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August 5, 2015 by Jennifer

101 Handmade Days: DIY Notebook Cover

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Can you believe its already August and some kids are already back in school?!?! This time of year always seems to creep up and suprise me out of nowhere! While I don’t have kids of my own, I do love all the deals on the school supplies! I love to stock up on pens, paper, and notebooks! But of course once I’ve got them, I can’t leave well enough alone! I’ve got to put my personal flare on it, like this DIY notebook cover!

DIY Notebook Cover - BusyBeingJennifer.com #101HandmadeDays

No boring composition note books around here!! I’ve recovered mine, and the best part? This DIY notebook cover is reusable!  Yup!! When this particular notebook is full of thoughts and random scribbles, I can slide this notebook cover off and slip it right onto a new notebook!

DIY Note Book Cover - BusyBeingJennifer.com #101HandmadeDays

Want to make an awesome DIY notebook cover for yourself? Here’s what you need…

Regular size composition notebook
1/2 yard of your chosen fabric
scrap piece of coordinating fabric at least 4 inches square
4 inch square piece of heat’n’bond fabric adhesive
1/2 yard batting or felt
ruler
cutting mat
rotary cutter
fabric marker
iron
thread
scissors
straight pins
sewing machine

DIY Note Book Cover - BusyBeingJennifer.com #101HandmadeDays

Start by cutting a 28 by 12 inch rectangle piece out of the fabric and the batting. Iron them flat.

Layer the fabric on top of the batting. On the back side of the batting, draw a line 1/2 from both ends with the fabric marker. Fold both the batting and the fabric to that line to create a straight 1/4 inch fold. Iron flat, pin in place and sew down.

I wanted to personalize my notebook cover, so I decided to add my first initial! To do this you’ll need that scrap of coordinating fabric, some sort of stencil to trace and the heat’n’bond.

Apply your heat’n’bond to the back side of your coordinating fabric. Using the fabric marker, trace your letter onto the right side of the fabric. Cut out and set aside. To find the right spot on the front of your notebook cover, place your cover fabric side down, then grab the composition notebook and place it on top of the batting. Fold the ends of the cover in and then carefully close the notebook, temporarily covering the book. Decide where you want the letter to go and pin in place.

Remove the note book. Following the directions for your heat’n’bond, apply the letter to your note book cover. Zig Zag stitch in place. **Tip: Go slowly around the corners, it helps keep the stitching even!

DIY Note Book Cover - BusyBeingJennifer.com #101HandmadeDays

Once you’ve applied you initial, Fold your cover in half and mark the center with a straight pin. Now lay the cover on a flat surface, fabric side down. Open your notebook and lay it on top, centering the spine to the straight pin.

Fold the end of the cover in and snug it up against the edge of the notebook. Pin in place. Repeat on the other side.

While the notebook is still in there, use your fabric marker to trace its outline. On the batting only.

Carefully slip the note book out. Add a few more straight pins to secure.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/239144951/timeless-treasures-vintage-sewing-patch

Using the traced line as a guide, sew just to the outside. This leaves enough room for the seam. Reinforce the “pocket” ends where the folded edge is.

Trim away the access fabric, leaving a 1/4 seam.

Zig Zag stitch all the way along the seams from one end to the other. (Shown above) This secures the center fabric and batting in place and adds a little more stability and durability to the notebook cover.

Turn right side out.

Carefully slip over your notebook.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/239144951/timeless-treasures-vintage-sewing-patch

You’ve completed your DIY note book cover!! OH and you can use the flaps that cover the cardboard of the note book as pockets too!

DIY Your Own Notebook Cover! They’re cute, practical and reusable! #101handmadedays

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If you use this tutorial to make your own DIY Notebook Cover, I’d love to see it! Leave a comment below with a link! 🙂

Filed Under: Crafts + DIY's, DIY Projects, Sewing Tagged With: Back to School, DIY, Notebook cover, Reusable, sewing

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Comments

  1. Stacie says

    August 5, 2015 at 8:44 am

    Oh my gosh! Can you PLEASE sell these in your shop?! I really want one!!! Stacie xo

    Reply
  2. crystal says

    August 5, 2015 at 9:35 am

    I adore these!!! 🙂 It’s so hard to find a cute notebook/spiral these days and this is the perfect fix!

    Reply
  3. crystal says

    August 5, 2015 at 9:36 am

    PS – I think my camera strap is that same (or very close to) fabric. Love it!

