Last week I saw a picture of some spiral bound notebooks somewhere online, and it sent me on my usual hunt to find spiral book binders at all the usual office supply websites. I have wanted my own ever since freshman year of graphic arts in high school. I’m pretty sure we had two machines, one was for normal spiral binding (yay) and the other was the comb binding (blech, books never open well and pages don’t lay flat). I’ve found plenty of machines online, but I’ve never gotten to the serious stage of actually price comparison or reading reviews. When I started my search again last week I suddenly had the idea to check the Etsy forums and sure enough, I found a thread where everyone was raving about a model that can be bought at Hobby Lobby. I love me some Hobby Lobby, but is a craft store going to carry a worthy book binder? After a little bit more research I see that the binding looks good, and oh, it only costs $60! 40% off coupon and it’s basically a steal.
There are plenty of videos on youtube showing you how to use it and provide creative project ideas. I’m remembering some awesome little notebooks I’ve purchased at Renegade in the past and now realize these were probably also all made with the Zutter. It can bind books with covers made from cardboard, wood, and I even saw a video where they were cutting through plexiglass.
At the first opportunity I went to Hobby Lobby and picked one up for myself. I immediately got down to business and with my mom and sister we made the first little book, using an assortment of papers. The next day I went crazy and made all the little notebooks in the top picture,
this charming little grass journal (it had to be done),
and then of course I had to see how tiny I could go. I was able to make these little notebooks that will fit inside the capsules for my gumball machine.
Zutter offers a variety of spirals, and oh look, the machine punches your paper and yay, confetti!
The Zutter is a success!
It’s pink too? Wow, how cool that is. Mine is way bigger and VERY heavy, not meant for home use but hey, I own it. :-) Wanna do a spiral bound book swap any day soon?
This. Is. Amazing. Going on holiday list now. Also, do you get Hobby Lobby coupons in the mail? I need to sign up for that somehow.
I have one too! it’s how I made this, for example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30953978@N00/7254059194/
if there’s a spiral bound book swap coming up, I’m in! :)
I was very excited when you started posting these photos, and I thank you so much for sharing the info on the machine & your review of it! I’ve been obsessed with making my own books and sketchbooks since I was little, and never really considered that spiral binding was something that could be done on a DIY basis. Very cool. I’ve already looked up nearby Hobby Lobby locations! Not sure when I’ll get one, but if a spiral notebook swap develops and I have the machine, I’d love to join in!
Oh wow, haha, didn’t know more people would be interested in a swap. I’ll think about it, maybe next year we could do something. Anyone want to do a postcard swap though, I’m having one already. ;-)
I NEEEEED one. I am all about the Zutter now. I love the way you’ve used it so far. The grass journal is R.A.D!
WAAAAA A Spiral Bound book maker! I want I want! Man, and I get all hot and bothered over my really long stapler! :-[) okay wait, that sounded worse than what it was supposed too…lol anyways, I have a 18″ long stapler for making zines…Office Depot!
With havin so much written content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My blog has a lot of completely unique content I’ve
either authored myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the
web without my agreement. Do you know any solutions to help protect against content from being ripped off?
I’d genuinely appreciate it.