DIY notebook makeover & How to add pen holder to notebook.

If I had known there exist a product called Mod podge and glue gun, I would have been a star in my college days with my own personalized notebooks.When I think of the notebooks we used in college days, almost half of the college has same kind of notebooks that we got from the college stores and many times by mistake we even took others notebook thinking it is ours :P(It most commonly happens when you are sharing rooms with your friends.Have you faced these kind of situations in school/college days?? )

So now, when I said I need a notebook to write my ideas for posts, my husband gave a notebook that he already has and not been used .It was plain black and I was long time thinking of doing a make over for it as I don't like to have a boring notebook like that. At last I found sometime yesterday and gave a new look to my notebook. Now it is a back to school time , so i thought this would be perfect to share at this moment.So that you need not feel like me.What are you waiting for ? Go head and start crafting new notebooks!!

P.S : You need not be a school/college going person to do this. You can even make implement this idea for your planner or idea notebook like me.

Materials required:
Scrapbook paper 12X12 -->2 sheets (This depends on your notebook size)
One plain scrapbook paper to compliment the design.
Mod podge
Foam brush
Scissors/Xacto knife

Step 1: Apply mod podge on single side of the notebook and slowly paste one of the scrap book paper above it.Let it to dry.

Step 2: Cut the excess with help of the Xacto knife.
Step 3: Cover another side of the notebook and repeat the step 1 & 3

Step 4: Cut 3 inch width of a plain paper to cover the middle.Apply mod podge in the paper and eyeball it so that it is even on both the sides and paste it.
Step 5: Once everything is completely dry.Apply mod podge over the paper to seal it and to give a shiny look on the top.Now you have a brand new personalized notebook of your choice.

Note : I used this method to cover a notebook that had a hard covering.

How to add pen holder to notebook:

When some great idea comes to mind and I take the notebook to write it ,but I never find a pen around me at that moment. It irritates and make me say like "When I need a pen I won't get it" (Meaning when I need something else I get a lot of pens :P). So I thought I can add a pen holder to the notebook to avoid some annoying situations :)!!

Materials Required :
Elastic (2 inch)
Glue gun

Step 1: Measure and cut 2 inch elastic. I used knit elastic which is available in the sewing section of the craft stores. It is available in various colours.I had white in hand so I used that. As it was plain I added some flowers using sharpie markers but this step is totally optional.

Step 2: Wrap the 2" inch elastic around the pencil and hold the remaining elastic with thumb and forefinger of right hand close to the pencil.(Picture 1)Remove the pencil and hold that part with thumb and forefinger of the left hand(Picture 2) and apply glue in the middle of the remaining part to hold it together.(Couldn't add a picture as I was holding the glue gun:()

I made the measurements with the pencil because when you do the holder for thin item you can use it for thicker items as the elastic expands and holds it in place whereas it is not possible the other way.

Step 3: Glue that to the inside of the back cover by adding some glue.Thats it !! No more worries about searching for a pen when you want to write down something at that moment.(Check whether the pen has ink !!I am not responsible for that :P)

I was little generous about glue :P You need not be !!

What do you think about this makeover ?? Have you ever done a makeover like this to suit your choice??Feel free to share your comments below or write to vikalpah@gmail.com