# Making a single, hard-cover book with lettering on the cover

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-single-hard-cover-book-with-lettering-on-the-cover/515851>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 31, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-single-hard-cover-book-with-lettering-on-the-cover/515851 "2009-10-31T15:11:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-single-hard-cover-book-with-lettering-on-the-cover/515851/1 "2009-10-31T15:11:05Z")

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I’ve got ~200 8.5x11" pages of 20 lb paper that I’d like to bind with a hard cover, with lettering on the front and the spine. There are binderies that will do this for a fee–I had my dissertation bound this way. I called a few local ones but they are a bit backed up for some reason. I’d like to get this done quick to give to a friend before she leaves the country. How hard is this to do by hand? Can I buy the supplies in a typical craft/hobby shop?

The binding part doesn’t seem so bad. Just drill, sew, and glue. The foil stamping looks tricky. Is there an easier way?