eneded up with a huge mess. also, i really like this week's question. thanks for a chance to win,but mainly i want you to know that we are all quite lucky to have chance to win this giveaway,but to say thanks for sharing your talent with all of us.
now,my answers are quite easy,i do
art therapy.due to my disease is one that basically turns you into a prisoner within your own body. so
to answer,mine would have to be a
definite yes.my disease counselor and i are trying to rebuild my life with things that i use to like
to do.one would be starting back to doing my abstract paintings.
i am trying to teach myself how to quill as well to bead.but,the really neat thing is that i journal,have since i was kid.i want to win this so bad,i can taste it,but hey if i don't thanks for the giveaway and tutoria.
gratefully,
barbara aka nannie
nanniespiperdayle@yahoo.com
Really enjoyed your demo at Maker Faire – have lots of pics!
Thank you so much! I just read your tutorial and can't wait to transform my boring planner tomorrow!
I love this idea. I've already tweeted it and after making four, Im blogging and linking back to ya. Thanks so much!
Stopped by a vintage store today and scored some really cute books for $1.00 each. Can't wait to try this this weekend!!!!!
Awesome. I'm going to link this to my recycling website.
Great tutorial. I may try this.
I can't wait to make one! So awesome. I just bought a new planner just like the one you used in the tutorial and I have just the vintage book, too.
Thanks.
I've been looking to make one of these, thanks Cathy! I'll be sharing this on my blog! So lovely!
Will I receive one of these as a gift? Great idea! Perfect for all those busy, busy people out there.
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love it!!!!!
I love this! I have a great planner every year but I always just glue on a new cover, this is WAY better! Thank you!
Blessings, Heidi
I love the idea of it being hidden away in the old book cover. Neat!
Thank you,
Candylei
Super cute idea – and a great savings!! Love it – thanks for sharing!!
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what a fabulous tutorial. I love vintage books and yet another thing I can do with one!
Thanks,
Amelia.x
Wow……what a great tutorial and fabulous idea…..i love your vintage book planner!
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what a wonderful idea, you’ve done it again.
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Hi Cathe …You are an answer to my prayers. I have been racking my brain on my last Christmas gifts to make for this year. I wanted to make a journal for everyone, but I was a bit tired of creating the covers with all the embellishments, I have a ton of blank journals I purchased a few years ago, so with this, you gave me such inspiration. . Now all I need to do is use some books I have collected and use this technique. This is such a brilliant idea. THANK YOU so much….
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Fantastic Kathe! I have several beautiful old bindings I would love to try this with. You can even create pockets on the inside of the covers to hold all those receipts and business cards we tend to collect.
I so enjoy all your ideas…been following for several years now.
Toooooo cool. You have the most amazing ideas!! I have been enjoying your blog all day.
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Very nice and great instructions.
“Good times tomorrow” (^_^)
Perfect title for the perfect planner!
You are so brilliant
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I love this project so much! must try! i’ve gutted books to make sketchbooks before, but not something quite this useful yet…
a word of caution…be vary wary of your craft knife blades…they are quite sharp…this summer i managed to cut an inch long, 1/4 inch deep gash in my leg while gutting a book…i was being stupid about it and learned my lesson…don’t make my mistakes!
I love this! Just shared it on my Facebook page
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I love your ideas! Thanks
Your crafts are an inspiration.
Cute idea, thanks for sharing.
Deborah H. Bateman-Author