Crafting For a Greener World: Recycled Printer Paper Notebook

I am so happy with the collage art journal I made last time, that it is nearly full! I found the pocket pages particularly useful for collecting ephemera, like tickets – but I also found that I am still a big text and word girl. I mean I was rarely adding images – photos or torn clippings – to my journal. I did fold a few whole pages and insert them in the pockets, but these are the kind of things that I would then want to pin to a vision or inspiration board, rather than keep small in the notebook. And I must have a notebook with me at all times. That is just a given! So I've been inspired to make a more note taking/scribbling/doodling friendly handmade art journal this time, and start from scratch so that I can use up what seems to be an ever increasing pile of good quality paper left over from document printing and the mail. I've realized that as much as I love the color and vividness of my collaged notebook, I need a higher proportion of light colored pages, just to make my copious notes easier to read later. I don’t pretend to be an authority on making or binding books – but there are many blogs, websites and publications devoted to the art form. You will find a selection of these links, including a full bookbinding glossary, in the footnotes to this article on my Making, Mothering, Musing blog. Here are the tools and materials I used to make my recycled journal – ready to carry in my purse as soon as the "big" (in my mind) colorful one is full. Please note I still wanted pockets – more if anything – so I have included optional pocket pages in my book. As an added bonus, this book turned out to be a much quicker project than the last one. Leftover printer paper or misprints. A few old bills and other light colored papers (I actually pulled these out of the "to be shredded" bag), including some scrapbooking remnants. Lightweight cardboard or wallpaper for covers Bone folder Paper trimmer (or scissors or blade