The Covered Notebook

Normally when inspiration hits or I come across a new project to try, I find myself scrambling for a scrap piece of paper... card stock, an envelope... maybe even an old receipt.

So I picked up a little spiral bound notebook to jot down my thoughts and keep all my blog related ideas in one place.

Now this may sound a little strange, but instead of writing in it...
I've been staring at it.  It's your average, everyday, blah looking notebook.
Shouldn't a book that's supposed to contain my inspiration look a little bit more... well... inspirational?

So I've been studying it and trying to figure out how to make it look better.  I've tried a few things, but that spiral binding kept getting in the way and foiling my ideas.

Finally, I've come up with a soloution that I'm happy with and it was actually quite simple to do.

Here's the how to...

Banish that evil spiral! {at least for now}
Carefully remove the spiral binding by unhooking the ends and untwisting it from the pages.

Separate the elements.
Set aside the spiral and the pages for later.  We'll be dealing with the front and back covers.

 

What inspires you?

Choose a favourite paper... or even fabric... and cut it to fit the covers about an inch larger on all sides.  {I chose the Vintage Tea Dyed Paper that I created earlier this week.}

Glue down the cover and crease the edges.

Glue it.
Glue down the side panels.

Cut & paste.
Clip the corners of the top and bottom panels and glue down.

Let your light shine.
Hold up to a window or light box and pencil in where the holes are.

Punch it.
A standard hole punch goes through those penciled in circles.

Give it a Glaze.
A nice coat of Mod Podge gives the covers some added durability.
{If you're using fabric, there is a fabric version of Mod Podge available.}

Reassemble.
Put your notebook back together.  Line up the covers and pages and welcome back the spiral by twisting through the holes and re-hook the ends.

So much nicer than the ordinary cover!  I even made a few fabric flowers to embellish it even more, but I decided that I liked it without them.  What would you use to cover your notebook?

This morning, as I was writing up this post, I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of Oliver.  He was following his pal Roxy all around the house.

And I just love his reaction when we ask him, "Oliver, can you pet your puppy dog?"

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm sharing this with...

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming
M.M.M at C.R.A.F.T.
Polly Want 2 Party! Mondays at Polly Want A Crafter
Craft-O-Maniac Monday at Craft-O-Maniac
Terrific Under Ten Tuesdays at At Home With K
Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife
Show Off Your Crafty Side at Purple Froggie Clay Stuff
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Weekend Wrap up at Tatertots & Jello
Lovely Crafty Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home
Fantastic Friday at Iron Violet Designs
Whatcha Got Weekend at Lolly Jane
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal