by Carole Meisenhelter

Created on: November 06, 2008   Last Updated: July 10, 2009

Let's color with acrylic paints and decorate with stamping! You can create your very own notebook, diary or even a mini scrapbook album, with a short list of materials. When making your very own book you have the freedom to experiment and play with color and images that mean something special to you, or the very person you're making it for perhaps. You only need the seed of a new idea in your mind to make a start. Often the thought process grows or "evolves" as you work with your project.

This dollar-store notebook was an ideal surface to work on and is shown to demonstrate how to decorate any hard book cover. Notation: Spiral bound needs to be dismantled to release the covers to work with. This process for beginners can be a little challenging. Consider simplistic mini albums which can be purchased in kit form from scrapbooking stores for the very purpose of decorating in your own style. The covers in these kits are made of compressed/particle board, with a series of clip-lock rings included. They're ideal for this project, and very easy to assemble.

* Materials Used:

Light grade sandpaper

2 Sponge rollers (one for dark paint, one for white)

Acrylic paints (Purple Diox; Black; White)

Glaze Medium

Various Rubber Stamps

Brilliance Graphite Black Pigment Inkpad

Brilliance Moonlight White Pigment Inkpad

Brilliance Galaxy Gold Pigment Inkpad

Decorative Papers for lining inside covers

Double-Sided Tape

1. Prepare the surface of the book covers, by lightly sanding to give some "tooth" to the surface.

2. Make a blend of PURPLE DIOX. with a little black tint for the base coat. Add only just enough water as necessary for paint to go on smoothly. Paint whole surface, and also paint inside the cover, about a 1/2 inch inside edges, and allow to dry.

3. Very lightly sand and wipe clean. Before painting a second coat at the outsides of the cover, add a little GLAZE MEDIUM to the PURPLE DIOX. for a nice subtle gloss. Allow to dry.

4. With a clean roller and WHITE paint, paint in the middle section only. If you want the edges to have a softer look you can dab while still wet, with a dry sponge.

5. Finish by stamping with your chosen stamps.

6. Measure the cover and trim the decorative paper lining just a little smaller. Add double-sided tape along the outer edges on the reverse of the paper. Remove protective strips from the tape and press down on the inside of your notebook cover.

Want to add some more special touches to give your notebook a WOW effect? Try embellishing with colorful ribbons and fibers tied to each spiral or ring. Thread beads onto some if you wish; adds quite a special touch! While the notebook shown has a decidedly Oriental theme, yours of course will take on a completely different look. Dream up your own style, and your notebook will become a one of a kind, unique treasure too.

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