Handmade Books for Everyday Adventures

The handmade books presented here are meant to spark outings and offer creative ways for you to explore your personal style and interests: Make treasure hunts even more special with a personalized Treasure Hunt Collection Bag and Notebook. Take notes at the beach with a Waterproof Book made with Tyvek pages. Make a canvas-covered Camping Songbook to take with you to the campsite. In this collection of twenty Japanese bookbinding projects, traditional techniques meet contemporary style, from easy-to-fold accordion books to the intricate Japanese stab-stitch bindings.

Book artist Erin Zamrzla makes bookbinding easy and unintimidating. Her clear step-by-step instructions make even the more complicated stitches easy to re-create. Information on the basics of bookbinding—including terminology, tools, and techniques—is included, and many projects encourage the creative use of ordinary and recycled materials.

The projects are:

Everyday Outings



   • Grocery List Pad
   • Lunch Box Notes
   • Necklace Book
   • Cross-Stitch Cover
   • Write Your Own Story Journal



Outdoor Play

   • Treasure Hunt Collection Bag and Notebook
   • Little League Score Book
   • Waterproof Book
   • Bicycle Book
   • Texture Collector



Nature Excursions



   • Observation Journal
   • Leaf and Flower Press
   • Fishing Log
   • Stargazing Log
   • Camping Songbook



Road Trips


   • Tiny Tickets Memorabilia Book
   • Photo Notes
   • Notes from the Road Postcard Book
   • Fold-Out Map Booklet
   • Things to Check OutErin Zamrzla earned BFA and MFA degrees in graphic design from Fort Hays State University. Her creations have been featured in Ready Made magazine, and on Design*Sponge, www.coudal.com, www.boingboing.net, www.craftzine.com, www.makezine.com, and www.NOTCOT.org. She is currently designing, painting, and binding books from her home in Santa Monica, California. See more of her work at www.erinzam.com.Make one-of-a-kind books, including Fold-Out Map Booklet, Leaf & Flower Press, Tiny Ticket Memorabilia Book, Star Gazing Log, and more!