It may sound cliche, but nothing says “I care about you” better than a handmade gift. Seriously. With Valentine’s Day is approaching, I came up with three clever handmade book gift ideas to bring out your inner love bug. I’m making these myself and will provide a tutorial for each over the next few weeks. Please bookmark this page and check back!
If you’re an advanced book maker, you may want to jump in and try these yourself. If you do, please tag me @papercraftpanda. This allows me to see how yours turned out and share them with the community!
Handmade Love Notes Pad
Tutorial: How to Make a Handmade Love Notes Pad with Cover
Everyone needs a way to record reminders, so a handmade notepad will go a long way for the right person. Not only are these easy to make, there are options for enhancements depending on how creative you want to get.
Simple & straight forward notepad
Notepads can be easily created using the Perfect Binding method. In this method, the sheets are held together using PVA glue at a single point.
These are a fun and easy way to use up leftover paper and up-cycled cardboard. Just print sheets at home or a big box retail store and glue them together using PVA or Elmer’s.
Take that notepad up a notch with decor & pockets
This is an example of a notebook seated inside a simple but beautiful reusable cover. Try creating a notepad of any size (8×5 or even 9×3) using the Perfect Binding method, then dress it up with a gorgeous wraparound cover.
I created my notepad cover (below) with pockets inside to hold extras like tickets, coupons, directions, etc. I decorated the cover with hand stamped sentiments and die cuts created from last year’s extras.
Know what’s even better? This notepad can take ANY design. Create one for Easter, Holidays, birthdays, celebrations, etc.
Increase utility with a magnet
Before giving the gift, consider adding a magnet to the back. This magnet will make it easier for the recipient to keep the notepad in a safe place (such as the refrigerator or a magnetic kitchen board). Just be sure to choose a magnet strong enough to support the notepad’s weight.
Handmade Love Coupons Book
Tutorial | How to Make an Adorable Coupon Book for Couples
If you know someone who could use a night off, a massage or a chore-free day, then a cute coupon book might be just the thing you’re looking for!
Use an online service like Canva or a desktop application like Microsoft Word to create cute coupon pages. Print them out and cut them down to a size using a paper trimmer or scissors.
These coupon books with a bow can be easily created using the Japanese Stab Binding method (or, if you’re in a pinch, the Perfect Binding method can also be used – just glue the bow onto the cover material).
Take it up a notch with special materials & touches
Dress up your gift by adding special materials like kraft paper, suede scraps or leather/pleather. Thick twine will provide a rustic look, while shabby lace will create a soft cottage core vibe.
I created the below couples coupon book using red Japanese book cloth, specialty papers and satin ribbon. When you tailor everything to the recipient’s taste, you’re sure to get a smile!
Add functionality with tear-out pages & barcodes
Create perforated sheets using a sewing tracing wheel or stainless steel pounce wheel. Add barcodes to each sheet to give your book an “official” look. Tracing and pounce wheels are less than $10 for a pair, and barcode images are free on platforms like Canva and Google. With Google, be sure to check the public domain in your search results.
You can pick up the cute coupons in the image below from Bliss-Collections. I’ve never purchased from this website myself, so let me know how it goes if you do!
Handmade Photo or Scrapbook Album
Tutorial: How to Make a Soft, Romantic Photo Album
If you’re looking for fancy handmade book gift ideas, you can make your loved one or partner a beautiful photo or scrapbook album. Use pictures from the last year/few months or weeks. These albums use the Japanese Stab Binding method for construction, but the Coptic Binding also works. Just be sure to sew in a “spacer” between pages to allow the album to expand as photos or ephemera are added.
Corset the spine for a romantic look & added strength
Use satin ribbon or lace for a romantic look, or twine for a rustic/farmhouse feel. This technique will add more reinforcement to the spine, so it’s perfect for larger books.
Add detail with special materials
You can’t go wrong with a big bow! Use hand dyed silk ribbon and linen covers for a soft, elegant feel. I love the ribbon offered by The Maple Den. She makes all of it herself, and it’s gorgeous!
Handmade paper is another way to knock this one out of the ball park, especially if the paper is embossed or includes natural elements like petals and leaves. I made the below photo album out of Bodhi Leaf paper and Green Leather paper. Both of these feature natural elements, 100% cotton and a soft, crinkled look and feel.
How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day, if at all?
While Valentine’s Day has been around forever, it’s just a regular day. You can make any day of the year a special one for those you love by creating gifts with your own two hands and some fun materials. I hope these handmade book gift ideas inspired you do to just that. Feel free to use these ideas for other purposes – such as a coupon book for a birthday gift, or a photo album for a child’s artwork or sports season. The possibilities are endless!
If you do use one of these ideas, would you mind sharing it with me? I’d love to see what you make! Just tag me @papercraftpanda over on Instagram!
Resources
- Tutorial | How to Make an Adorable Coupon Book for Couples
- Tutorial | How to Make a Soft, Romantic Photo Album
- If you’re new to bookbinding, I wrote a guide to getting started. Check it out!
- If you haven’t already, grab my Bookbinding Tools & Supplies Quick Start Guide to learn about the basic tools, which to buy first and where to go online to find them.
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If you haven’t already, please follow me on Instagram to see what I’m up to in my bindery.
ALL my best,
Misty
