Bookbinding University: Creative Add-Ons

There are so many options for customizing your own notebooks and today I’m excited to share two simple “creative add-ons” that will bring your projects to the next level of awesome.

In this tutorial you’ll learn: how to create decorative “headbands” and how to create an elastic band closure. Both of these are incredibly easy add-ons that just take a couple of minutes.

Bookbinding University: Creative Add Ons | Damask Love Blog

The Tutorial Header

[ylwm_vimeo height=”400″ width=”600″ ]72736668[/ylwm_vimeo]

Minute markers:

0:08 | How to Make Text Block “Headbands”

2:05 | How to Make Elastic Band Closures

Bookbinding University: Creative Add Ons | Damask Love Blog Bookbinding University: Creative Add Ons | Damask Love Blog Bookbinding University: Creative Add Ons | Damask Love Blog

Bookbinding University: Creative Add Ons | Damask Love Blog

Bookbinding University: Creative Add Ons | Damask Love Blog

MORE  BOOKBINDING TUTORIALS

How to Make a Text Block | How to Make a Hardcover | How to Make a Composition Style Notebook How to Make Your Own Bookcloth | How to Make Elastic Closures & Headbands | Perfect Binding

Keep on crafting with these other posts

About the Blog

Hey, I’m Amber Kemp-Gerstel - the crafty brain behind Damask Love, where creativity, color, and a little chaos come together. I’m a suburban mom of two, known for turning up the volume on everyday DIYs and showing up like your colorful, crafty BFF. Over the years, I’ve gone from psychologist to full-time content creator, TV host, and brand partner, with appearances on Making It, Today, and HGTV. When I’m not making stuff or on set, I’m chasing around my two boys, Markus and Maxwell, and laughing my way through the mess.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

151 Comments

  1. 8.20.13
    BarbGhig said:

    Great ideas, Amber! This has been such a great series…thank you so much!

  2. 8.20.13

    I would have loved to see you add a ribbon place marker like some bibles and finer notebooks have. I can see how you’d add it right before gluing on a headband but others might not be able to figure it out.

    • 12.31.13
      natalie warner said:

      to have a ribbon place mark you just need to glue some ribbon to the spine starting from the bottom so the excess will be at the top of the book before you add the Text Block “Headbands”, but make sure it’s long enough.

  3. 8.21.13
    Urska said:

    I like this creative add-ons, it makes the book look so professional!

    I have one off-topic question:
    What is the font of the “Craft is dismissed” writing and where did you find it? I love it!

  4. 8.21.13
    Sherry said:

    I never would have thought to use the eyelets! Great tutorials and wonderful inspiration,thanks!

  5. 8.21.13
    Mindy said:

    Hi amber! I LOVE Bookbinding University, and I think it’s so great. I just want to know if this is the last episode, because I’d like it to continue 🙂

    • 8.21.13
      amber said:

      Hi Mindy! I am so happy that you love this series and want more! Lucky for you there are two more posts that will go up with week. Each post has a few more creative ideas for making the most of your handmade notebooks!

  6. 8.21.13
    Lisa H. said:

    Loving this series! Thank you SO much for sharing your creativity! Can’t wait to make some:)

  7. 9.6.13
    Carrol said:

    Love your tutorials. I shall use your tips for binding my next watercolor journal. I made a watercolor journal because I never could find the proper size I wanted for my travel watercolor set. Thanks again for the great ideas.

  8. 11.19.13
    Betsy said:

    Thank you for this series. I have been thinking of yearbooks for my three year old grandson . Having blanks ready wil be a great idea. As nice as the shutterfly type books can be it will be nice to capture the action and I can glue it my collage pictures.
    Thank you again
    Gramma Betsy

  9. 8.14.14
    Bebe said:

    Heya superb blog! Does running a blog similar to this take a lot
    of work? I’ve absolutely no knowledge of
    programming but I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyhow,
    if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off subject however I simply needed to ask.
    Thank you!

  10. 1.3.15
    Maria said:

    Adoro tu trabajo. Tienes un gusto exquisito.
    Felicidades!

  11. 1.16.16

    Hi everyone, it’s my first pay a quick visit at this web site, and paragraph
    is in fact fruitful for me, keep up posting these types of posts.

  12. 12.17.18
    Hard Work said:

    If you are having troubles while remember passwords in egde microsoft so you may have help and support of this platform which includes all information in the form of images and will also help you to get rid of all your hurdles.

  13. 6.1.20
    chrisgail said:

    Book reading in different libraries is my favourite occupation because I am a writer and I am serving the students in writing their assignments who are getting all types of writing help from the expert writers of cheap dissertation writing service

  14. 3.14.22
    Sara said:

    Thank you for this series. Before writing a dissertation, a research proposal must be submitted to the committee. And that’s the problem. How to do it?

  15. 3.14.22
    Simona said:

    I agree with you Sara. For me, writing a research proposal was also a problem, but I solved it with the help of a proven resource. On the Internet, I found a research proposal writing service https://www.dissertation-service.org/research-proposal-writing-service/, where I myself could set the deadlines for writing the paper and was confident in its quality. Through the service, I have worked with experienced research proposal writers who know exactly what committee members want and have helped me impress them. I advise everyone not to waste their time, but to trust the professionals and everything will be fine.

  16. 3.28.22

    PhD Dissertation Help, with its extensive record of providing top-quality PhD Dissertation Help to law students, has made it the top choice for law students in need of help. The icing on the cake is that we provide such services at a cost that is extremely affordable, reducing students’ burden significantly.
    Visit Here: https://phddissertationhelp.uk/

  17. 6.1.23
    Fred said:

    Good day! Thank you for the information.

