Let’s be honest. We college students use copy paper like fiends, always printing and having to re-up at Target.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent a ton of money on stacks of paper, and you somehow manage to burn through it like crazy. Those seventy-page college ruled notebooks get used up at a ridiculous rate.
I know that I can fill up one with my anthropology notes in less than a few weeks. I’m broke as a joke, by the way, so continually buying these books isn’t really an option.
To save some money, here’s a helpful do-it-yourself for every time you run out of paper.
Materials required
-A bundle of scrap paper used on one side (Any size will work, as long as all of the pages are about the same size)
-All purpose glue
-2-4 binder clips
-Two pieces of thick paper (Cardstock or scraps from your old notebooks for the front and back cover)
-1 paint brush
-Masking or decorative tape
Directions
1. Start by folding the used side of your recycled paper in half for the notebook’s pages. Make sure that you’re precise with your folds, or your notebook will look sloppy.
2. Stack the folded pages into a neat pile, and tap them on a hard surface to make sure that the edges are flush. Attach binder clips to the top and bottom of the unfolded side.
3. Spread a neat line of glue on the unfolded edge. Use the paint brush to evenly distribute the paste.
4. After the glue dries, detach the binder clips. Place your cardstock covers on the front and back of the notebook.
5. Using the decorative tape, place a straight, clean line down the unfolded edge of the notebook (Glued in Step 3). This will cover up any mistakes made or any uneven edges.
6. Decorate the notebook. Make it your own!
Note: You can basically use anything as a cover! Find scraps that symbolize who you are, like old sheet music, poems or photos.
This project doesn’t take too much time, and it will not only give you a nice outlet to express yourself. You can also save hundreds of dollars by the time you graduate from Cal State Long Beach.
Feel free to share your experience in the comments section.