My scrap drawer was overflowing! What am I to do with all that paper?? Well, I just can’t bring myself to throw it all away, but certainly I didn’t need all that scrap paper myself. So, in the spirit of recycling I decided to make my own notepads. Okay, I know, it’s nothing fancy, but I thought if I made them a little bit cute then I wouldn’t feel so guilty just handing a wad of paper to my friends at work.
Making your own notepads is pretty simple. Making the adhesive binding requires only three ingredients: vinegar, glycerin and unflavored gelatin. You can find the glycerin in a pharmacy. Here are the steps:
- Dissolve 1/2 Tbsp of unflavored gelatin in 3 Tbsp of boiling water. Using a whisk, stir the gelatin until it’s dissolved.
- Add 1 Tbsp of vinegar and 1 tsp of glycerin and whisk for 1 minute.
- Pour the mixture into a small container.
I cut my paper into a uniform size. Although it’s not necessary, you can cut a backing for your notepads from cardboard and create a cover. Feel free to download the cover I used by clicking the following link: Notepad Cover
Next you’ll simply line up the backing, paper and cover.
Using a small paintbrush, place the glue on the top edge of the note pad. I was pretty generous with the amount of glue I applied. Then using clip, secure the top of the notepad until the glue is dried.
I made nearly 20 notepads with the adhesive recipe and still have some left over. After sitting for awhile, the adhesive will harden a bit. Just place the container in the microwave for about 10 seconds and it will soften again.