  18. 9.14.23
    Meeloun said:

    For North American papers, it is quite difficult to speak and daily language is a bit difficult to deal with. Moreover, there are too many professional terms in North American papers, and Essay writing often requires a lot of time. When encountering unfamiliar vocabulary, reference books need to be consulted. Therefore, the time spent is relatively more, and vocabulary is the first level. Of course, there are more commonly used words than professional vocabulary, but during writing, due to the feeling of familiarity, But there are too many words that cannot be recalled, which often makes it difficult for international students here. Below, the editor will introduce the misconceptions in North American paper ghostwriting https://www.lxws.net/beimeidaixie.html .

  19. 6.20.24
    frederickgragg said:

    Unlock your potential with the https://www.examcollection.us/Sharing-and-Visibility-Architect-vce.html, your comprehensive resource for mastering advanced Salesforce architecture. This VCE guide offers an in-depth, practical approach to understanding and implementing complex sharing and visibility solutions within the Salesforce ecosystem. Tailored for seasoned professionals aiming to enhance their expertise, our exam prep materials provide real-world scenarios, detailed explanations, and exam-style questions to ensure you’re fully prepared. Benefit from expertly crafted content that covers all exam objectives, from data security and access to role hierarchies and sharing models. Elevate your career by acing the Salesforce Sharing-and-Visibility-Architect exam and become a key player in optimizing your organization’s Salesforce deployment. Trust in our VCE to guide you every step of the way towards certification success.

  20. 3.10.25
    ThomasBioks said:

    canada drugs
    https://expresscanadapharm.com/# canada rx pharmacy world
    canadian pharmacy ltd

  21. 3.21.25
    JeromeBeemi said:

    alo789in: alo789 chinh th?c – alo789 dang nh?p

  22. 3.24.25
    MonteMek said:

    canadian pharmacy world [url=https://interpharmonline.shop/#]legitimate canadian pharmacies online[/url] best canadian pharmacy to buy from

  23. 3.24.25
    Jamesced said:

    Mexican Pharm Inter: Mexican Pharm International – Mexican Pharm International

  24. 3.24.25
    WillisJon said:

    https://mexicanpharminter.com/# mexican drug stores online

  25. 3.24.25
    GeorgeRab said:

    IndiaMedFast: cheapest online pharmacy india – IndiaMedFast.com

  26. 3.24.25
    Jamesced said:

    buying from online mexican pharmacy: mexican pharmacy online store – Mexican Pharm International

  27. 3.24.25
    WillisJon said:

    https://interpharmonline.shop/# canadian pharmacy service

  28. 3.24.25
    MonteMek said:

    Mexican Pharm Inter [url=http://mexicanpharminter.com/#]mexican drug stores online[/url] mexican pharmacy online order

  29. 3.24.25
    GeorgeRab said:

    buying from online mexican pharmacy: MexicanPharmInter – mexican pharmacy online order

  30. 3.24.25
    ArthurPrill said:

    http://mexicanpharminter.com/# mexican pharmacy online order
    canadian pharmacy drugs online

  31. 3.24.25
    Jamesced said:

    canadian online pharmacy reviews: most reliable canadian online pharmacies – canadian pharmacies online

  32. 3.24.25
    WillisJon said:

    https://indiamedfast.com/# cheapest online pharmacy india

  33. 3.24.25
    GeorgeRab said:

    MexicanPharmInter: buying from online mexican pharmacy – buying from online mexican pharmacy

  34. 3.24.25
    ArthurPrill said:

    https://interpharmonline.com/# onlinecanadianpharmacy 24
    reliable canadian pharmacy

  35. 3.24.25
    Jamesced said:

    buying from online mexican pharmacy: buying from online mexican pharmacy – reliable mexican pharmacies

  36. 3.24.25
    MonteMek said:

    IndiaMedFast.com [url=https://indiamedfast.shop/#]cheapest online pharmacy india[/url] buying prescription drugs from india

  37. 3.25.25
    WillisJon said:

    https://indiamedfast.com/# lowest prescription prices online india

  38. 3.25.25
    ArthurPrill said:

    https://interpharmonline.com/# canada drugs online review
    canadian pharmacy world

  39. 3.25.25
    Jamesced said:

    order medicines online india: online medicine shopping in india – online medicine shopping in india

  40. 3.25.25
    WillisJon said:

    https://mexicanpharminter.com/# buying from online mexican pharmacy

  41. 3.25.25
    HowardVet said:

    ed meds online canada: canada pharmacy no prescription – canada drugs reviews

  42. 3.25.25
    MonteMek said:

    best canadian pharmacy online [url=https://interpharmonline.com/#]Certified International Pharmacy Online[/url] best online canadian pharmacy

  43. 3.25.25
    ArthurPrill said:

    http://interpharmonline.com/# canadian drugs pharmacy
    online canadian drugstore

  44. 3.25.25
    Jamesced said:

    online medicine shopping in india: IndiaMedFast – cheapest online pharmacy india

  45. 3.25.25
    WillisJon said:

    http://indiamedfast.com/# buying prescription drugs from india

  46. 3.25.25
    ArthurPrill said:

    http://mexicanpharminter.com/# reliable mexican pharmacies
    canadian family pharmacy

  47. 3.25.25
    HowardVet said:

    canadian pharmacy india: online canadian pharmacy no prescription – canadian drug pharmacy

  48. 3.25.25
    Jamesced said:

    canadian pharmacy price checker: Cheapest online pharmacy – canadian pharmacies compare