When I was in seventh grade, our neighbor gave me a huge box of 1950's era Harlequin romances, in exchange for babysitting. The books were sweet, unrealistic, and innocent.
Although I was a voracious reader, I think I loved the "retro" cover graphics more than I enjoyed reading the stories.
I loved the hairstyles and clothes and make-up of the heroines. The endings -- where the leading man finally kisses the heroine -- made my thirteen-year-old heart swoon just a little. (The shock of my young life came a few months later, when I purchased a new Harlequin from the local drugstore and discovered courtship had changed since the fifties!)
When I ran across a few vintage Harlequin Romances in a thrift store last year, I couldn't resist buying them out of nostalgia -- and because I thought they could be easily up-cycled.
They were the perfect size to turn into pocket planners!
To make your own up-cycled romance pocket planner, you will need
Begin by carefully removing the cover from the book. I gently coaxed my covers off, first from the front side, then from the back, to avoid tearing the cover.
Once the cover has been removed, cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the inside cover. I scored the scrapbook paper to match the scores in the book cover. If you plan on laminating, you can just use paper, but if you don't plan on laminating, use card stock.
Adhere the scrapbook paper to the inside of the book cover.
An optional step is to laminate the cover. If you choose to laminate, you will need to re-score fold lines into the book cover afterwards. Use thinner laminating sheets to avoid making the cover too stiff to bend.
If you will be using a tie closure, glue ribbon to the inside of the book, as shown.
Now, glue the plastic pocket planner cover inside the front cover of the book, using an adhesive that sticks to plastic. You can glue it to the back cover, if you wish, or customize the inside to fit your own needs. I made a little notebook, the same dimensions as the calender insert, and added it to the back of my planner. Others might try adding list-making note paper or receipt envelopes to the inside back cover, using clips. Add a pen holder, if you like.
Tie your new planner closed, or skip the tie closure altogether and secure with elastic. Hint: Some hair elastics work perfectly for this!
There you have it! A simple way to make a personalized pocket planner.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, please tell your friends about House Revivals -- you can use the icons at the bottom of this post to share on all your favorite social media sites. Check out my sidebar for popular tutorials, and be sure to hit "subscribe" before you leave, so you won't miss any of the great projects we have planned!
If you are wondering what to do with the "insides" of your paperback novel, here is a pretty spring project you may enjoy.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Although I was a voracious reader, I think I loved the "retro" cover graphics more than I enjoyed reading the stories.
I loved the hairstyles and clothes and make-up of the heroines. The endings -- where the leading man finally kisses the heroine -- made my thirteen-year-old heart swoon just a little. (The shock of my young life came a few months later, when I purchased a new Harlequin from the local drugstore and discovered courtship had changed since the fifties!)
When I ran across a few vintage Harlequin Romances in a thrift store last year, I couldn't resist buying them out of nostalgia -- and because I thought they could be easily up-cycled.
They were the perfect size to turn into pocket planners!
To make your own up-cycled romance pocket planner, you will need
- a vintage paperback, with great graphics
- paper adhesive
- adhesive that will work on plastic
- ribbon or elastic
- pocket planner insert, with plastic cover, from a drug store or discount store
- sheet of scrapbook paper to coordinate with cover
- optional, laminator -- these are very affordable, such as this (Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack, Includes 20 Laminating Pouches, 9 Inches x 11.4 Inches (TL901SC)
--$35.99, with free shipping) Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack, which comes with twenty laminating pouches.
Begin by carefully removing the cover from the book. I gently coaxed my covers off, first from the front side, then from the back, to avoid tearing the cover.
Once the cover has been removed, cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the inside cover. I scored the scrapbook paper to match the scores in the book cover. If you plan on laminating, you can just use paper, but if you don't plan on laminating, use card stock.
Adhere the scrapbook paper to the inside of the book cover.
An optional step is to laminate the cover. If you choose to laminate, you will need to re-score fold lines into the book cover afterwards. Use thinner laminating sheets to avoid making the cover too stiff to bend.
If you will be using a tie closure, glue ribbon to the inside of the book, as shown.
Now, glue the plastic pocket planner cover inside the front cover of the book, using an adhesive that sticks to plastic. You can glue it to the back cover, if you wish, or customize the inside to fit your own needs. I made a little notebook, the same dimensions as the calender insert, and added it to the back of my planner. Others might try adding list-making note paper or receipt envelopes to the inside back cover, using clips. Add a pen holder, if you like.
Tie your new planner closed, or skip the tie closure altogether and secure with elastic. Hint: Some hair elastics work perfectly for this!
There you have it! A simple way to make a personalized pocket planner.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, please tell your friends about House Revivals -- you can use the icons at the bottom of this post to share on all your favorite social media sites. Check out my sidebar for popular tutorials, and be sure to hit "subscribe" before you leave, so you won't miss any of the great projects we have planned!
If you are wondering what to do with the "insides" of your paperback novel, here is a pretty spring project you may enjoy.
Thanks for stopping by!