Download free Midori Traveler's Notebook writing guides

You can either write on blank paper or you can't. A plain page filled with writing looks so much more distinguished than a lined one - unless the writing is wonky and uneven.

If you'd like to write like a pro on your Midori or other plain paper insert, then make yourself one of these:

This is a writing guide. When you slip it behind a plain page, the lines and other guides show through allowing you to use them as guides. Here's are the various features explained:

You can download your own guide here as a PDF file. Print onto card stock (laminate it if you like, but that's optional) and tuck it into your Midori booklet so it's always available. 

Oh, and the file contains two guides that will print on one sheet of card - one with narrow line spacing and the other with wider spacing:

Blog planner

This one is an adaptation of the Video/vlog Planner, and is designed to allow planning of blog posts.

Click to enlarge

You can download this insert in a choice of formats. Print the file double-sided. If you have a duplex printer, set it to flip on the short edge. If you don't then you'll have to print odd-numbered pages and then refeed to print the even-numbered pages on the reverse. You might have to experiment to find out how to refeed the paper.

On one side of each sheet you'll find crop marks. Use a craft knife and a steel ruler to release the Personal pages and punch them. The templates are set up with mirrored gutters to accommodate the holes.

If using the PDF be sure to set it to print at full size as explained here.

Download the Personal size insert: Word version or PDF version

Traveler's notebook from a passport cover

Here is a quick hack for those of you who don't have easy access to leather supplies or prefer not to use animal products. You can use a passport cover as a kind of pre-cut notebook cover and convert this to a traveler's notebook using instructions you'll find elsewhere on this blog.

This is how my one came out:

It's passport size. Obviously.

An advantage is that these covers usually come with inside pockets. This is a quick and easy way to get a very functional notebook cover. 

Adding booklets to your Midori Traveler's Notebook

If you are new to the Midori, it may not be immediately obvious to you how flexible the system is. New users are often unaware of how to add booklets - or sometimes that this can be done at all. These visual guides will get you started. Click on each to expand them on screen.

Free video / vlog planner insert for your Filofax

A request from Rhomany today. She wanted a form to help her plan and manage her various videos.

You can download this insert in a choice of formats. Print the file double-sided. If you have a duplex printer, set it to flip on the short edge. If you don't then you'll have to print odd-numbered pages and then refeed to print the even-numbered pages on the reverse. You might have to experiment to find out how to refeed the paper.

On one side of each sheet you'll find crop marks. Use a craft knife and a steel ruler to release the Personal pages and punch them. The templates are set up with mirrored gutters to accommodate the holes.

If using the PDF be sure to set it to print at full size as explained here.

Download the Personal size insert: Word file or PDF file

Making Field Notes storage envelopes

For those of you using Field Notes, Moleskine Cahiers or similar pocket notebooks, here's an easy DIY job to protect and store your valued books.

The "please-make-one-for-me" post - buying my notebook covers

** Edited January 2017 to update prices **

I'm a big fan of the Midori Traveler's Notebook. It is simple, functional and beautiful. It's also a little on the staid side.

I thought it would be easy to make one myself, perhaps with different-coloured leathers. I did it. And then I thought other people might like to see how it is done and make their own. I made a video:

People liked the idea of having such a notebook cover, but many told me they didn't feel confident enough to make one themselves. Could I make one for them?

I made lots of them. Over a hundred. In all sorts of colours and in different sizes. I sent them all over the world. People seemed to like them.

If you want me to make one for you, I'd be happy to.

You have choices. First, you need to settle on a size. You can choose from three sizes:

My prices are £35 for full size and £25 for FN and PP sizes. There's no additional shipping cost to anywhere in the world.

Available colours will vary from time to time. Email me and tell me what size you're thinking about and give me some idea of your colour preferences and we can home in on your colour from there.

You might also like your name (or someone else's) stamped on the cover, and I can do this at no extra cost. Here's what this looks like:

Once we've got all the details agreed, I'll ask you to pay through PayPal and then I'll get started. Some time shortly afterwards, your cover will arrive in the mail.

Email me to get started.