How to Decorate Composition Notebooks Using Scrapbook Supplies

Add flair to an ordinary composition book by decorating it with scrapbook supplies.

Composition books, which you may remember as those bound notebooks with the black-and-white patterned covers, serve as an ideal base for scrap art creations. These notebooks come in different sizes and can be used for a variety of purposes. Mini composition books work well for making shopping lists or taking notes. Larger composition books can be used to keep track of school assignments or as a journal. Decorate composition books using scrapbook supplies to customize the book for yourself or as a gift.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scrapbook paper
• Paper trimmer
• Scrapbook embellishments (brads, ribbon, chipboard letters or shapes, stamps, stickers, etc.)
• Adhesive
• Corner rounder
• Scissors

1. Select the size of notebook and decide the purpose of the composition book.

2. Select a pattern or color combination from your scrapbook supplies. Cut scrapbook paper to cover the entire composition book. For larger books, you may want to cut separate pieces of paper for the front and back covers.

3. Use a corner rounder to round the corners of the scrapbook paper so they match the rounded corners of the composition book.

4. Glue the paper to cover the notebook. If you are using liquid adhesive, apply it sparingly and use a bone folder or plastic card to smooth out any wrinkles in the paper. If you choose spray adhesive, use it in a well-ventilated area and apply it to the back of the scrapbook paper. Press the paper onto the front and back covers of the composition book and let the adhesive dry.

5. Cut a 2-inch strip of paper to cover the binding of the book so you don't see where the two separate pieces of paper split. Decorate the paper strip first by using stitching or metal embellishments such as brads, eyelets or beads. Apply the adhesive to the decorated paper strip and apply to the spine of the composition book.

6. Decorate the front and back of your composition book. Depending on your theme, pull the look together with stamped images, chipboard letters or frames, die cuts, stickers or other scrapbook supplies you have on hand.

Tips & Warnings

• When creating your decorated composition book, limit the amount of glue you use so you don't get the paper too wet. Too much glue can cause the covers to wrinkle or damage your scrapbook paper.

• Use a strong adhesive for embellishments to keep them from falling off the notebook.

• If your paper does not fit the book exactly, instead of trying to trim the edges you can use a fine sandpaper to smooth out the excess paper and mold it into your notebook cover.

References

• Scrapbooking.com: Decorating Composition Notebooks