Hi y'all!

So this school period I'm following a module about making stuff with our hands. We could fill it in as we'd like, so I decided to make my next drawingbook, but with a different binding method and instead of covering it with posters and plastic, I made the cover with (fake?) Leather and buckles.
Here's the end result:

And here's my process, enjoy!

So first I decided on what size I wanted my book to be. I chose A5, because I can easily fit it in any bag and bring it with me. Then what kind of paper I wanted to use. I went with a Call Arts Heavyweight paper pad of 200gsm, A4, so that when i folded the paper to make signatures, it'd be A5. 
For the base of the cover I used some hard cardboard I had lying around. The leather and buckles are from old bags from the thriftshop.
To put it all together I used thread, cording, fabric, bookbinding glue and mod podge, and a ribbon, all of which i still had from previous projects.

Then I started writing what I wanted my book to look like. As you can see, lots of changes were made along the way, but a project never starts perfect.

The binding technique is called (for as far as I know) Corded binding, in which you bind the signatures onto several thick strings of cording to keep it all together. When I was done binding, I took a piece of wood and some clamps for a makeshift bookpress, to glue the spine with bookbinding glue, which makes everything stay together whilst also being flexible. While I was waiting for that to dry, I cut out the leather i needed from the bag.

Then I cut the paper with a special machine so that the paper would all be the same lenght. Based on the size after that, I cut out 2 pieces of cardboard that'd be big enough for the cover. I also rounded the corners of the paper, because I felt that it better suited me and my drawing style. Then I cut off the excess cord and made holes in the cardboard. I put the cording through the holes and fastened it with glue. Then I started adding some extra's, like a head- and tailband and a bookmark. I made the head- and tailband with cord, some fabric and embroidery thread. I picked out the ribbon for the bookmark based on the width of the bookspine and what colour suited the leather.

Then I continued working on the cover, by adding buckles, so the book would look old and important, like a giant tome or something. I drew on the inside of the leather how big the book would be and, based on that, drew the places where I wanted the buckles to be attached. Then I sewed those on.

I eventually added a moon to the cover made of cardboard, which resulted in a relief underneath the leather. I glued the leather onto the book and made sure the corners would stay put with some extra special glue. Then I glued the first and last page onto the cardboard, which covered up the leather on the inside, resulting into a neat finish.

And then my book was done! here are the final photo's and some close ups!

Thank you all for checking out my process!
I hope you enjoyed it!