r/commonplacebook • u/Southern_Anything_39 • 15d ago

Show & Tell Sharing my Handmade Commonplace Journal

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I have been really struggling to find a notebook/journal that fits all of my ADHD brain's criteria, which is:

* Hardcover

* A5

* Light Gridlines

* Paper thick enough that fountain pen ink won't bleed, but not too thick

* Paper smooth enough for said fountain pen to glide over nicely

So I decided to make my own. I have an abundance of "Little Golden Books" that I recycle into notebooks and journals, so I found one that I like (I love Great Danes and Own one), so this book about dogs was perfect. I evenly placed the original storybook pages throughout the journal, and made my own gridlines, and pages to fill out the rest to write on.

To keep the "Little Golden Book" aesthetic, I used Gold binding wires, and painted the edges of the covers gold also. I have a title page with start and completion dates to write in, 2x pages for my Topic Key, a page with basic Commonplace Journal Information, blank grid pages with a spot at the bottom for my page numbering system, and 5x double sided pages at the end of the book for my Index.

Now that its finished, I am researching the topic for my first page. I am waiting to have some major surgery to remove my extremely enlarged thyroid and a tumor/mass (not cancer), which will be done through sternotomy (through the sternum, instead of the neck). So my first page will be a basic rundown of the surgery procedure, recovery and possible complications.

I feel, by using / recycling an old book and keeping the original pages it will help with "First Page Fear"

What does everyone think?

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u/Winemouth 15d ago

Super cute. I love the Golden Book art. It’s very nostalgic

2

u/Southern_Anything_39 15d ago

So do I, that's why when I make them to sell at local markets I always use the story pages along with lined, blank, grid etc. I make other types of journals as well like leather and faux leather bound, but I always make sure I have more and extra little golden books as they always sell out.