To decorate notebooks, you'll need craft materials, time and creativity! Make a book cover using paper, paint, or cloth, or create a collage on the front of the book with stickers and pictures. You can also decorate your book with anything that inspires you, from glitter to buttons. This notebook is yours so you are free to decorate it however you want!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making a Book Cover
Step 1. Choose paint, paper, or fabric for the cover of the book
There are a wide variety of options for creating cool and eye-catching book covers. Choose materials before you start the manufacturing process so you have a plan for the future. Try to choose a material that can express yourself!
- You can use cardboard, construction paper (thick cardboard for construction projects), or old maps.
- You can search for pictures on the internet. Print a single image to cover an entire notebook, or use a computer to create a photo collage.
- You can use fabrics such as canvas, denim, or an unused T-shirt.
- You can also paint a separate sheet of paper and attach it to the cover of the book.
Step 2. Trace the book size on the cover material
Place the book on top of the material (either paper or cloth). Mark the sides of the book on the material using a pencil or pen. The line drawn is the approximate size of the book. This way, you know which part to cut out.
You can cut the front and back of the cover separately, or you can cut enough material to cover the front and back of the book at the same time. Make sure you place the book open if you want to make a cut that can cover both sides at once
Step 3. Cut the pieces according to the size of the cover
Use the scissors to cut the cover based on the outline you previously traced. Place the cover piece over the notebook to make sure it's the right size.
- If the cover is too large, trim it to fit the size of the notebook.
- If it's too small, you can make another cut or improvise using other accessories, such as ribbon or stickers.
- If you choose fabric as the cover material, use fabric scissors to form sharp straight lines.
Step 4. Apply glue (just a thin layer) on the cover
You can use adhesive materials such as glue sticks, liquid glue, hot glue gun, or other glue products (eg Fox or Alteco). Just apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the cover material. Make sure you also dab the corners of the cover so the paper doesn't lift.
Don't use too much glue on the cover. In addition to taking longer to dry, the cover will look messy. Try applying only a light adhesive
Step 5. Match the corners of the notebook to the corners of the cover
Start at the top of the book and match the corner of the cover to the top corner of the notebook. After that, adjust the corners of the bottom of the cover and the book.
Step 6. Press the cover so that it sticks to the notebook
Use and press the side or palm of your hand against the front of the cover to attach it to the notebook. Make sure you press and flatten the edges of the cover against the edge of the book using your fingertips.
- If any corners or sides of the cover don't stick well, apply a small amount of glue between the cover and the notebook, then press them down.
- You can press and flatten the cover several times to make sure the cover sticks well.
Step 7. Let the cover and notebook dry before you decorate it any further
Dry the notebook for a few minutes so that the cover adheres to the notebook neatly. Wait 1-3 minutes and touch the cover to make sure it is dry.
- Liquid glue takes the longest time to dry. Glue usually dries within 2 hours, but users are advised to wait for 24 hours for the glue to dry completely. Meanwhile, glue sticks or hot glue guns usually have a shorter drying time, which is about 1-2 minutes.
- If you want to paint or paint a book cover, the paint may take (maximum) 1 hour to dry.
Method 2 of 3: Creating a Collage
Step 1. Write the name and title of the notebook on the cover if you want
Use a pen, marker, or paint to write the name or subject on the cover. You can write down the name and subject, or other relevant information.
You can glue a note card or piece of paper before writing the text on the cover if you want
Step 2. Paste interesting pictures on the notebook cover to decorate it
Look for pictures that you like, such as animals, superheroes, or cartoons. Try using photos of your friends or family if you are. You can take your own photos, cut them out from magazines, or print them from the internet. Apply a small amount of glue to the image or photo, then stick the image onto the cover.
- You can use liquid glue or glue sticks.
- You can attach as many decorations as you like to the cover to decorate it.
Step 3. Add a sticker to the front of the notebook as a personal touch
You can stick stickers and plan out how the cover looks before starting this project. Choose stickers that come in various sizes and reflect your likes or interests.
- For a layered effect, you can partially cover an image that was previously pasted onto a notebook cover.
- You can also make your own stickers and stick them on books.
- Try using three-dimensional stickers!
Step 4. Draw or doodle on the blank space to complete the collage
If there is still empty space on the cover, prepare a marker and draw a picture to fill in the space. Draw stickmen, hearts, stars, flowers, smiley faces or whatever you like!
You can also leave empty space so that later you can add images
Step 5. Make a border/frame using strips of cloth or washi tape
Once you've created a collage, finish the job by adding a frame or border to the notebook. You can attach the fabric to the side of the cover using strips of fabric or ribbon. You can also use washi tape to make the edges of the cover.
- If you are using cloth as the cover material, you can attach it to the book by applying glue to the outer corner of the book. After that, stick the cloth on the points that have been given glue. For this step, the use of hot glue gun or fabric glue is recommended.
- If you are using washi tape, remove the tape from the roll and stick it to the corner of the notebook (as you would a sticker). You can use the ribbon in long strips or in small sections.
Method 3 of 3: Beautifying Books with Other Accessories
Step 1. Glue the buttons on the book to beautify it
Place various buttons on the cover of the book, and choose the placement based on the most appropriate position for each button. Use a hot glue gun to add a little hot glue to the buttons, then attach the buttons to the cover of the book.
Add several buttons or glue at once
Step 2. Use glitter powder to add shine to the book
Apply liquid glue or another glue product (eg glucol) to the book cover. Sprinkle gloss powder over the glue. After that, turn the book over and remove any remaining gloss.
- You can apply gloss to larger surfaces (e.g. the entire cover) or to small areas, such as around name tags.
- When removing the remaining shine, stand on a piece of paper or newspaper, and try to reuse the gloss if possible. If not, throw the remaining powder in the trash.
- The gloss drying process takes about 3-5 minutes.
- If the gloss keeps falling off the cover, add a layer of liquid glue or transparent glue on top of the gloss layer to lock it in. You can add another coat of glue when the first coat dries (which has been glossed over), after about 3-5 minutes.
Step 3. Paint your notebook with nail polish for a bold color
Nail polish can be used instead of watercolor to add detail to a notebook. Use nail polish and watercolors to decorate books, just as you would with brushes and acrylic paints. You can draw elements such as lines, dots, or squares.
- You can create a frame around the journal's name or corner by drawing a line with a nail polish brush.
- You can add a polka dot pattern to the cover by applying nail polish around the book.
- Try making a few lines to form a striped pattern. You can make straight, curved, or zigzag lines.
- Also, try using several different colors of nail polish to make your book cover stand out more.
Step 4. Add texture to the book using felt
Cut out patterns or shapes such as letters, circles, squares, or triangles. Then use a glue stick or glue gun to attach the strips of felt to the notebook.
- Trace the shape on the felt using a stencil and pencil if that helps.
- You can also make a cover out of felt if you want.
Step 5. Stick thick adhesive tape on the cover to add color and pattern
Adhesive tape is usually sold in a variety of bright patterns and colors, from neon green to tie-dye patterns. Find adhesive tape in your favorite color and pattern, then use it to decorate your notebook. You can use long strips of adhesive tape or make certain smaller shapes using scissors.
You can stick adhesive tape to almost any part of the book, such as the cover, back, inside cover, or even individual pages
Step 6. Decorate the cover with diamonds, artificial flowers, or other preferred accessories
Your notebook is your creative space so you can decorate it however you want. Attach other accessories to decorate and modify the look of your book. There are various materials that can be used so feel free to experiment and try different types of accessories!
