cousin catchup ep.02 ✸ cover shopping + an updated pencil case tour (superior labor utility case) 🌙 

Your discussion about fitting the Midori a5 cover was very helpful. I just fit midori covers on 3 Hobonichis using the hairdryer technique: my Hobonichi cousin, and 2 gift a6 originals. A few tips for doing that: I used the normal “MD Notebook cover” for a5 and a6. I did not use the more expensive page-per-day which you decided on, since I only intend to write in it and don’t plan to “chunk up” my cousin with stickers and photos etc. But your tips about getting it to fit in the larger covers will come in handy if I change my mind about scrapbooking later. Here is specifically how I found to put them on. 1: slip the cover onto the front of the Hobonichi. Make sure this is not the side with the pen loop so you aren’t putting it on backwards. 2: hold the Hobonichi by the inner pages so that your fingers are just under each of the covers, or alternatively hold about 8 months of pages in the middle of the book. Now use your other hand to pull the covers toward each other like a bird flapping it’s wings. You’ll find that holding the Hobonichi in this way allow the spine and inner pages to “fan out” easier. Do not try to pre-bend the cover with the book on a desk. Hold it by those inner pages and fan out the pages by flapping the covers back like a bird preparing for take flight. 3: Now get the pen loop side of plastic cover and slip it on to the back cover. Be careful not to fan out the covers more than you need to in order to slip the cover on. DO NOT force the Hobonichi closed with this cover on. Yes, it’s possible to close it, but it will strain the Hobonichi and risk damaging it. 4: now that the cover is on, and the book covers are open, gently start to close the book but STOP the moment you encounter resistance. Now we stretch it with the hairdryer technique.. 6: hold the book with one hand upright as though it’s on a bookshelf, and with the blow dryer, aim the dryer almost straight down toward the floor and about 10 degrees toward the book spine. I did this so that the heat doesn’t run across the suface of the cover and distort it. We only want to stretch the spine part off the cover. Otherwise you’ll get wrinkles and distortions on the cover’s front and back. 7: at high heat, medium speed, run the dryer up and down the spine at that angle about 5 to 10 times, with each up+down motion taking a total of 1 second. You’ll notice that the book will start to close on its own after 5 to 10 seconds of this. When this happens, close the book. 8: optional: hold the book tightly by its lips (where it opens on the side) and repeat step 7 to warm up the spine again, then..holding tightly, use your other hand to pull the spine a little toward the front and back. This will further stretch the cover at the spine. DO NOT use the hairdryer on any other part of the cover, to avoid wrinkling and distorting it, which will be apparent since it’s a clear cover (I made this mistake on my cousin, and am considering getting another midori cover). I repeated step 8 about 3 times before I was happy with the way it was closing. Another note, I noticed that the original Hobonichi size a6 was much easier and faster to get the cover onto, for both of the covers. Also, for these smaller a6 covers, I didn’t notice any variation in their size. Meaning, this hairdryer technique is probably necessary for all Hobonichi users using it with the midori clear cover.

love seeing how you're settling into your cousin!

Its weird to me because the midori cover fits my cousin perfectly. I use the hobonichi cover the whole year and put them on the midori cover to store and it was never a problem, it fit like a glove.

I just use clear contact paper as a cover for my cousin. I have a separate pen loop that is detachable that I just move from book to book. The con is that you don't have the pockets, but I just use sticker or paper pockets instead.

I definitely haven't tried it, but maybe the take a note a5 planner clear cover could work? regardless, hope you find one someday!

You know, I just realized something while listening to this and multitasking. If you’re zoning in and out without paying much attention (or even actually knowing what the subject matter is), all this talk of cousins and spines could sound quite interesting. 😂 Yes, my brain is easily entertained. 🤦🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️

You can buy a separate pen loop if you really like a different cover 😊

I don't think you've destroyed the spine of your cousin. I never used a blow dryer on mine and the spine is bending. They all bend with use over time.

HI there, I was wondering, would you mind sharing what washi tape you mentioned as a great match for the cousin paper? I'm on the hunt - thanks so much!

Actually I'm curious if the Hon clear cover fits on the cousin... i haven't seen unboxing vids that try it out. Maybe it does... or maybe its a bit big. Last time I said I'm going with the original techo but kinda decided to get the cousin instead. Just wanted to tick off a what if, and end a curiousity. A bit worried it might be to big of a space for me...but i gotta try to know 😊

hey can you link the passport/pocket notebook? 😮

Lol, why do dogs like tape so much? We had a dog that would go down to the basement and hunt for my husbands hockey tape! He would did through the equipment bag for it. Lolol

Your Zebra Sarasa link isn’t linked! Thanks hun 😊

Weirdly specific question, but is the Uniball ONE F that you use a 0.5 mm with the Sarasa refill in it? I have the Uniball ONE F in 0.38 mm and my sephia black Sarasa refill doesn't fit in it, the nib is too tight and can't retract down.