Small, tear away sheets to take quick memo notes during the spooky season.
I designed and made my own Halloween-themed notepad for quick daily notes.
In case it's helpful, below are the topics covered in this post:
Making the Design
I did not want to make a large notepad. I figured 3 inches by 5 inches was a good size for short, quick notes.
I initially wanted to cut down sheets from a themed paper pad but decided to make my own original design using some free clipart images. I downloaded the spider silhouette and spider web images from Free SVG.
I used Photoshop because it is an image editing program that I am familiar and comfortable with.
Print and Cut
Once I was satisfied with my design, I printed thirty sheets on regular copy paper. Considering how the colors were less saturated than I liked, I should have used better quality paper.
The most tedious and time-consuming part of this project was cutting the individual sheets. It was not hard to do, just repetitive and boring after a while. A guillotine paper cutter would have been nice to use, but I do not own one. Instead, I used a paper trimmer with a dull blade.
The dull blade of my paper trimmer left unwanted frayed edges. It looked too fuzzy for my liking. I lightly sanded the edges of the sheets for smoother, sharper edges.
Gluing/Binding
I stacked the sheets together and placed them in between two books. I made sure the top edge of the sheets was exposed between the covers of both books. The book I placed on top was the heaviest to press the sheets together firmly.
I used a paintbrush to apply several coats of Mod Podge (decoupage glue) to the book bind. I specifically used Mod Podge Paper for its flexibility after it fully dried. Hard, brittle glue would crack and break with use.
I applied three coats of glue, waiting one hour between coats. A half hour between coats would have sufficed, but I focused on other chores while I let the glue dry.
After I applied the third coat of glue, I let it dry completely for about four hours.
Unlike the DIY Travel Books I made last year, I decided not to add a chipboard or cardboard backing for this notepad. I wanted to keep things simple with this project.
My Thoughts
I worried I used too little glue to bind the edges of the sheets together. After a test tear, I believe two coats of glue would have been enough for my DIY notepad.
Although I am uploading this post today, I have already been using the notepad for three days now. The notepad is holding strong. Because I like making handwritten notes and reminders each day, I should have enough sheets to last most of the month.
I will definitely make my own themed notepads going forward. It is nice to see my own design, although simple and not as vibrant as I would like.
Maybe I will invest in a guillotine paper cutter to make things a little quicker and easier for future DIY notepads.
What's Next?
Feel free to download the Spooky Notepad Design (PNG file format downloadable via Google Drive) to make your own notepad! Be sure to use a flexible glue (e.g., decoupage glue, rubber cement, school glue) to adhere the top edge of the sheets together and easy tear.
Have you tried making your own notepad? Comment below to share your thoughts and experiences with making your own DIY notepad.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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