These mini autumn leaf notebooks are a sweet way to upcycle scrap paper and preserve your favorite colors from fall. The process is exactly the same as the diy mini pressed flower notebooks that we made during Spring except that we are using autumn leaves that we collected. I prefer a heavier weight cover for these journals since some of the leaves we are using are a bit thicker so they’re more likely to detach if the cover flexes. I’m using embroidery thread (reduced to three strands of floss) to bind the journals. You can also use a heavy weight waxed cotton thread as an alternative. After making your notebooks, make sure that you save any scraps of paper for your compost bin or to make more paper!

Materials

– dried pressed leaves
– thick paper such as watercolor paper
– scrap pieces of paper (we’re using pages from old books that were falling apart and scraps left over from the recycled homemade paper that we made)
– embroidery thread or waxed cotton thread— I’m using embroidery thread (reduced to 3 strands of floss)
– needle
– awl or push pin
– mod podge matte or school glue (diluted with water)
– paint brush (dedicated to crafts) or glue brush

Instructions to make mini autumn leaf journal notebooks

Step 1: How to create the notebook cover

Fold a piece of thick paper in half to create the base of the cover. Leaves can become really brittle when they are dried so you can also add an additional cardstock backing for a sturdier cover. Use a paint brush or glue brush to paint a thin layer of mod podge or diluted school glue on the front of the cover. Place a pressed leaf on top and gently press down to attach. After the first layer of glue is dry, paint a second layer of mod podge or glue over the leaf. Let dry completely.

Step 2: How to bind the notebook journal

Gather a few sheets of scrap paper and place them in a stack underneath the top cover (opened flat). I like to fold all of the papers in half prior to lining them up at the fold and stacking them together. Use your awl, push pin or large needle to create two holes along the fold in the area that will become the spine of the journal. Thread your needle through the holes and tie the ends of the thread shut on the inside of the notebook. Tie a double knot, making sure that you are pulling the thread tightly.

Step 3: How to finish your notebook

Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut around the edges of the leaf, making sure that you leave the edge that is bound intact. For complex shapes like these, I find that this method of cutting all of the papers together at the end produces good results. Save any scraps of paper for your compost bin or use them to make homemade paper!