Notebook Makeovers

    As promised, I'm sharing a closer look at my Shopping Book, as well as some other notebooks I have made over in a similar way.  Be warned: I took lots of pictures!

    I have a weakness for pretty journals and stationery, but they can be so pricey in the stores.  My simple solution is to start with a basic, inexpensive notebook and decorate it myself.  I read about Annabel doing this years ago, and I have done it ever since! 

 

    This is how my notebooks started out:

    The one on the left is just a basic composition notebook.  The one on the right was actually from a promotion that one of the local businesses did for a school.  They had boxes of these left over and were just going to throw them in the trash!!!  Thankfully a friend who works for the business rescued them and I ended up with a free box.  

    Any type or size of notepad, journal, or notebook will do.  In the US, now is the time to buy these types of supplies, as we are in our back-to-school season.  I saw the composition notebooks on sale for .50 each the other day.  I plan to restock a few.

    For the outer cover of my shopping book, I used photos that I liked from a Martha Stewart gardening book that I had picked up from the thrift store for $1.  I always look at books when I go thrifting, not only for reading content, but to see if there are any that are full of lovely pictures that I might be able to use for crafting.  Again, I have to credit Annabel with this!  

    Anything can be used- magazines, calendars, catalogs, maps, and product packaging or labels that are appealing are all suitable.  Anytime I see anything pretty on paper, I will cut it out and save it for a project.  I've ended up with lots of creative material for cheap this way.

    I keep my small cut-outs in plastic sleeves (plastic zippered bags would work too).  For larger images, I just tear the whole page out if I'm not keeping the book or magazine that it's in.  Either way, I find it very relaxing to just look through all of the beautiful pictures.  

       My work station was filled with pretty things through the whole process:

    After I found pages I liked from the Martha Stewart book, I glued them onto the cover of my notebook using Scotch permanent roller dots.  I find this works better than a glue stick for keeping slick pages in place.  I covered the seam along the spine with washi tape.  I had trouble getting that to stick, so I reaffixed it with Mod Podge and that did the trick.  I used stamps and scrap cardstock to make my "Shopping List" label.

    For the inside covers, which were also previously school-themed, I used some coordinating scrapbook paper that I had on hand and embellished it with some washi tape.  I always wait for a good sale or coupon when buying these types of supplies.

    I used stamps and cut-outs to embellish the pages inside.  Stickers would work, too.  I just made sure everything was thin or flat to keep from adding too much bulk to the book.  

    The categories in my Shopping book are: Books, Home, Garden, Homesteading and Preparedness, Homeschool, Beauty (clothes, self-care, etc.), and Miscellaneous.  Colton, John, and James each have a section, as well.  I allotted ten pages for each category and that filled the journal.

    I tried to find images and words that went with each category.  

    For some of the pages, I used cut-outs from an old, thrifted dictionary.

home, n. one's abode or residence; dwelling-place of a man and his family...

beauty, n. an assemblage of graces or properties which command the approbation of the senses...

    In the "Homeschool" section, I used a library book card and part of an old travel atlas.

    Some of the pages have Bible verses written out:

"Home" Section

"Homesteading and Preparedness" Section

    This is the type of project that is a work-in-progress.  As I fill pages, I will decorate more.  The whole process is very leisurely for me.

    In my last post, I also shared the journal I plan to use for my boys.  Due to the sheer exhaustion that comes with having a baby, I failed miserably at writing things in their baby books.  This is my redemptive effort to start recording the special milestones they reach and the little things they say and do.  For the cover, I used a picture from a Norman Rockwell calendar layered over some scrapbook paper.

"Timeless Memories"

    The inside covers are embellished with scrapbook paper and a tag that Annabel sent me as part of a set she made for me when I was pregnant with John.  I used these tags to label baskets in the nursery that held diapers, blankets, burp cloths, nursing supplies, etc.  So they are very special.  The first page has a Bible verse:

Psalm 127:3-4

 

    For the composition books, I decorated the covers but left the insides blank for writing.  The one with lace is where I record the craft projects I want to do and the supplies I need for each one.  The floral one lists my weekly savings and homemaking accomplishments.  I have had both of these for several years and they have held up well.

    I hope this gives you some ideas of how you can turn inexpensive materials into something useful and beautiful.  Any of these would also make great personalized gifts!  Kids could even decorate their own notebooks for school- they would have something unique this way.  The possibilities are endless and once you start, you'll begin seeing potential materials everywhere.  

    Let me know if you decide to make over your own notebook or journal!