DIY Painted Notebook

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This weekend I went to Michael’s to grab a few items for upcoming projects, and I had a sketch book on my list. I realized that I didn’t really have anywhere that I could keep all my project ideas together, so I usually scribbled on a sheet of white paper that ended up who-knows-where when it came time to actually create the project. One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to be more organized, so I knew I had to take care of this! However, when I went to Michael’s I didn’t love the selection of sketchbooks available. I grabbed this one because it was the most affordable at $5, and figured if it couldn’t be cute, at least it was cheap. WELL… while creating another paint project, I realized that this notebook (with its canvas-like surface!) was wishing for a new look. Lo and behold- here it is! I love this sketchbook now, and I can’t wait to use it for my project sketches, room upgrades, and any ideas that pop into my head! Best of all, it’s so easy and cheap to make with products you probably have on hand!

Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.
Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.

 

You will need:

Notebook (from Michael’s, or here)
Paints (similar here)
Metallic gold paint (here)
Brushes (similar here)
Newspaper or similar to cover workspace

Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.

 

  1. Open your notebook to the center and place it pages-down on your workspace. Paint on thick strips with your first paint color. I wanted to do a rainbow palette, so I decided to do half the rainbow on one side, and the other half of the colors on the other side.
  2. Paint your whole notebook cover as much as you can, and let dry just a little. I thought it looked kinda mehhh without a pop of color, so I went back and took 1 color from each side to add a jolt to each side. 
  3. Using your white paint, add some thick stripes to your notebook cover. I found that the white ended up with a cool rainbow effect, so I used it to paint the spine.
  4. Add your pop of gold to the notebook and spine if you’d like. Let dry fully, then go back and do any necessary touch-up.

You can spray it with a finishing spray to seal it, or just be careful with it. You can also get a small pouch for it so it doesn’t chip paint everywhere.

Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.
Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.
Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.
Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.
Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.
Give your ho-hum notebook a new look with just a coat of paint! Add a metallic accent and you're golden! Click for the DIY.

Related: DIY No Sew Embellished T-Shirt

I'm really loving this sketchbook now! It's so cheery and fancy. It really encourages me to create more, and I love taking a sketch break to think up new ideas, spruce up a room, or just brainstorm! How will you use your notebook? Let me know in the comments below!