After you've downloaded and unzipped your files, select either the Letter print file or the A4 size and load the appropriate size paper into your printer.
You may need to play with your printer in order to determine the settings, but on my printer, these instructions work like a charm:
- Choose landscape mode
- Choose double-sided print
- Choose short-edge binding
Your printer should print the pages on both sides, all at once, and deliver a stack that's ready to fold in half as a booklet.
The booklet is much smaller than the paper size, so you'll need to trim it down. Any sort of paper cutter will do - I use a Fiscars cutter. Either individually, or a few at a time, trim the pages by cutting off 1.5" from the top and the bottom (in landscape view).
Next, you can either trim each side of the pages by 2" OR you can assemble the booklet, fold it in half, and then cut down the overhanging side by 2". The latter requires some elbow grease and you may need a rotary cutter or other sturdy tool.
Once you have your 3.5" x 5.5" booklet, you have another choice to make. You can staple the center spine, you can stitch the center spine (which I used to do and I love the look and feel of it - see some great instructions here that I used), or you can take the easy way out and leave the pages loose and simply slip them behind your elastics in your traveler's journal, which should hold everything in place.
Now your booklet is ready to go.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.
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