Rollabind Journal

Happy Leap Day

Since you asked about this top journal ... I used the Rollabind (or Levenger) binding system for it. Stray pieces of patterned, black and white paper, old file folders: whatever is on hand. The rollabind system is nice because you can easily stick in smaller pieces of paper.

I like being able to add and remove papges. Raiding the junk drawer yielded some fancy used file folders and some stickers. 

Rollabind is a very nice system. The only drawback is the specialty hole punch which is pretty pricey. I hear the travel punch is not worth buying. I use this system instead of binders for all my workshop and business notebooks, including and especially my business plan. 

You get the discs and hole punch from either Levenger's (see the Circa Notebooks) or Rollabind. You can use any kind of stiff cardstock or cardboard for the covers (whatever you can jam into the punch). 

Edit: This just in ... you can get this binding system at Staples. They are marketing it under the name Arc. The hole punch is $39.99. Thanks Veronica, for your comment!

You could also collect your papers and take them to the office supply store and have them spiral bound. 

And here is a very nice fake smash binding tutorial from Callaloo Soup. I haven't tried it but it sure looks good. 

Comments

[Veronica]

Diana, they have the same system at Staples now. It is much cheaper than the Levenger system. The punch is still expensive, $40. I have the travel punch. I'd say go for the $40 one from Staples. I do love the whole system.

[Diana Trout]

Thank you, Veronica! I've just edited the post with the Staples Arc link. Good to know :)

[siren]

I use book rings to make these! You can get big ones and open and close them as much as you want! :)
and I don't know what's special about them, but those hole punching machines that you can get at craft stores - oh Cropadiles? if you used a 40% off coupon...

[zinnia patch]

Good Morning Diana! Well, you made me do it!!!!! I have been one of those "art journaler snobs" no smash book for me....and then i see that my "journal Spilling mentor" is SMASHING!!!! I placed an order yesterday - pacing the floor today in ANTICIPATION! lol
Just had to let you know...tee hee Have a happy day!

[Diana Trout]

Aha! Isnt it funny, tho? I spent so much of my teenage years smashing in a composition book. I sat happily on the sofa last night with my magazines and glue stick and told my husband that I felt like a teenager again. No sense in limiting our fun, is there?

[Diana Trout]

I love to use book rings. Cheap and easy :). Im not sure if any other hole punch would work - at least not when I last checked, but will look at that. THanks!

[zinnia patch]

Ahhh! we should never limit our fun, we should find ways to have more!!!! tee hee

[Marcy H]

oooh... this has me excited especially since the Cinch binding machine I just got is defective (and will be returned). plus I think I like this option better especially since you can add/remove pages on the go. guess I better add the Circa Leverage punch to my wish list and start saving my money. the leverage punch will punch up to 15 sheets of average paper and looks like it should be able to handle the average piece of chipboard.

[Diana Trout]

Hi Marcy, I dont think that it will accept chipboard. I tried to jam an old composition book cover into it and it was too thick. Ill have to look at this Cinch binding. Thanks!

[FrancineC]

Hi Diana, thanks for the shout out! :) Your journal looks awesome!

Francine from Callaloo Soup :)

[Diana Trout]

Thank YOU for the inspiration!

[Karen]

Hi Diana - I loved this post so much I bought the hole punch from staples and some of their rings. fantastic! I'm using it for all sorts of things. thanks so much for the tip. However, I'm writing to alert other users about the rollabind website. I wondered if the rings they sell are compatible with my staples binder and ordered a small "test package". my account was charged, but my order was never shipped. I've tried calling and emailing the company and got no response. when i googled the company I found many reports of fraud. I've opened a claim with paypal. it's very disturbing. they certainly look like a legitimate company, but I'd advise others to stay away and look at the systems offered by levenger or staples.

[Diana Trout]

Wow. What a shame that that happened to you Karen. THanks for the heads up. I had ordered disks from the Rollabind website some time ago and had no trouble. Wont be doing that again! Will order from Levengers from now on.

[Jim]

Question: where do you find the best place / cheapest to buy the disks ?

[MaryAnn]

How thick of material can I punch with the Rollabind punch. i am wondering if I can punch chipboard without breaking the punch??

[Diana Trout]

Chipboard won’t go through, MaryAnn. It doesn’t have a lot of strength unfortunately.