Have you ever looked at discarded paper and seen potential? In a fascinating video shared by Leigh Hanlon on Facebook, one creator transforms ordinary trash into something extraordinary—a handcrafted notebook with character and soul.
Here’s the video.
The Magic of Upcycling
This artisan, Lucas of “Blank First Page,” demonstrates the beautiful art of transforming what most would consider trash into a functional, tactile notebook. The process begins with map pages from the phone book that previously served as moisture-absorbing sheets to rescue a rain-soaked Field Notes notebook. Rather than discarding these textured papers, Lucas sees an opportunity.
What makes this project special isn’t just the end result, but the journey. Lucas draws inspiration from a previous notebook he created in 2019 using empty flour bags – a perfect example of how everyday materials can find new purpose. As a sourdough baker, he had accumulated numerous 12.5kg flour bags that would have otherwise been recycled. Instead, he transformed them into a notebook with pre-worn texture that became one of his favorites.
The Sensory Experience of Paper
One of the most captivating aspects of this video is the emphasis on texture. Lucas speaks lovingly about the feel of paper—how moisture-damaged Yellow Pages developed a unique three-dimensional quality that makes them “fantastic to the touch.” The video even includes an ASMR segment where you can hear the satisfying rustle and crinkle of the pages.
For paper enthusiasts, this sensory appreciation resonates deeply. The finished notebook is described as “ultra pillowy” with “pockets of air” that create a fabric-like quality. Lucas admits he’ll likely spend as much time bending and rustling it as writing in it—a testament to the tactile joy good paper can bring.
Craftsmanship Without Pretense
What’s refreshing about this DIY approach is its accessibility. Lucas uses simple tools, including scissors, clips, thread, a safety pin, and heavy books for pressing. He employs a saddle stitch method borrowed from leatherworking, demonstrating that specialized bookbinding equipment is not necessary to create something beautiful.
The honesty in his approach is refreshing: “I have no bookmaking or notebook-making experience,” he admits, yet he proceeds to create something uniquely functional and beautiful.
Personal Reflections
Watching this video brought back memories of my own paper adventures. While I’ve never stitched together a notebook (I typically punch holes and use binder rings), I’ve experimented with reusing materials for trading card-sized creations and incorporated found imagery into notepad backgrounds.
There’s something profoundly satisfying about giving new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded. Just recently, on a windy day in my neighborhood, recycling bins tipped over and scattered their contents. On the way home after walking my daughters to school, I found myself being the neighborhood recycling picker-upper.
Normally, you wouldn’t ever see what your neighbors are recycling, but it was kinda fun seeing some of their contents of their bins. I could have used some of the random paper and cardboard I was picking up off the lawns on my block, and reused the cardboard for something. Kinda funny to think that I could say this cardboard came from one of our neighbors on the block
Clever Details Worth Noting
Several moments in the video showcase clever techniques:
- Threading the needle on both ends of the thread for efficiency
- The brave choice to sew without a thimble (I was waiting for an inevitable “YEE-OW!”)
- Testing the finished notebook with a Blackwing “Natural” pencil – a fitting choice for someone who clearly appreciates authentic textures. (Also his Blackwing has a pencil cap. Haha. Too cool. I like the Japanese pencil caps that come five for $6 at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights.)
- The ingenious way he originally used the Yellow Pages to absorb moisture from a wet notebook
The Joy of Texture
When Lucas rustles his finished notebook around the 9:45 mark, the sound immediately reminded me of those crinkle books designed for babies – fabric books with crinkly plastic inside that produce the same satisfying sound. This connection between sophisticated craftsmanship and childlike joy in texture seems significant.
My daughter, who loves textures, would likely understand the simple pleasure of fidgeting with interesting paper. It’s a small tactile comfort many of us enjoy without thinking about it.
A Different Kind of Writing Experience
Perhaps most interesting is Lucas’s observation about writing on these textured pages. He describes how the pen “digs into the page” and how the page moves with you, adding “another dimension to writing.” He compares it to writing on the back of a used page, where previous writing creates undulations that you can feel through your pen.
For those who appreciate the full sensory experience of analog writing, this handmade notebook offers something mass-produced products cannot – character, history, and a connection to materials that have lived other lives.
Why Not Try It Yourself?
As Lucas suggests, if you have spare Yellow Pages, empty flour bags, or other interesting papers headed for recycling, consider giving them a new purpose. The satisfaction of creating something useful from what would have been trash – and the unique writing experience that results – might just be worth the effort.
Have you ever created notebooks or paper products from recycled materials? What’s your favorite part of the analog writing experience – the tools, the paper, or something else entirely?