Back to School Time...Decorate a Composition Book

I can't take credit for this idea...but, I do love it. The idea is from Chic'n Scratch and there is a great video on YouTube that walks you through a more professional version of this project. Here is my attempt at it using recycled gift wrap and leftover card stock. I think it looks adorable and my daughter can't wait to show it off at school!

















Materials

Composition Book - the old fashion marble kind is just fine
Earth Love'n Gift Wrap - Flower Girl or other gift wrap designs
Card Stock - pink, white and/or other selected colors
Tape Runner - I did break down and buy this easy to use double sided tape dispenser. If you don't want to use tape, a glue stick would work also.
Optional - Stickers, ribbons or other decorative items.

Instructions

1. Use a plain composition book for this project (no holes).

2. Using the gift wrap, cut 2 sheets of paper approximately 6" x 10". Put adhesive tape or glue on the back of 1 sheet of the paper.










3. Place paper over the composition book so that the edges stick out over the sides of the book. The edges will be trimmed later. I placed the paper evenly over the front end so that I wouldn't have to trim it. Composition books come is slightly different sized so it is important to cut the paper a little larger than the book.











4. Trim the edges of the paper around the book. Sandpaper can also be used to smooth out the edges. Make sure you use downward strokes with the sandpaper or you will take up the paper off the composition book. Repeat this process for the back of the book.

5. Using the sheet of matching card stock, cut out a 10" x 4" sheet of paper for the spine. Fold the paper around the spine so that you are essentially "training" the paper to hold the fold. Place adhesive tape on the paper and stick it to the spine. Make sure the book is closed when you are going through this process. Trim the paper, as needed.

6. The cover can be decorated as desired. I don't have stamps or stencils to create the name so I printed out my daughter's name in Word using a large font and I used the letters as stencils. For the title block, I created a triple matting effect using sucessively smaller rectangles of the pink card stock, the gift wrap, and the white card stock. I used the pink card stock for the letters. You may want to put the subject name on the composition book. Use leftover ribbon or stickers to decorage the book. Be creative!

Have fun with this project and good luck getting your kids up for school in the morning. My girls are going to be very cranky!!