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Cardboard Book Making

2009 September 8
by 5 Orange Potatoes

I LOVE cardboard! It’s very hard for me to throw it into the recycle bin. This bunny book is an exact copy of  a cardboard book I saw in Target for $6. I couldn’t believe the price of it! No kidding, the book was made the same way I made this one here- recycled Annies’ brand box, small metal rings and paper…..$6 is crazy to me when you can make it for pennies at home! AND it’s such a great way to reuse cardboard!

book making

What you need: cardboard from boxes found at the food store, yarn or metal rings (the smaller the better, depends on how thick you want the book to be), paper, scissors, and a hole punch. Making the book is pretty straightforward- cut, punch holes, stack and clip. It’s pretty easy.

book making 2

 We make our cardboard books in all shapes and sizes for all different reasons. The Little Ladies love making books and I find they enjoy writing more in these little books! Here, I added notebook paper to my “creative”  book; it’s a place where I write ideas, doodle felty patterens and write anything I’m afraid of forgetting.  Araina’s book (top right) is about our sunflower garden with a diagram of the garden,  pictures of the flowers, how to grow them and seed packets in tow.  Fauna’s book (rectangular, manila paper) is a multiplication book (bound with yarn) where she wrote some multiplication facts.

book making 3

 The metal rings can be found in office and educational supply stores. Enjoy!

20 Responses
  1. June 16, 2011

    What a clever idea. I too have trouble throwing out cardboard. Seems like the minute I put it in the recycling bin I think of a use for it. Plus so many boxes have cute graphics like these bunny treats. I made cupcake wrappers out of a cereal boxes awhile back they came out really cute.

  2. Holly permalink
    November 10, 2009

    Another excuse for recycling box diving, yay! Hopefully a trip to the thrift store will find us some binder rings. And boy and I will be very very busy tonight.

  3. September 13, 2009

    Great idea! Thanks for sharing, I’m always looking for “re-using” crafts.

  4. September 10, 2009

    Great idea Lisa! I too love cardboard, and I was thinking about it to make tags. Have a nice day!

  5. September 9, 2009

    I can’t believe I found this blog. Absolutely love everything about it. All the tips, the art and craft, the pictures, and of course your girls. Being a mum of two myself, this is heaven to read. :) )

  6. September 9, 2009

    We love making books so will have to try this. A great idea. Thanks!

  7. September 9, 2009

    lisa! for ALL of august (and half of september) my reader never refreshed telling me you had new posts. for some reason, today, i decided i had better click through. and now i see i have loads of posts to catch up on! ack!
    well, you have been missed, even though you apparently never left!
    nicola
    http://whichname.blogspot.com

  8. September 9, 2009

    I think some one likes horses! From the horse nut, me!

    PS my husband just sent me the news that he is being offered a job in TN, Oak Ridge.

  9. September 9, 2009

    Great idea Lisa!

  10. September 9, 2009

    Oh I cannot bear to throw out or recycle cardboard boxes as well :) I have a huge stack of tea and cookie boxes.
    This notebook idea is fantastic. I have been making tags (gift tags) out of some boxes :)

  11. September 9, 2009

    What a fun idea. We will definitely have to try this!

  12. September 9, 2009

    Oh, that’s a cute idea! My girls LOVE notebooks. We go through them very fast – this is a good idea for the next ones.

  13. September 8, 2009

    ps Prob’ly my picture looks like me.

  14. September 8, 2009

    Great idea!
    I’ve seen a couple of things now that I want to do with those rings… gotta put them on the list in my head! :)

  15. September 8, 2009

    Fun and easy, I love it! And now I’m craving some Annies Mac and Cheese. I haven’t tried the fruit treats yet. Yum!

  16. September 8, 2009

    We’ve done that in the past too. Fun project! We’ll have to do it again soon. We certainly have enough cardboard around most of the time. Funny that you used the Annie’s bunny fruit snacks. Those are single-handedly responsible for potty-training Finn. :)

  17. September 8, 2009

    We looooooove book rings, too! We make our recycled books quite often with record album covers and, yep, the occasional cereal box.

  18. September 8, 2009

    Such a good idea! Awhile back the boys drew pictures on the inside of a cheddar bunnies box, we mailed it to them, and they sent a sweet thank you letter in response along with magnets and coupons. :)

    Btw.. not sure if you read my response to your response, but we’re still in Ohio!

  19. Jane permalink
    September 8, 2009

    Thanks for another good idea. Lisa, I have a question for your creative mind- what can I do with tiger lily stalks? Any craft ideas?

  20. September 8, 2009

    Oh-so-cute & oh-so-cheap…. Wonderful!

Comments are closed.

My designs and creations are made by my daughters and me. I love to share but my ideas and designs are for non-commercial use only. If you post an activity or photo from my site please give me credit and a direct link to 5 Orange Potatoes. Thank you for playing nice. :)