Mini tutorial: Book cover/ (stamp storage)

I'm sure everyone knows how to do this already, I learned that in school when I was 13, but just in case... here is how to make a nice looking book cover for little spiral notebooks and such.

In this case I was making a cover to store my My Thoughts Exactly stamps. :-)

I made an 8X10 cover to match the size of my zippered pouches (found those at Walmart for back to school and I should have bought more... Will definitely be on the lookout for those next August... ;-))

Step 1: Cut some cardstock to desired size. (I used old cardstock containers, because I was out of empty cereal boxes...) Glue to a piece of paper or cardstock slightly bigger then cut the corner. (I used Modge Podge to adhere my designer paper, and ran a brayer all over (the paper) to try to get a good spreading of the glue.

Step 2: Fold the extra paper all around and glue it. Add pieces of ribbon if you want to tie it shut afterwards.

Step 3:  Glue 2 pieces of cardstock or paper to finish the inside. They need to bit slightly smaller than your cover. (here I took 3/16" off from my original 8X10 measurements).

Step 4: Punch holes and use binder rings to hold everything together. I need to buy bigger rings because my little album/storage is really full... ;-) I made little reinforcers by punching cardstock with a 1/2" circle punch.

My stamps are stored in the zippered pouches, 2 sets back to back. I used a label maker to write the names of the sets at the top of the pouches, and stapled little tags on the side.

This way I can find what I am looking for in a glance... :-)

All that's left to do is tie a knot and proudly display it somewhere in your crafting area! ;-)
(and what better way to use this beautiful paper you have been hoarding forever for "that special project"? ... ;-))

ETA:  I have since found larger binder rings at Staples, which gave my inside pockets more breathing room, and enabled me to decorate them with little ribbons....