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I love paper. I love pretty paper. I love paper calendars. And I really love journals and notebooks. Some people go crazy for purses and shoes, I go crazy for paper products (totally cool and normal, I know). Today I am sharing, How to customize your notebook cover!
What supplies will I need for a custom notebook?
A notebook
Scrapbook paper
Gold Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Sponge Brush
Mod Podge
Steps to make a custom DIY notebook.
I picked out papers for both the front and back notebook cover. And also a third scrapbook paper for the interior of the notebook.
The back of the notebook had an elastic band attached. I very gingerly pulled one edge of this band out of the notebook. Then, I measured exactly where the cutouts needed to be located in the scrapbook paper and then fed the elastic band through them.
Using a heavy duty stapler, I then stapled the end of the elastic back down, applied Mod Podge and secured that back cover.
Here is how the back turned out. Clean and simple.
The final product was so much better than anything I could have bought at a store!
Since I will be using this notebook at an upcoming conference (Alt Summit), I wanted a place to have extra business cards to pass out at a moment’s notice. Here are my cards.
Oh yes, I also added the green polka dot paper inside both the front and back covers to hide the exterior paper wrapping around.
Who said staying organized can’t be functional and pretty?!
Nice! I have a thing about paper too; mostly journals and then stationery and / or note cards.Our House Design & Construction
Wow! These are super cool!! Can’t wait to try!. Thanks for bringing us cool innovative diy’s!
I just love reading blogs like this one. And thank you very much for sharing these tips with us. Besides the fact that this blog is brilliant and the tips are awesome, I have to say that this text is so positive, helpful, full of joy.
Pinning for later as I would love to try this. I love all things paper. 😉 I love the paper you picked out!
Aw, thanks Emily! Go find yourself a cheap journal, even at the Dollar Store and grab your favorite scrapbook papers — you’re good to go!
Great project- love those colors!
This is too cute- great idea!
This is pretty awesome, you really cant find too many cute notebooks these days. I will have to try this out! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Christine!
In accordance with “yael’s” comment…
Hey! Your tutorial is so cute. I will so be doing this! Where did you get your notebook? I’m trying to find one that’s sturdy and also larger like that. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much, Olivia! I got my notebook from Target, it was just $5 and pretty ugly… it worked perfectly!
And what about the little notebook?…
Thanks again
The smaller notebooks came in a pack of three, also from Target. Those however, I didn’t have to make any changes to.
Thank you!
I really enjoy your blog. lots of inspiration.
Hi! I love what you did.
Can you please write where can I find the little notebook that is in the pictures?…
Thank you so much
This was not your original idea. You should give credit to the blogger who did a similar project to this one on her blog before you did this project. I understand that there are not a lot of original ideas in the blogosphere but, at least, give credit to where you get your inspiration for a project from and don’t just claiming it as your own.
The wonderful thing about the internet is that there are so many creative people sharing their work. There’s bound to be similar ideas floating around! 🙂
Completely in love with this! I’ll definitely be doing a version myself. Such a great money saver. And I so get the paper fascination!
Such a lovely idea! I’m featuring it at this week’s link party. http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/07/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-98.html
The papers you used are FANTASTIC!
Hi there Amy, so nice to meet another for whom the “love of paper runs deep.” Visiting you via “HitMeWithYourBestShot” linkup where I discovered your post on DIY wedding invites. But then I couldn’t resist seeing your other lovely paper creations. They did not disappoint. Lovely to meet you.
Hey Amy! I featured this tutorial for this week’s Create & Share Party! Woo! The party will be live at 6pm PST, so see you then!
http://mrsthreeinthree.com/2014/07/create-share-diy-recipe-party-13.html
-Karly
Thanks for linking up to The DIYers! FYI, we’ll be featuring your project at tomorrow’s party. Great project—thanks for the inspiration : ]
Hi Amy, I love pretty papers! I love how your notebook turned out. Thanks for sharing it at the party @DearCreatives Theresa
Wow! Yours looks so professional. Great job recovering – such an improvement. I’d be thrilled if you’d link up at this week’s Off the Hook!
Amy, I am obsessed with how this turned out, and your photos are beautiful!
Love the paper you used! This turned out amazing! I may have to use this idea for Haven next week;)
Gorgeous, Amy! I love the business card pocket!
Love this, Amy! So creative!
Wow! I would have never known that wasn’t the original cover… I’m headed to check out the clearance section right now. I can turn any book into what I want 😀 Thanks for linking up at My Favorite Things Saturday!!
I love paper and notebooks, but my husband (fairly) teases me for writing in just the first few pages of all the notebooks I have. So recently, I’ve neatly removed such pages and put in a folder to make a scrapbook of all my journal entries on random sized papers, hopefully in chronological order. Wish me luck!
I love Love LOVE how this turned out. Your did an amazing job and I’m a big fan of the scrapbook paper you picked out!
Amy, this is so, so pretty! What kind of mode podge do you use? I have a “matte” kind but haven’t used it yet 🙂
Your notebook is gorgeous!! Love the business cards pocket!
I LOVE scrapbook paper too Amy! I have a whole hutch full of it…I’m sure I won’t be able to use it all in my whole lifetime, but it’s so pretty…and I do buy {even more, gasp} when I fall in love with it! However, I never buy a birthday/wedding/etc card, I always make my own, and I use my pretty papers for SO MANY things!
Nice! I have a thing about paper too; mostly journals and then stationery and / or note cards. I will have to try this sometime.
I love this Amy! I wish I had more time to craft things like this!♥♥And I am so in a need of a good notebook!
I figure as long as I have the Modge Podge out May as we’ll use it so I’ve been making greeting cards to sell on Etsy, covering papier mâché boxes w/cute paper to use as storage in the bedroom & covering empty oatmeal boxes to use to store bulk grains from the coop. Now I must cover notebooks
What a fabulous how-to! Thanks so much for sharing on Cook it! Craft it! Share it! I pinned this to our group board and am sharing it on my Facebook page tonight! 🙂
Ang
Nope. I’m paper crazy too! I’m working on a diy notebook too! I love the paper you used and the pocket for your business cards is fabulous. LOVE!
I can never have enough journals to write in, this just gave me inspiration to create my own journal now thank you.
I LOVE this! Such gorgeous paper, and the end result is fabulous. So great!