July 24, 2012

Mod Podge fun {pretty little notepads}

Confession...I have a problem buying notebooks.  I like to buy notebooks {and journals}...particularly cute ones, not the basic mead ones.

They're great to have to jot down notes, ideas, sketch, and so forth.  I keep them everywhere.  It's just more fun to write in something cute, right?

The other day I was at Target and saw some really cute notebooks and journals...and thought about some one.  But, it was around $5...for a small notebook with an uber cute cover, but simply lined pages on the inside {really nothing special}.

At that moment I thought to myself {1} "that price is ridiculous, you should spend that money on something better like a mocha frappe" and {2} "maybe I could craft my own".

And that is just what I did!

Last fall I bought a stack of these notebooks when they were on clearance at Target for twelve cents.
I have quite a stash of scrap book paper and "stuff" that has been gifted to me {but I just have never gotten into}.

Add in my new favorite craft...Mod Podge.

The end result...pretty little notebooks {at a fraction of the cost}!

For these, I started with my boring composition notebook.

Next I took a brown paper bag and mod podged a piece to the front and back covers of my notebook {to cover the ugly crackle looking covers}, and trimmed around the edges.

I decided not to cover the binding, but it would be easy enough to mod podge over as well.

Then, for this "design", I cut irregular strips of my scrapbook paper and mod podged them onto the brown paper cover.

I then added a little letter embellishment sticker to the corner and added a layer of mod podge over top of everything.

What are some of your favorite Mod Podge creations?

Linking up to:
Watch Out, Martha!
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party
Etcetorize: Make it Great Monday
destination craft
Adventures of a DIY Mom


25 comments:

  1. These turned out adorable- good for you actually doing it when you got home instead of letting it go by the wayside (like I prob would have)! :p So glad to have found your blog- what adorable curly hair your little one has! Hope to keep in touch :)

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  2. I have lots of those notebooks too. So this is a great way to use all those paper scraps I have been saving forever.

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  3. Perfect idea fr back to school!!! Love modge podge.. it's the best!!! Thank you for stopping by my blog last evening... I am happy to find your blog and this great idea for my buttons and my classroom in the fall! I am your newest follower! Have a great day!

    Denise @ Buttonsandwhimsy

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  4. I LOVE decorating journals! It makes me actually use them then. Yours turned out great, I love all those colours together. Thanks for sharing at Etcetorize this week~

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  5. I am loving this! I think everyone in my family is getting their own custom notebook for Christmas this year! LOL I'm pinning this for sure, too! Visiting from jugglingactmama.blogspot.com - found you on the Ta-Da Tuesday – hope you’ll come visit me too :)

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by! I would be honored for you to pin this. Have a great week!

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  6. Great idea; this turned out so cute! You can even make your own mod podge with half water, half elmer's glue! Even cheaper!

    http://doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com/2011/09/diy-mod-podge.html

    I spoil myself with Moleskine notebooks because I use the unlined small ones as purse-size sketchbooks. They're thin and light and fit perfectly in any bag and then I don't have to carry around a bulky sketchbook. I buy them in packs of three when they're on sale but they're still expensive!

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  7. These are so cute! I'm obsessed with mod podge! My last project was mod podged plastic easter eggs. Your blog is beautiful!!! now following you via the blog hop and would love a follow back. All the best! Monica

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  8. Very cute! I keep seeing all these mod podge projects--you just inspired me to try it...thanks,
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog

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    1. Yes, you definitely have to try it - it's so easy! Thank you for stopping by...I'll head on over.

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  9. That turned out so cute. My 6-year-old has a notebook obsession, too. The next time he tells me he has no paper to draw on I will direct him to the 20 that are in his cabinet.... +1 that he conned out of me at Wal-Mart today because it was only 17 cent. LOL

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  10. Those are so cute! I love the colors. Your newest follower from the newbie party. :)

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  11. So cute! I agree, $5 for a mocha frapp is a way better use of your cash! These are so cute...and i love Mod Podge too. So glad you linked up to Handmade Tuesdays.

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  12. Featuring you later today from Handmade Tuesdays :).

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  13. This is such a cute idea. I popped over from the blog hop, and am now a follower :)

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  14. Really pretty and I agree on the price. Can't beat yours! Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do:)

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    1. Thank you so much, and thank you for taking the time to "stop by".

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  15. What a neat idea, and perfect timing for back to school! I'm a sucker for notebooks and journals too, but they can get pricey. And this way you get exactly what you want!

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  16. Now I know why I've been saving all those paper scraps.This is a wonderful idea for a back to school craft.I'm your newest follower now...hope you can visit my blog whenever you can.

    http://homekidsandcrafts.blogspot.com/

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  17. I love this idea for using my small scraps of pretty paper that I just can't seem to part with! Can't wait to try this. Thank you.

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  18. I have tried this super cute idea before but my covers all warped. Did you have this issue?

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    1. I haven't had any troubles with warping. I use a thin to moderate layer of the Mod Podge, and usually use a heavier paper to go over the entire cover. Did you smooth it with a credit card or smoothing "tool"?

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    2. The paper on my cover is completely smooth, with no bubbles or ripples, but the carboard cover will not lay flat. When I noticed that it was starting to warp I put some waxed paper over the cover (so it wouldn't stick) and I put every heavy book in my house on top of it. I left it like that for a day, it still wouldn't lay flat. So I put the books back on, for about a week. To this day it still won't lay flat, and it's not like sorta not flat but no one would notice, its more like people in the next state can see how not flat it is. Maybe I used to much Mod Podge?

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