Customize plain notebooks with collaged covers tailored to each recipient. Brown paper bags make sturdy covers, and they're free! If you have guests, make sure there are enough scissors to go around.

Materials

• brown paper bags
• scrapbooking paper and colored card stock
• glue dots
• pencil

• blank notebooks (such as composition books)
• glue stick
• scissors

Instructions

1. Trace a notebook onto a paper bag. Cut out the shape and use a glue stick to adhere it to the front of the notebook.

2. Cut shapes from the decorative papers and arrange them on the notebook, adhering them with a glue stick or glue dots.

Tips:

THE 3-D VERSION: To add dimension to your collage, bend up the edges of your shapes before gluing them to the cover. Use this method to create a flower with pop: glue petaled circles in a stack from largest to smallest.

MONOGRAM: Top your cover with simple cutouts of your recipient's initials.

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Find more about:

• 30 Minutes or less |
• Decorating Projects |
• Glue and Tape Crafts |
• Paper Crafts |
• Paper Projects |
• School Supply Crafts

Related Categories:

• Crafts |
• Crafty School Supplies |
• All Paper Crafts |
• November 2011