Here's my version of a non-linear notebook. I've covered the box with old dictionary pages and illustrations and used old scrap cardboard for the notecards. There are tabs for bookbinding, things to do, misc. crafts, jewellery, home, uni, poetry and this blog. For now the vast majority of the cards are blank but I can already see it in my mind's eye how this will look once I get things properly rolling.

I made V his own copy and took step by step photos to accompany a tutorial for you. I hope you like it! Let me know what you think!

List of materials and tools

• cardboard or thick paper for your note cards

• thick board (I used 2mm thick grayboard)

• paper for covering (cloth and fabric are also ok)

• natural fibre fabric for lining and hinging (paper ok for lining, but some fabric or cloth is needed for the hinge)

• a small box clasp with tiny nails (optional)

• small-ish glue brush

• ruler

• triangle ruler (my father made me this out of scrap metal, hence the red paint. so, no, it's not blood)

• sharp pencil for making super accurate markings

• a mat knife or preferably something even sturdier for cutting the board

and then there's the stuff I forgot to photograph:

• scissors, sandpaper, glue, a weight cardboard for the index tab cards

• (optional: lacquer, a brush for the lacquer)

This tutorial requires some basic knowledge of cutting and gluing things at a straight angle. Not every single step is explained in minute detail, so do read through the entire tutorial before embarking on your project. If you have questions, ask me and I'll do my very best to get back to you.

Begin by deciding what size you want your notecards to be and cut a massive stack of cards. My cards measure 10,5x5cm and I will provide measurements for a box that matches these but also a formula you can use for figuring out the correct measurements for some other size box.

Figure out the measurements for your board box parts. The highly mathematical code above helps you if you're using cards of some other size or just want to make a hinged box that's larger or smaller. The inside measurements of the box are what I begin with and calculate the other measurement by adding board thicknesses where needed.

(I really recommend taking the board grain direction into account when cutting the parts, but it's not a catastrophe if you don't when making a small box. The grain should run lengthwise in the side parts so that if moisture causes swelling it doesn't distort the shape of the box too much.)

For a box matching my card size cut board (precisely with the help of both a triangle and regular ruler) as follows:

base and lid:

10,8x10,8cm x2

11,2x11,2cm x2 

shorter sides (don't worry, the end result will be square):

10,8x3,2cm x4

11,2x3,4cm x4

longer sides:

11,2x3,2cm x4

11,6x3,4cm x4

Glue the box elements together pairing them as described above. All parts have two pieces of board sandwiched together. You'll end up with two lid/bottom pieces that have the smaller piece precisely centred upon the larger one, four short side pieces and four long side pieces where one (long) side is glued flush and the rest have an even rim of a board's thickness. Let the pieces dry under a weight. Click on the photos above and below to see them larger.

Once your pieces are dry lay them out as shown above and maybe do a test assembly with masking tape if you're unsure of what goes where. Glue the parts together so that you'll end up with two identical shallow boxes. Let dry, properly, for real. Sanding wet glue in the next step is a bad idea.

Wrap a piece of sandpaper around a block of wood and sand the outer edges and corners of the box so that they're nice and smooth and perhaps even a bit rounded. Leave alone the edges that will face each other. If they're really uneven, then sand away but a rounded look is not what we're aiming for there.

Cover the outsides of both box halves apart from the sides where the hinge will be. Leave small flaps at that edge. You can freestyle this covering process or see above photos for my way of doing it.

Cut two pieces of fabric the same width as your box - one of them about 3cm over the height of the finished box and the other only 0,5cm over the height of the finished box.

Glue the smaller piece of fabric flush with the exposed back edge of one of your box halves and glue down the flaps of your cover material. Place the halves together so that the hinge flap lies doubled over between them. Fold the larger piece in half to mark the center and place it over the hinge area. Cut the fabric into shape (see photo) and glue one half down. Whilst holding the halves firmly in position glue down the other half making sure that the hinge are is well adhered.Let dry for a while.

Close the box and cut the remaining back hinge fabric flush with the top edge of the box. Glue the fabric and the remaining flaps of cover material in place.

Cover the exposed back hinge with two strips of paper leaving a tiny gap between them where the hinge is. This is to prevent the paper from buckling and creasing and the hinge area from bulging when the box is opened.

At this stage, give the box a nice coating of lacquer and attach the box clasp if you're in the mood for one or the other. You'll be fine without a clasp too. The full width fabric hinge is sturdy enough to keep the top and bottom halves straight.

Cut your lining material into two long strips (with some extra width) and two squares that will cover the insides of the box. Fold the strips into shape by moulding them into place with your fingers (I left a little bit of the top inside edge showing but it's fine to go flush with the edge too). Cut triangles out of the corner areas to avoid excess material bulging. Glue the strips into place one side at a time. Check the size of your fabric squares and glue them in place. Let dry.

Craft yourself some tab cards and name them according to your needs. Enjoy your newly finished non-linear notebook and put it to good use! Let me know what you think! If you have any questions or comments, please share.

Please note that this tutorial is for personal use only. You are allowed to use this tutorial to make box notebooks for yourself and for strictly non-commercial purposes. However you're not allowed to sell items based on this tutorial or to reproduce or sell this tutorial.