I have a super fun upcycle project for you guys today: Give inexpensive spiral note pads a trendy new look by changing out the covers with patterned scrapbook paper!
I love, love, love school supplies. When I’m done buying everything my kids need for the new school year, I start looking around for things I might want! And I noticed that all of the fun note pads and note books were so much more pricier than the plain ones. What a bummer! But then I thought, why can’t I just get the plain ones, and dress them up myself??
I found a pack of small spiral note pads at Staples for just a couple of dollars. Such a steal for what I had planned for them!
To remove the cover of the note pad you need to:
1) Bind together the pages of the note pad and the back cover with a binder clip. Leave the front cover loose.
2) At the top and bottom of the spiral the wire is bent. Straighten it with a pair of pliers.
3) Wind the spiral out of the note pad.
4) Use the cover as a template to cut scrapbook paper into the same size. I suggest thicker cardstock papers so they will hold up well to use.
5) Bind old cover and new scrapbook paper covers together. Use the old cover as a guide and punch holes for the new note pad covers. If you have a Crop-a-dile, use the smaller punch and it will go through all of the layers like butter.
Place the new cover on each note pad and re-thread the spiral back through, bending the ends again with the pliers. Easy peasy, right??
I think these would make great back to school gifts, teacher gifts, and even stocking stuffers!
With the variety of a scrapbook paper available, you can really come up with something for just about any occasion.
Pam says
August 30, 2019 at 11:12 AMThis is a GREAT idea! I have covered and decorated notebooks before, but never actually replaced the cover. I love notebooks, and I have SO MUCH patterned cardstock, so this is something I will definitely do! I’m not sure if you’ve shared this at the Thursday Favorite Things link party, but if not, please come on over to my blog and share!
alice says
August 30, 2019 at 6:05 AMWhat a great cost-effective idea and the notebooks came out beautiful. Thanks for linking this idea up with us at #OMGHWW.
Nina Lewis says
September 2, 2015 at 9:51 PMI’m dropping by from the Ginger Snap Crafts link party. I absolutely LOVE this idea! I use little notebooks all the time. Sometimes I can’t find a color that I like — now I can give it a snazzy, beautiful cover. Thanks so much for sharing this!
I have a link party that I am trying to grow. I invite you to share this ideas (and a couple of other ones) at my Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link party at http://grandmaideas.com. My readers would love this idea as much as I do!
My link party goes from Wednesday through Friday night at midnight Mountain Daylight Time. I hope that you will be able to make it.
All the best,
Nina
Heather says
September 2, 2015 at 7:02 AMSuch a great idea Thanks for sharing.
Sagan says
August 31, 2015 at 8:48 AMSuch a fun & pretty idea! Thanks for sharing – looks simple & straightforward enough for even the less-crafty of us to be able to do it 🙂
Stephanie @ Mommyzoid says
August 30, 2015 at 7:14 PMwow, this is suuuuuch a wonderful idea. You’re brilliant! You could even design your own on like, CanVa or PicMonkey with a nice quote or something and print it onto fun paper. I think this is the sweetest idea!
Stephanie @ Mommyzoid.ca
PS: Thanks for sharing this over on the Ladies Collective Linkup! Hope to see you back again this week 🙂
Create With Joy says
August 30, 2015 at 5:41 PMThese are so cute Michelle! Thanks for sharing your fabulous tutorial with us at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy – I’m SO happy to feature you this week! 🙂 #191
Lou Lou Girls says
August 30, 2015 at 1:45 PMSo cute! 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
Karren Haller says
August 29, 2015 at 10:58 AMI love your idea, Im a note book hound and this is a great way to have something unique and different and heaven knows, I have plenty of paper to use for the covers.
Thanks for sharing on the Oh My Heartsie Girls WW this week.
Now I would like to invite you to party again on Friday Feature-Linky-Party this week, hope you would like to stop by and add other links.
Have a great weekend, Karren
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom says
August 27, 2015 at 7:47 PMWhat an easy and creative idea! Usually the cute notebooks cost so much more so I don’t like to spend the extra money. I need to try your idea instead! Thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas with Share The Wealth Sunday!
xoxo
Lisa
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
August 27, 2015 at 10:54 AMAdorable, I’m a notebook, pen, and planner addict. I love this idea to spruce up boring covers! Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you found some great posts to visit this week!
Melinda says
August 25, 2015 at 11:17 PMCute and clever. But how easy is it? I definitely have more time than money!!
Here from two Uses Tuesday.
lydia Ritchie says
August 25, 2015 at 8:15 PMWhat a neat idea! I hadn’t thought of doing that, I usually just look for cute notebooks but to custom them yourself – even better xx
Sarah C says
August 25, 2015 at 11:30 AMWhat a great idea! My daughter will love these!
iHanna says
August 24, 2015 at 3:34 AMOmg, super cute notepads for the win. Wish I could find such pretty scrapbook papers, the gold rocks!
Kati says
August 23, 2015 at 11:10 PMI am always trying to find cute notebooks to keep in my purse for jotting down inspiration when it strikes. Now I can make my own, thanks!
Amber *Salt tree* says
August 23, 2015 at 8:22 PMThese are soooo sweet! I think I could go crazy making these lol. My Mom loves to write and is always needing more notebooks. This will be perfect for her upcoming birthday! Cheers! (ps found you via The Chicken Chick)
Emma says
August 23, 2015 at 5:27 PMThese would make great gifts – but I confess that I think I’d want to keep them for myself! 😉
Steph says
August 23, 2015 at 2:02 PMIt always shocks me how expensive cute little notebooks are! I love this much cheaper approach to get cute office supplies!
Stephanie R says
August 23, 2015 at 12:33 PMThese turned out super cute! I have got to make some of these for my daughter, she’s in the seventh grade and would probably just love this!
Beverly says
August 23, 2015 at 9:05 AMWhat a fun idea and a great way to dress up plain notebooks and give them the look you want. Thanks for sharing on Snickerdoodle Sunday.