If you fall deep enough into the stationery hobby, you inevitably will find yourself customizing your gear. Whether that means having fountain pen nibs custom ground for your writing style, mixing your own inks with an ink mixing kit, or binding your own notebooks and paper refills, there are literally dozens of different rabbit holes for you to explore. Even for someone like me, who’s essentially “tried everything” over the years, I love that I can still create new ways to keep this hobby interesting!
A Traveler’s Notebook refill compared against a standard A5 softcover notebook.
One thing I’ve not attempted much over the years is customizing notebooks. I have neither the space nor the time nor the skill to try bookbinding, and I’m fairly confident that I’ve exhausted all the goodwill of the other members of my household with my various hobbies, so making my own books is out the window. But what about cutting down or trimming notebooks from my existing stash where the size isn’t something I use? I’m talking specifically about softcover A5 notebooks - somehow I’ve accumulated a dozen or more of these small, “single subject” notebooks over the years, but if I use a thinner notebook, it tends to be in the Traveler’s Notebook system. What if I just cut the larger notebooks down?
The great thing about standard Traveler’s Notebook refills is that they are the same length as A5, just narrower, so you only need to make one cut. Not only did I convert a few softcover A5 notebooks into additional refills for my Traveler’s Notebook (see photo at top), but I created a thicker bullet journal/undated planner for my personal Traveler’s Notebook using a 1/2-Year Stálogy notebook. I recently finished an undated Weeks + Memo Traveler’s Notebook Planner Refill, and found myself wanting something that would last six months or longer for work purposes. Check this out:
Stálogy paper is extremely thin, so my trimmed-down 1/2-year notebook easily fits in the Standard-size Traveler’s Notebook cover.
Getting Started
If you’re interested in attempting to trim down notebooks, I would start with a very sharp X-Acto or other craft knife (I used a No. 11 blade), a cutting mat, and some sort of straight-edge like a T-square that will help you make a straight cut. I purchased all of the above at Hobby Lobby for around $40. (I’m sure you can find it for less online, but I was bored on a weekend and wanted instant gratification.) I would NOT recommend using a “paper guillotine” or other paper cutter, unless you have access to a commercial-grade tool that’s been sharpened and calibrated so that it cuts evenly. On the notebooks pictured above, I tried to use the paper cutter in my office, but it made cuts that were neither straight nor clean, so I had to finish with the X-Acto. Based on my experience so far, very thin paper such as Tomoe River or Stálogy cuts the easiest with an X-Acto knife. Just be sure to practice on a less expensive refill first.
I do sell 1/2 year and 365-day Stálogy notebooks in the Curated Shop, in several different colors. As an aside, if you would like me to cut a notebook down for you, I’m happy to discuss, though it’s not an “official” service I offer or advertise so I can’t guarantee results. Please reach out and we can talk about what you need.
I wish I could claim credit for the idea to cut down the Stálogy Notebook, but credit goes to @stacysplans on Instagram. Follow her account for more planner-related ideas and content. While I am an authorized Traveler’s Company and Stálogy retailer, this post does not contain third-party affiliate links.