I customized sketchbook and notepad covers with sheets from a paper pack.
I thought I'd share a few short and sweet ways to customize sketchbook and notepad covers. These could make a nice quick gift for a friend or family member.
Supplies and Stuff
These are the items I used to customize some covers:
"Be My Valentine" Hot Buy paper pack
Sketchbook
Notepads
Paper cutter
Scissors
Hole punch
Double-sided permanent tape
Decorative foil tapes (red and gold)
Sketchbook Cover Additions
I was inspired by Sea Lemon's YouTube videos to customize my sketchbook cover with pattern paper. What I did with this sketchbook cover was inspired by her Dollar Store Wire Coil Book Makeovers video from last year.
I started by removing the front and back covers off my sketchbook. They're thick and feel like they were made of heavy cardboard or chipboard. I cleaned the covers with a wet wipe since they sat untouched on a bookshelf for years. I didn't worry about the moisture of the wipes warping the thick covers.
While I waited for the covers to dry, I flipped through my "Be My Valentine" to find some small designs I liked. There was a tic-tac-toe design I decided to add to the front cover. I also pulled out a few "love" designs and a scrap metallic gold sheet to use on the covers.
I started by covering the white sheet inside the cover with a large "love" pattern sheet. I placed the pattern sheet over the white sheet and marked where I needed to make cuts with a pencil. I cut the pattern sheet just barely larger than the white sheet already inside the cover.
Before I adhered the pattern sheet, I marked where the spiral wire holes should be. I then used a hole punch to make the holes.
I ran my double-sided permanent tape runner over the white sheet already on the cover. I carefully lined up one edge and a hole of the pattern sheet to the white sheet before pressing down firmly.
I did the same for the inside of the other cover before putting the covers back onto the spiral sketchbook. I then adhered the tic-tac-toe design to the front cover. I trimmed scrap white and separate metallic gold to layer a "love" design over. I adhered these pieces above the tic-tac-toe design. I also cut a small "love" heart design and adhered it to the back cover.
I thought about protecting the designs with a coat of Mod Podge, but I figured it wasn't necessary since this isn't a sketchbook I'd travel around with. I prefer taking smaller sketchbooks when I go out and about.
Notepad Re-Covers
For grins, I decided to re-cover a couple small notepads I bought as part of a multi-pack of notepads from the Dollar Tree. I soon realized that some of the small designs from the paper pack were the perfect width for the 4" by 6" notepads.
I used my paper cutter to cut and separate two small designs from one another. I trimmed a little off the top of both designs, maybe about 1/8" off, since I knew the designs were too long for the notepads.
I adhered the designs onto the notepad covers, lining up the top of the design with the black binding tape before pressing down firmly. I trimmed off the excess from the bottom of the cover with scissors.
While I could've left the re-covered notepads alone, I decided to use a couple shiny decorative tape I also bought as part of a larger pack from the Dollar Tree. I like when there's a little extra shine to my crafty projects that doesn't involve using fine glitter.
My Thoughts
It probably took me longer to decide on how to customize the covers than it did to cut and adhere the design paper onto the covers.
I like using sheets from paper pack to spruce up a cover. It was a great way to preoccupy myself for a few minutes while I waited for paint to dry on another project.
This may be a quick, easy, and cheap way to make a gift for a family member, friend, or acquaintance. If you had a school-themed paper pack, you could probably easily make a quick gift for a teacher.
What's Next?
I originally wanted to share a different project with you today, except the paint is taking longer than usual to dry. I'm also too lazy to take a heat gun to it to speed up the drying process. I hope to share this unfinished project with you next week.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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