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11.15.2013

Fabric Covered Notebooks


Amanda and I are both big fans of the "To Do List".  At any given time I will have multiple lists going: one in my phone, one on my computer, one (or more) on a pad of paper somewhere...  Then, at some point when it all gets too crazy, I will collect all of my lists and amalgamate them into one giant list (usually in a notebook) that I carry around until everything is done.  Then the cycle begins again.

Now that Granny Girls is up & running and we're constantly jotting down craft & recipe ideas, there is an even greater need for a place to keep everything organized.   We love pretty notebooks but they can get expensive - especially when you're tearing out pages all the time - so we decided to make our own!  We bought these notebooks at Target (but you can get them at most office supply stores) for under two dollars apiece.  Then we picked up some cute fabric and, using a little Mod Podge (just like with our Polaroid Coasters), gave them brand new covers.  The whole project only costs a few dollars, is super quick to complete and you end up with your very own, personalized notebooks!  To Do List heaven.


Supplies:

  • Your choice of notebooks (we used these)
  • Mod Podge (available at most craft stores)
  • A foam brush (a large paintbrush will also work)
  • Some pretty fabric (1/2 a yard will cover around 3-4 notebooks)
  • Fabric chalk or pencil (or you can use a regular pencil)
  • A long ruler
  • Scissors (or a rotary cutter if you have one!)

Steps:


1.  Cut a piece of fabric that is slightly larger than your notebook.


2.  Using your fabric chalk (or pencil) and a ruler, draw a straight line down the center of your piece of fabric.  Then cut in half along line.  This edge is going to line up with your binding so cut it as straight as you can.  (This is where a rotary cutter would come in handy if you have one!)


3.  Now, using your foam brush, paint the front cover of your notebook (except for the binding) with a thin layer of Mod Podge.  Line up the straight edge of your fabric with the edge of your binding & press down.



4.  Trim fabric around the edges so you have nice clean lines with about an inch of overhang.  We also trimmed the corners.

5.  Paint on a little Mod Podge and fold the corners in first.


6.  Then do the sides (we also painted a layer of Mod Podge over top of our folded edges to really stick them down).


7.  Use your other piece of fabric and do the same thing to the back cover.  Let dry.  You now have the prettiest notebooks around! 




How easy was that?


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