VHS Notebook DIY

Transform your old VHS tapes into a cool piece of nostalgia with this VHS Notebook DIY. These notebooks make great gifts for family and friends!

Who doesn’t remember the era of Blockbuster and Friday night VHS rentals? I think wen can all say that those memories will carry with us for years and years. 

So many things have changed since then, but one thing is certain: VHS is KING. 

Agree? Just a few weeks ago, I picked up a huge tub of old VHS tapes at the thrift store for a complete bargain. I was determined to preserve the nostalgia of the tapes – after all, VHS tapes invoke so many great memories!

These VHS notebooks are a great way to Upcycle old VHS tapes, and are an even better gift for friends and family. Whether they are used as sketchbooks or to make grocery lists, they are a unique way of giving to the people in your life. Personalize the gift by going a step further and finding their favorite movie… or transform old VHS tapes they have given you to give them a new life.

VHS Notebook DIY

To transform a VHS tape into a notebook, you’ll want to use a binding machine. I highly suggest scouring your Facebook Marketplace for a used binding machine. In many cases, you might find someone willing to part with their binding machine, sometimes it might even be brand new!

I was able to score a brand new binding machine for half the cost of what it was on Amazon from a lady in my area who had an extra one she received as a gift.

You will also need binding wires. While you can find binding wires at Hobby Lobby (inexpensive with coupon), they are far less expensive if you buy on Amazon in bulk. Once you start binding, you will find yourself wanting to bind everything in sight.

Materials needed:

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• Binding Machine (this is the one I use)
• Binding Wires (mine are 3/8, but for thicker notebooks use 1/2-3/4″)
• Rotary Cutter
• Rotary Mat
• Quilting Ruler (not necessary but helps dramatically!)
• Plain, white paper (preferably in bulk from your office store)
• Paper Cutter

DIY:

Remove the VHS from the cardboard case. Open up the case carefully by sliding your finger under the side seam (as shown above). Lay it on a flat surface so you can use your rotary cutter to trim the edges off.

Use your rotary cutter to trim the binding off of each side (as carefully as you can). If you do it properly, the front and back cover should be the same size as each other.

Place the front and back cover wrong sides together and punch in your binding machine. Trim your binding wire down to the size of the notepad. Place the back cover of the notebook on the binding wire first. Then use the front cover as a template to trim the paper to size.

Use your paper cutter to trim 50-65 pieces of paper to the same size as the cover for your VHS notebook. You may have to do this 10-15 pages at a time (paper cutter works best at 10 pages).

Once you have them all trimmed, punch them in the binding machine in groups of ten. Then add to your notebook. Once you have finished punching all 50-65 pages, add the cover.

At this time, you’ll bind the notebook closed. Flip your Cinch Binding Machine around, and ensure that the binding is set for the proper size of your binding wires (in this case, 3/8 inches). Pull the handle down and bind.

That’s it! If you are new to the binding machine you may have to watch a You Tube video to give you a quick tutorial on binding and punching – it’s helpful so you know how to operate it properly.

Enjoy your new notebook!

The first few notebooks might have a slight learning curve. But once you get past that, you’ll be binding VHS tapes like a boss!  These VHS notebooks make great gifts to give for birthdays and the holidays.

Go a step further and take your popular cereal and food boxes and turn them into notebooks, too!

Love the idea of this VHS Notebook but don’t want to make it yourself?

You can find them in our online store along with unique foodie notebooks – get free shipping on any order, too!

Foodie Notebook DIY