DIY Trading Card Notebooks

When you need a little notebook to jot down an idea or write a to-do list, there never seems to be one handy. Now you can make your own pocket-sized notebooks out of scrap paper and loose Star Wars trading cards. These tiny blank books are easy to make and fun gifts to give to friends!

What You Need:

• Star Wars Trading Cards
• Large binder clip
• Blank white scrap paper (12 sheets)
• 1 piece of cardboard
• Scissors (or paper cutter)
• Newspaper or an old table cloth
• Ruler
• Standard craft glue
• Ribbon
• Glitter Glue (optional)

Instructions:

1. Using a ruler, measure the trading card you want to use as your cover. Have an adult cut about 45 or 50 pieces of blank paper at the same size. Using a paper cutter may make the pieces of paper more even in size, but it doesn't have to be perfect.

2. Next cut the piece of cardboard so it's the same size as your trading card. (This will be the back of your notebook). Any kind of cardboard will do, but the thicker it is, the sturdier your notebook will be. For this project I used the cardboard from a discarded FedEx box.

3. Before you start putting the notebook together, cover your work area with newspaper, and old table cloth or scrap paper. This will help prevent you from making a mess with the glue in case it drips. Next put together your book by placing the cardboard piece on the bottom, then the paper in the middle then the playing card as your cover. Once the book is stacked the way you want it, clamp the right side of it with a binder clamp.

4. Now for the messy part! Apply a thick layer of glue to the left edge of the notebook. Let it the glue set (about 20 minutes). To allow the glue to dry, prop the book up on the binder clips and rest it between the glue bottle and something like a tape dispenser. That way you can walk away from it and do other things while the glue dries. Once it's dry, apply another layer of glue in the same area two more times at 20 minutes each. This seals the pages to the edge and helps keep the notebook together!

5. When the glue is dry, cut some ribbon (or some fancy Star Wars fabric) so it's as long as the notebook edge you just glued. Then glue it to that edge so it hides the glued edge. This makes the book look nicer and holds the cover on even better. Feel free to add some sparkle to your notebook ribbon edge with some glitter glue! Once it's dry, you can start writing in the notebook. Use it for Bossk haikus, or draw your own mini-Star Wars comic book!

Once your cool little notebook is complete, if you would like to submit a photo of it to Bantha Tracks, send it by regular postal mail to our address here: Bantha Tracks, P.O. Box 29901, San Francisco, CA 94129-0901. Or click here to email your photos.