1.
How to Make a Sketchbook out
of Two 9” x 12” Canvas Boards
by Mrs. E.

2.
MATERIALS
• Two canvas boards measuring 9” x 12”
• Acrylic paint, brushes, pallet, water
• Optional media: stamps, beads, glitter, printing ink, tissue
paper, hand towels, handmade or decorated papers, plastic
wrap
• X-acto knife and metal ruler
• 10-18 pieces of 9” x 12” drawing paper, newsprint,
watercolor paper, construction paper, pastel paper, canvas
• Tacky glue
• Heavy books
• Nail, hammer or drill
• Heavy sewing thread or hemp and needle

3.
Prepare Your Canvas Board
You can select any method
you like to prepare your
canvas board. In the past we
have created abstract
expressionist paintings, multi-
media techniques, and
printmaking to create our
covers. Today we are going to
use watered down acrylic
paint and plastic wrap to
create an “crystal” like
texture. You will need plastic
wrap to complete this part.

4.
Create a wash over the surface of your canvas and cover it with plastic
wrap while it’s wet. Let it dry completely before removing the plastic
wrap. Review: Plastic Wrap Process

5.
Add Additional Surface Treatments
This is a leaf carved out of extra rubber
block printing material.
The leaf was printed in gold acrylic paint
over the surface of both canvas boards.

6.
Scoring the Cover
Determine which end of your
canvas board will be sewn
together and use an X-acto knife
to score about 1 inch from the
edge. Do not cut all the way
through.
Gently crack the board so your
canvas will bend at one end.

7.
Assemble The Sketchbook
You will need Tacky Glue and at least 15
sheets of drawing or painting papers to
put inside. Tip: I always keep my tacky
glue upside down in an old coffee mug to
keep the glue in the tip of the applicator.
Begin adding a thick layer of tacky glue to
the end you’ve selected to bind on the
BACK COVER. Slowly layer one sheet of
paper at a time adding a new bead of
glue to each paper until you add the
scored cover.

8.
Let your sketchbook dry overnight! I stack heavy old
books on top of the glued end. This will hold your
book together when you drill the holes.

9.
Slip a piece of construction paper under the front and back cover
of your sketchbook and draw a line. Trim on the line. This will
cover the inside of the sketchbook cover. You can decorate the
inside cover as you wish.

10.
Putting in The Holes
On the cover of the glued end place a
dot one each apart from each other.
Place a board under your sketchbook and
hammer a hole at each one inch mark.

11.
You will need a heavy string and sturdy
sewing needle.

12.
Sew your book one
direction leaving a few
inches of string at the
end. When you reach
the end turn around
and sew back the other
direction. You will end
at the same place you
began. Use the few
inches of you string you
left hanging when you
began to tie off and
finish. Tie a good knot
and put a dab of glue
on it to secure it.

13.
Cover the Binding
I used some metallic tissue paper to cover
the bound end of my sketchbook. You can use
any type of material you want to cover this
area.
I tore and wadded up the tissue paper and
then pieced it together over the bound
edge. At this time you may add other
decorative elements to your sketchbook.

14.
Finishing Touches
A bead clasp was added to the edge by
adding 2 more nailed holes and 1 nailed
hole on the back cover.
The threads were put through the 2
holes on the front cover and knotted.

15.
Adding the Bead Clasp
Make sure you tie a secure knot on the
inside of the cover.
The clasp was made using a hand knitting
technique and securing one end with a
bead and tying a large knot on the inside
of the back cover.

16.
Glue the inside cover sheet on covering the knot
from the clasp for the front and back cover.

17.
Now you are ready to start sketching!