Bound Vellum Notebook

A Zutter Bind-It-All Tutorial

My First Zutter Bind-it-All Project: a Vellum Covered Notebook

A beginner's project with the Zutter Bind-it-All.

This is a real beginner's project because I was a real beginner when I made it.

Honest, it's the absolute first bound book I made with my brand new Zutter Bind-it-All.. I can't believe how easy it was and how professional the results look.

I needed a quick gift, so I unboxed the Zutter Bind-it-All and flipped open the cute little manual. I just followed the easy step-by-step instructions and got professional results the first time.

Woohoo! How often does that happen?

Vellum Notebook Materials

In addition to the Bind-it-All, you will need:

• 2 pieces of white chipboard or cardboard 4 x 5 ½ inches
• 2 pieces of lavender paper 4 x 5 ½ inches (copy paper weight 75g/m²)
• 2 pieces of flocked vellum paper 4 x 5 ½ inches
• A ¼-inch stack of the same lavender paper 3 13/16 x 5 13/32 inches
• Glue runner
• Glue stick
• Flexible nail file
• Length of ½" inch white Bind-it-all O Wire (6 rings or more)
• Wire cutter

How to Assemble the Notebook

Run the glue runner around the perimeter of one piece of white cardboard.

Use the glue stick to zig zag across the interior. Carefully position one of the 4 x 5 ½-inch pieces of lavender paper on the cardboard and smooth down.

Repeat with a piece of flocked vellum, layering it on top of the lavender paper you just glued to the cardboard.

That makes one decorated cover. Repeat for the other cover.

Use the flexible file to sand the covers' edges. This serves to eliminate any unevenness as well as any glue which seeped beyond the edges.

Center a cover in the Bind-it-All punching channel and pull the level to punch. Repeat with the second cover.

You can use the paper stop guide with the punching channel set to position C (for Cover) to assure the covers line up exactly.

Two perfectly aligned covers!

Simply changing the channel position to D assures that the interior pages will all match and be exactly 3/16 inches narrower than the covers.

Punch the inside pages in bunches until all are done.

You're now ready to assemble and spiral-bind your book.

Cut a length of O Wire to six rings.

Assemble your notebook covers and inside pages (front cover, inside pages, back cover).

Then flip the front cover (as if the book were already spiral-bound) to the back. This assures that the vertical wire connecting the rings will be hidden inside the back cover.

Insert the O Wire into the book from back to front.

Use the plastic chip marked ½" inch to adjust the O Wire Binding Channel of the Bind-it-All to the correct width.

Holding the assembled book as shown, lay the O Wire into the channel and pull the Bind-it-All lever to close the O Wire.

Remove the book from the channel and snip off any excess wire.

Flip the front cover into position and, there you have it, a perfectly spiral-bound book that you made with your own two little hands - and your Bind-it-All!