    Reply
  4. Daria says

    August 5, 2015 at 9:56 am

    This is so cute! When I started school, I stopped all of my extra creative to-do’s and haven’t been able to pick them up since I graduated. I must get back to them…Thanks for sharing…

    Reply
  5. Andriana @ A Love Worth Living For says

    August 5, 2015 at 10:49 am

    Such a cute idea! I am a total notebook hoarder so I love this! Looks easy to do. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Cynthia @craftoflaughter says

    August 5, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Oh my! I never thought to applique them before! Love it, thanks for the tutorial. Going to pin it for Christmas Presents!

    Reply
  7. Angela Taylor says

    August 5, 2015 at 11:17 am

    Love this idea! Love the simplicity and I love that is reuseable!

    Reply
  8. Tanya de Kruijff says

    August 5, 2015 at 11:22 am

    Ooh, very pretty! I have yet to learn how to use the sewing machine, but that is one of my goals this year. So I will save this project on my DIY Pinterest board for later. I am a notebook addict, I just have to try this!

    Reply
  9. Sarah Noel says

    August 5, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Very cute! My skill set is not quite there. I’ll have to buy it!

    Reply
  10. Gale says

    August 5, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    That is just adorable! And I’ve been seeing the need for bookcovers (I’ve been repairing books as I pack them…so many just falling apart). I really need to learn to sew.

    Reply
  11. serenemomblog says

    August 5, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    This is so adorable! I’m terrified of the sewing machine or I’d try my hand at it lol.

    Reply
  12. Leslie Wilkie says

    August 6, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Super Cute Idea! I love how yours turned out. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Chrissy Boerman (@boermanc) says

    August 6, 2015 at 9:39 am

    we are going to make these today… i’ll share a pic when we are done

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      August 6, 2015 at 10:50 am

      YAY!!! I can’t wait to see them!

      Reply
  14. Alicia says

    August 9, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    Love this now I don’t feel bad buying the cheap ugly notebooks lol

    Reply
  15. Life Breath Present says

    August 19, 2015 at 8:06 am

    This turned out so nicely! I hadn’t thought to use batting, so I love that idea! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Meredith says

    August 21, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    What a great idea! Now you can just buy the cheap, ugly notebooks and save money. I love using pretty things, it makes me feel so much more productive!

    Reply
  17. Akaleistar says

    August 22, 2015 at 8:59 am

    What a cute notebook cover!

    Reply
  18. alaynascreations says

    August 22, 2015 at 8:50 pm

    Fun idea! And looks pretty straighforward too. My 11 year old is into projects of all kinds right now, often ones that include sewing and this just might be a great project for her.
    Thanks for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty

    Reply
  19. Amila Wickramarachchi says

    August 24, 2015 at 12:55 am

    Super cute and lovely idea.I really like the outcome.Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  20. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    August 24, 2015 at 1:29 am

    Thanks for sharing your cute notebook cover. Pinned & shared. Hope to see you again soon. Thanks for joining the Inspiration Spotlight Party. Have a great week ahead.

    Reply
  21. Cathy says

    August 25, 2015 at 7:41 pm

    I love making my notebooks pretty and this is a great way of doing it. Thank you so much for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy

    Reply
  22. momssmallvictories says

    August 27, 2015 at 10:52 am

    So cute, we have so many boring composition books lying around here, what a fun way to spruce them up and breathe life into them. Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you found some great posts to visit this week!

    Reply
  23. Lou Lou Girls says

    August 30, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    Loving this! You are so talented. Thanks for sharing this at our party. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we get to party with you again! Lou Lou Girls

    Reply
  24. Sonja @ SustainMyCraftHabit says

    August 31, 2015 at 8:59 pm

    These are super cute! I have just the books in mind to cover. Thank you for sharing on #HomeMattersParty!

    Reply
  25. Pam says

    August 21, 2017 at 11:17 am

    I love covering composition notebooks! I’ve never tried it with fabric. Yours is so cute!

    Reply
  26. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says

    August 21, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    Oh this is so cute and I love the letter. A great gift idea too! Thanks for sharing at #overthemoon link party.

    Reply
  27. Angela Boone says

    August 26, 2017 at 9:46 am

    These notebook covers are so cute!

    Reply
  28. dawn says

    August 26, 2017 at 11:55 am

    I found a journal that I want to use as a garden journal/planner and I’ve been wondering how I could make the cover more gardeny. This looks like a great option for doing that!

    Reply
  29. Anti Bugs says

    June 24, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    What a cute notebook cover!

    Reply

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