DIY Day Planners

Keep organized with your own custom-made leather day planner. For added embellishment, choose a color of thread that contrasts with that of the leather.

MATERIALS

• One hide (5 1/2 square feet) leather
• No-slip ruler
• Rotary cutter
• Multipurpose cement
• Poly-cotton thread
• Sewing machine equipped for leather
• Leather hole punch
• 1/2-inch binder rivets
• 7-inch 6-ring spine
• Rivet setter
• Mallet
• Paper inserts
• Grommet kit or elastic cording (optional)

STEPS

1. STEP 1

   For standard refills (6 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches), use a rotary cutter to cut a rectangle of leather that is 10 3/8 by 7 1/8 inches. Mark the midpoint of the length, and score with the bone folder. For the closure, cut a 3 1/2-by-1-inch tab to fit in a 3-by-1/4-inch strip.

2. STEP 2

   Cement a 1/4 inch of the tab halfway up the inside of the back cover of the planner; let dry, and then sew. Cement the strip halfway up the outside of the front cover; let dry, and sew ends. For side flaps, cut two 3 1/4-by-7 1/8-inch pieces. Cement them on all but the inside long edge; let dry, and then sew all around, leaving a 1/4-inch border.

3. STEP 3

   Backstitch at start and finish. Place the spine on the halfway point, mark each hole with a pencil, and punch out marks with a hole punch. Align bar over holes, and stick rivet posts through each one; snap the cap pieces onto posts from the other side. Position rivet setter over each rivet head, and pound them into place with the mallet. Fill binder with paper inserts. Use flaps to store loose items.