Using patterned paper and a shimmer brush this time around.
Since I just re-covered a notebook that I'm proud of, I decided to re-cover another notebook. This time, I had a spiral notebook I wanted to customize and another paper pack I've yet to use. I also used a shimmer brush to add some sparkle, shine, and shimmer to the cover.
Supplies and Stuff
These are the items I used to re-cover my composition notebook:
Notebook. I was gifted a Cattleya Lined Spiral Notebook last Christmas and decided to customize the front cover.
Patterned paper. I used a sheet from a 12" x 12" Stargazer Holographic Foil paper pack by The Paper Studio.
Double-sided tape. I used a tape runner to adhere the paper onto the cover. Tear tape or glue would work as well.
Scissors and paper cutter. I used scissors to cut off the excess paper off the notebook. I used a paper cutter for creating precision cuts of the sheet I wanted to use, but you could just use scissors if preferred.
Pencil and Marker. The pencil allowed me to mark where I needed to cut the sheet of paper. I used a permanent marker to partially outline a few stickers.
Shimmer brush pen. I used my Shimmer Wink Of Stella Brush to add a little shine and shimmer to the cover design.
Letter stickers. I added my initials to the cover using a few letter stickers.
Choosing the Paper
While I don't see myself using the notebook any time soon (I want to save this one for my return to the workforce), I decided a sheet from a 12" x 12" Stargazer Holographic Foil paper pack by The Paper Studio.
I bought this paper pack from my local Hobby Lobby store during a sale last year. I haven't used any sheets from this pack before this craft project. I knew I wanted to use a sheet with a dark background.
Unfortunately, the colors of the sheets within this paper pack are a bit muted for my liking, which is likely why I haven't used this before now. Nevertheless, I pulled a sheet lined with rows and columns of the moon in front of a starry background.
Covering the Front Cover
I first removed the clear, protective plastic cover on the spiral notebook. I put it aside and reached for my paper cutter.
I placed my notebook over the sheet of paper lined with rows and columns of the moon in front of a starry background. I used a pencil to mark the edges of the notebook on the paper. I cut along the pencil marks I made on the sheet with my paper cutter.
I ran my tape runner along the edges of the front cover. I also ran the tape runner four times down the center of the cover for safe measure. I wanted to be sure the paper wouldn't bubble or warp in the middle at any point in the future.
I lined the patterned paper along the bottom edge of the cover and made sure it didn't overlap the spiral coil.
If I did cut and place the paper around the coil, I likely would've used a pin punch to add holes to the paper. Once I punched the small holes in the paper, I would've unraveled the coil from the front cover, tossed the original cover aside, and then re-twisted the coil through the holes in the paper.
I could've also unraveled the coil from the front cover, placed the sheet of paper over the cover, and then used a pin punch to add holes to the paper. After I punched the small holes in the paper, I would've re-twisted the coil through the holes in the paper.
I decided I didn't want to bother with the extra steps of cutting and placing the paper around the coil. Again, I lined the patterned paper along the bottom of the edge of the cover and made sure it didn't overlap the spiral coil. I pressed the paper down firmly with my fingers, working from the bottom to the top of the cover.
Once the paper was securely adhered onto the cover, I used scissors to cut the excess around the edges of the cover. I opened the cover and made sure the blades of the scissors lined up with the cover's edge. Doing so ensured a relatively straight, clean cut.
Adding Shimmer
I thought the cover was a bit dull. It seemed like it lacked something, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Before I started this craft project, I finished a glitter-heavy project for someone. I thought glitter would help add a little shine and shimmer to the cover.
Instead of working with fine glitter powder and glue, I grabbed my Shimmer Wink Of Stella Brush. I shook the shimmer brush well before removing the cap. I brushed over the highlighted, or lighter, areas of each moon.
It doesn't show well in any photos I took, but the brushed areas sparkled when the light hit it at the right angle. I liked the way the shimmer brush added shine and shimmer to the highlighted areas of each moon. I dabbed the shimmer brush over random areas of the dark, starry background.
Adding Stickers
Although the shimmer brush literally added shine and shimmer to the cover, I still thought the cover was dull. It still seemed like it was lacking something.
I was at a loss of how to make the cover more visually interesting to me. I searched through my sticker collection and decided to use a few sheets of letter stickers to add my initials to the cover.
I thought silver letters would work best on the cover. I placed the letters J, A, and M over one of the moons. Unfortunately, I was wrong about thoughts that the silver letters would work best on the cover. There wasn't any contrast between the silver letters and the moon. To make the letters 'pop,' I used a black Sharpie permanent marker to imitate shadows to the right and bottom of each letter.
For grins, I grabbed a sheet of dark, multi-colored letter stickers. I placed the letters J, A, and M from this sticker sheet over a different moon. Naturally, the darker letters contrasted well over the lighter moon.
I wanted to add my initials over a few more areas, but figured I needed to stop before I ruined the cover. I put the clear, protective plastic cover back onto the spiral notebook.
My Thoughts
This took me about 10 minutes to complete my re-covering of this spiral notebook. I think it looks alright. It's not a look I favor, but it's not bad either. The seal on the clear, protective plastic cover is a little distracting, but I like the idea of protecting my custom design with it.
This craft project was so quick and easy to do, I think I may redo the cover with another patterned paper. I believe there's room for improvement, so I'll take advantage of my opportunity to make it look more visually appealing to my own eyes.
What's Next?
I'm taking a break from re-covering notebooks for a while, all though I have a few others I can re-cover in the future. Last weekend, I made greeting cards for my friends and will share my creations with you in the next two blogs.
Would you have taken the extra steps to place the patterned paper through the spiral coil? Login and Sign up to share you would or wouldn't do so if you had a spiral notebook to re-cover.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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