Decorating composition notebooks, notebooks, journals, etc..

[rbheath]

I would like to decorate composition notebooks and other books for gifts but need to see if anyone has tips for making a nice finished product. For example, the inside covers of a composition notebook need to be covered as does the outside. Would you use an exacto knife to have the paper align with the cover (on both the outside and inside) or would you try to fold it around the outside cover to the inside and finish it like the inside of books with a rectangle of paper?

I may not be explaining it well...I just want to get some tips if you have made any of these. I don't want to waste any notebooks if I can help it. Also, would you stamp before covering or after?

--Heather

[sweetsandygoodwin]

I saved thses instructions . they are very good and you will get a very nice "finished product". I also have a picture of one I did in my gallery.

[barbwire802]

I have made several of these for my teenage daughter and her friends. They LOVE them! I make mine just like the instructions that sweetsandygoodwin attached. Only, I made mine up as I went along! My first one was for a baby gift.... a mother's journal. They are fun and each one is so different.

Enjoy!

[lindalee]

I found my cardstock to be too thick to fold nicely around the edges of a composition notebook. I traced the cover onto the paper and cut the edge with my Fiskars rotary cutter so it would be super straight. I trimmed the rounded corners as smoothly as I could with scizzors. Then I used double stick tape to hold it to the composition book. Worked for me!

[rbheath]

Thanks for the information! I was wondering if the cardstock was trimmed to the edges if it could somehow be sealed with an adhesive so the corners and edges wouldn't peel up. I don't know what sealer to even try. Any suggestions?

Heather

[sweetsandygoodwin]

I score my cardstock (using the edge of the comp book as a guide) before folding it over the edges and it turns out very nicely.

[rbheath]

I'll give the scoring a try. It's just a little intimidating to look at the nicely rounded edge of the notebook. The directions were very detailed and I hope to make a notebook by the weekend! Thank you again!

--Heather

[grandmascraps]

Thanks for the detailed instructions and for the tip about scoring the edges. I too thought that card stock would be too thick for this. I will give it a try. :lol:

[jlinsenman]

I started out working "cheap" . Go to WM or KMart and buy a notebook or package of spiral notebooks for under a buck ...I have also gone to dollar stores.
Unwind the coil
I then cut a piece of paper just over the size of the original cover and round the corners (I don't use a pattern or measurements, just usually lay down the cover over a piece of paper and cut, rounding the corners)
Then I "decorate, stamp, etc my cover
When done, I apply a layer of glue to the backside of my cover and brayer it onto the original notebook cover.
Once brayered, I turn it over, lay a thin line of glue to the inside edge and work it over and down with my fingers.
Cut a piece of paper for the inside cover and glue and brayer.
Use a small hole punch and repunch the holes...i usually can't get them pefect...you just do the best you can
Rewind the coil...not as bad as it sounds.
I will include a link to a notebook i did cost 67 cents at WM
I usually use the clear adhesivetech glue comes in a pkg at walmart with others (gluestick, etc)
A word of caution...don't go hog wild on the glue or you will have bubbles.
Aslo, if you want to avoid the whole glue issue, use xyron...works like a charm!
Good luck and let us know how things turn out!!!...judy


http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.a...yout_id=495820

[LodiChick]

I usually use SU designer paper or scrapbook paper which is thinner than cardstock and can more easily be folded over the corners. Then I add layers from there. I also usually cover my spine with velveteen paper and I attach it with sticky strip on the outside edges only.
I do remember reading somewhere that they used crystal effects to glue down the cardstock to the book. I have done that with other things and it does work really well. HTH