If you are like me, you have a few postcards around. What do you do with them? Nothing much except move them from shoe box to shoe box or…

drawer to drawer. Why not make something useful with them, instead?

This little notebook has two postcards as the cover and is filled with pages cut from various pieces of junk mail plucked from my recycle bin.

Here’s how to make it:

#1: Select two post cards of the same size. These will be your covers. Cut a stack of pages the same size as the post cards.

#2: Score lines on the “spine end” of each post card, so that the cover will fold open neatly when the book is assembled. Punch holes in each of the pages. The number and placement of holes is not important. That they all be placed at precisely the same spot on each page is very important. At the lower left of the photo above, I show the cardboard template that I used to punch my holes. The folded paper piece is what I used to determine the placement of the holes for the template.

 #3: Using yarn or heavy thread and a needle, sew the pages together.

#4: Spread a thin, even layer of white glue on the inside flaps of the postcards.

#5: Carefully position the covers onto the pages and clamp to hold in place.

#6: Optional last step: Add a fabric covering for the spine. Cut a piece of fabric the proper width to wrap around the the spine, but leave it too long. Carefully coat the spine area with a thin layer of glue. Press the fabric in place and clamp. When the glue is completely dry, unclamp and trim away the excess fabric at the top and bottom.

More ideas for handmade notebooks:

These twig notebooks appear in the Fall 2010 edition of Nuno Magazine. Preview a free 28 page excerpt from Nuno Magazine (with three complete projects) here.

Enter to win a free copy of Nuno Magazine (along with Make It! Hardware Store Decor) right here on Curbly!

Spice labels, pie charts, luggage tags, cookie sleeves, cooks’ helpers, luminaries, bookplates, gift cards and bags and dozens and DOZENS of others are included in Martha’s clip art round up. There really are too many to count!

In some respects this is the granddaddy of all makeovers. Not in a ‘I can’t believe it’s the same room’ kind of way, but in a ‘it’s the freakin’ Oval Office!’ kind of way. At first glance it might not look all that different in the ‘after’. It was and still is pretty beige. (Perhaps not to overpower the priceless artwork?) Anyhoo, on closer inspection we can see the sofas with the granny print have been replaced by something much more fashionable. The walls have been covered with a striped paper and the trim was re-painted as well. The most striking addition might just be the coffee table, which I hear-tell is made of American walnut and mica.

The Office has a new rug too. It was made and donated by the Scott Group and consists of 25% recycled wool. It features the Presidential seal at the center while its border contains historical quotes meaningful to President Obama. 

As far as the cost of this makeover goes, the proceeds came from money leftover from Mr. Obama’s inaugural committee, which was then given to the White House Historical Association, who in turn paid the bills. And as for the total cost itself, we’re told that it was about the same as previous makeovers of the Oval Office conducted under the watch of past administrations.

For more information about the makeover, including individual highlights, follow this jump to Charles and Hudson. 

Via.

Easy, cheap, easily customizable and easy to change, you can’t go wrong with striping your walls. Take a look.

…too much.

If you need a little instruction to get started, the DIY Network provides a striping How-to.

Who doesn’t want their fur-children’s furniture to match their design aesthetic? Daniel and Valeria, for one…or two, rather. They decided to make their kitty, Lambi, a bed/cubby that would blend seamlessly with their flooring. The outcome is simple yet eminently stylish. 

To hear how the couple made Lambi’s new hideaway, follow this link to Hindsvik.

Via 2modern. 

Garish casino carpets are deliberately chaotic. And you thought they got a closeout deal at Carpet World, no sirree. These are custom casino style carpets you’ll only seen in Vegas and other casino joints. Now how bad can they really be?The ridiculous patterns and color combinations cover miles and miles of casino floors so guests will stay revved up and ready to gamble. An awake casino guest is a gambling guest.

Nuff said.

VIA

My favorite episodes of the Antiques Roadshow are the ones where somebody brings in something they bought at a rummage sale or found in the attic of a house they just moved into and discovers it’s worth a million damn dollars. My other favorite episodes include people who bring in something they THINK is worth a fortune and find out it isn’t. Oh, the looks on their faces! It’s priceless. (Anybody remember the episode of the couple who just KNEW they had an original Tiffany vase and found out it was a knock off? They thought they had purchased it from an unwitting antiques dealer. The Roadshow appraiser confirmed the original dealer’s identification of the piece [decorative glass] and value, $400. The look on the woman’s face was classic!) 

But back to the pricey originals. Here are the top five most valuable items ever to come across the Antiques Roadshow appraisers:

1. 18th Century Chinese Quianlong Period jade collection, valued at $710K to $1,070,000, pictured above.
2. Oil painting by Clyfford Still, valued at $500K.
3. Navajo First Phase Chief’s Blanket, valued at $350K to $500K. 
4. Oil painting by James Henry Beard, valued at $300K to $500K.
5. Original artwork from Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, valued at $450K.

So which of them were family heirlooms with which the owners could not part?  Out of the three heirlooms here, the jade collection, blanket and Beard painting, only one is still in the family. The blanket and jade were sold, cash winning out over sentimentality.

For the history of each of these acquisitions and to find out what happened to them after the shows on which they appeared aired, (plus other juicy tidbits) follow this link to Daily Finance. It’s worth the trip! 

*interior via vogue

The allure of treehouses hasn’t faded for me, even though I’m well past the age of deserving one as a playhouse. Luckily, German design company Baumraum doesn’t discriminate against adults in need of a good treehouse: in fact, the company specializes in the planning and completion of these elevated structures.

The company combines the expertise of an architect, a landscape architect, a tree expert, and established, reputable craftsmen to create a treehouse that will match the one you’ve been daydreaming about. At the same time, they handle the site, including the trees, with absolute care. Baumraum requires that the trees in which the house will be located are healthy and robust, primarily building treehouses in oaks, lime trees, ash trees, beeches, chestnuts, old fruit trees, cedars, pines, and firs. The company takes care to use building methods that do no harm to the tree or trees used, and it will provide additional supports if necessary.

Of course, these structures aren’t as easily affordable as your average kid’s treehouse. Costing anywhere between $20,000 and $180,000, which includes design, materials, assembly, and interior furnishing, this will be a treehouse suitable for even your most discriminating guest.

For a gallery of photos, read more.
Treehouse cabins can be outfitted with insulation, wiring, built-in furniture, a range of seating and reclining areas, plenty of storage space, a mini-kitchen, heating, lighting, entertainment electronics like hi-fi or a flatscreen tv, a minibar, and windows facing in all directions.

The Wencke treehouse, pictured here, was designed with boat construction in mind and includes a sofa-bed and bench. Under these seating areas are five drawers, two of which fold out to tables. A south-facing terrace, skylight, kitchenette, and neutral upholstery complete the look.

Like what you see? Then check back next month when Baumraum releases its coffee table book.
View 5 Photos ›