One of my quiet goals this year is to finally use the craft supplies and tools I already own. If you’re a crafter, you probably know the feeling: buying tools with big dreams, then tucking them away while waiting for the “perfect” project or moment.
Four years ago, I purchased a Mini Cinch Bundle because I wanted to make my own notebook. At the time, I talked myself out of it. I already had so many unused notebooks at home, so making another one felt unnecessary. And just like that, the Mini Cinch stayed boxed up… for years.
Four years ago, I purchased a Mini Cinch Bundle because I wanted to make my own notebook. At the time, I talked myself out of it. I already had so many unused notebooks at home, so making another one felt unnecessary. And just like that, the Mini Cinch stayed boxed up… for years.
Fast forward to today, and honestly, I still have plenty of notebooks. What’s changed is my mindset. Instead of waiting for the right reason or the right time, I realized that using what I already have is reason enough.
For Bee Happy Weeklies – Week 4: Craft a Notebook, I finally gave myself permission to try. Since I love planning, especially for travel, I decided to create my own travel planner. I used a Travel Planner I downloaded from Design Bundles Plus, which can be easily customized using Canva.
I kept this project simple by using tools and materials I already owned:
Paper
Laminating sheets
Printer
We R Makers Guillotine
We R Maker Minc
We R Makers Mini Cinch
How I Made My Notebook
Step 1: Downloaded the planner and resized it to my preferred notebook size.
Step 2: Printed all the pages and manually cut them using my guillotine.
Step 3: Laminated the cover using the Minc.
Step 4: Punched the holes and bound everything together with the Mini Cinch.
Since this was my first time making a notebook, the process took longer than I expected. There were moments of uncertainty, small mistakes, and plenty of learning along the way. But when I finally finished, I felt a sense of accomplishment that went far beyond the finished notebook. The process itself reminded me why I love crafting in the first place.
For Bee Happy Weeklies – Week 4: Craft a Notebook, I finally gave myself permission to try. Since I love planning, especially for travel, I decided to create my own travel planner. I used a Travel Planner I downloaded from Design Bundles Plus, which can be easily customized using Canva.
I kept this project simple by using tools and materials I already owned:
Paper
Laminating sheets
Printer
We R Makers Guillotine
We R Maker Minc
We R Makers Mini Cinch
How I Made My Notebook
Step 1: Downloaded the planner and resized it to my preferred notebook size.
Step 2: Printed all the pages and manually cut them using my guillotine.
Step 3: Laminated the cover using the Minc.
Step 4: Punched the holes and bound everything together with the Mini Cinch.
Since this was my first time making a notebook, the process took longer than I expected. There were moments of uncertainty, small mistakes, and plenty of learning along the way. But when I finally finished, I felt a sense of accomplishment that went far beyond the finished notebook. The process itself reminded me why I love crafting in the first place.
This experience encouraged me to stop saving my tools for “someday” and to start exploring them now, even if I’m not an expert, even if it takes time. Crafting doesn’t need to be perfect or productive to be meaningful. It’s meant to be enjoyed, experimented with, and lived in the moment.
This won’t be my last handmade notebook. More importantly, it won’t be the last time I choose to use what I already have instead of waiting. Sometimes, the most creative thing we can do is simply begin.
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