Thrifty Nifty Notebooks

Deep within the bowels of one of our local thrift stores (and with this one, yes... it was bowels,) I scored some hilarious old albums. The actual albums were scratched and warped, but the covers were irresistible cheesy goodness.

Last year I bought a Cinch binding machine on the clearance aisle at JoAnn's. I wasn't sure how I would use it, but it spoke to me as crafting contraptions in craft store clearance aisles often do.

A year later... Cinch machine meet old album covers. Together we are making some fun journals to add to the homemade holiday gift stash.

Use a craft knife and a cutting mat to cut the cover and the back to the desired size.

Use decorative tape or washi tape to cover all the edges.

Don't have a binding machine? Just use your hole punch and some binding rings from the craft store. Just as cute! Or, weave a ribbon through the holes for a softer look.

I ran out of the Cinch binding wires, so some of these will have to wait. But since I had to order more, I went ahead and stocked up. These are fun and so easy to make. And who doesn't like another notebook or journal? Especially when a man wearing lederhosen is on the cover.

I just might have to head back to the bowels for more notebook-making loot.