How to Cover Ugly Ring Binders With Pretty Paper: DIY Notebooks
Do you ever get so absorbed with other things in your life that you can’t figure out how to tap back into your creative juices?
That’s what happened to me over the past month.
I just stopped creating.
I spent so much time working on all those things that bloggers never get to (…the business plan, marketing plan–you know–all those things that should be done once bloggers switch from hobby bloggers to a real business), that I got used to just…..sitting…..and the thought of getting my butt up to work on something creative made me cringe.
Every time I would try to talk myself into starting a new project, I would get overwhelmed by how much crap I’d have to pull out just to do it. And then I’d say, “Meh. Maybe tomorrow.”
NOT a good thing when you’re a DIY creative blogger, eh?? 😉
That’s why I decided to ease back into “creative mode” with these fun little DIY notebooks that I could do from my dining room table in under 30 minutes.
And boy did it feel good!
I missed creating!
And what’s even better is that now I’ve got a pretty place to print out and store all those important documents that I busted my butt to complete over the past month! Win-win!
BEFORE
I had found this $0.99 quality binder at the thrift store ages ago. It’s one of those things that you buy but aren’t sure why. You just know you have to have it, and you’ll figure it out later.
AFTER!
I figured covering it with pretty paper (along with a couple other binders I had lying around the house) would be a nice collection to my basement office. Now I had no excuse not to be organized!
How to Cover Ugly Binders with Pretty Paper: DIY Notebooks
It’s funny how what is supposed to be an easy project actually gave me a little bit of trouble, which I’ll explain in a bit.
But in about 30 minutes, you can do one binder, and it should look pretty good when you’re done!
Here’s what you need:
Materials
- Pretty paper – I get all my pretty papers from Pretty paper
- Old or plain 3-ring binders (check the thrift store)
- Spray adhesive
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Labels – I like these vintage ones. But I got mine from Target’s Dollar section.
A Word About Buying Paper
Here’s a tip when buying paper from Paper Source: if you find a paper you love, buy as much as your budget allows!
From my experience, they don’t always stock the same papers. I’m kicking myself for not buying more of this paper below that I used to make over an ugly thrifted lamp. They don’t carry it anymore. **SOB SOB**!
And when I went back to check to see if they had a couple of the fine paper that I used for these DIY notebooks, they didn’t have them!
Thankfully they had the White Lace on Cement paper in case I want to buy more of that for more DIY notebooks!
Don’t you love it?!
STEP 1: Find a sturdy 3-ring binder.
I wasn’t even sure what the CRE is until I googled it. Looks like some old engineering exam or something. As I mentioned, I had found this one at the thrift store. I’m kicking myself for not buying more!!
I also used a couple basic plastic-covered ones.
Since my son covered the back in his “artwork,” this one was good for papering, too. LOL
STEP 2: Cut out seams all around the binder.
Remember back in the ’90s when brown paper bag bookcovers were the hotness? LOL. Well, this is essentially the same thing, except you’ll be gluing the paper to the binder.
But first, lay the binder down and measure about 1″ around and trim away the excess.
Fold up your seams so that you know where the binder will go once you’re ready to glue on the paper.
The only “iffy” spots will be where the middle 3-ring binders are attached. Just paper around them, or see if you can shove the paper up underneath them.
Make sure you fold your corners like this, then unfold it and snip off this triangle part so that the paper folded inside will make a mitered corner. Plus, this cuts down on the “corner bulk.”
Sorry, I missed getting a picture of what the miter corner looks like. But just know that after you snip off that corner and fold the bottom and sides in, they should make something that looks clean and not so bulky. 🙂
STEP 3: Spray your binder.
I’m such a newbie at using spray adhesive. I’m not going to lie. I just don’t use it that much. So stupid me sprayed the PAPER instead of the BINDER, which left some dark spots on the paper where it was too wet. Ummmmm…..don’t you love learning from me what not to do??? 😉
You’ll be all the wiser, won’t you?
Just make sure you spray the binder if you can.
Use a flat surface, like your dining room table (just be careful you don’t spray the spray adhesive on it! Use newspaper or something to cover it up). Push the binder onto the paper
This is the one I used.
But honestly, I actually really liked using the HDX spray adhesive from Home Depot, which I had on-hand, too. It seemed like it stuck more immediately and seemed more “hearty.”
STEP 4: Fold in your edges.
Now that my edges were less bulky, I could fold them all in.
I did add some additional paper to try to cover the edges. I’m not sure if I like this or if I would have preferred to just leave the mitered edges.
I didn’t have enough paper to cover the insides; plus, I didn’t want to cover up the pockets.
Put down the Mod Podge!!
You know how I do here at Thrift Diving….I have to share the “fails” with you! LOL
Okay, so you know how I love Mod Podge for gluing fabric to wood and for gluing paper to stuff, right?
But you can also use it as a sealer.
So imagine this pretty binder getting water spilled on it, or some other horrible marks.
Why not Mod Podge it, right???
WRONG!
Looks what happened!
I should have freakin’ known.
But I didn’t.
Totally ruined……ALMOST.
While the paper did wrinkle up, it evened out a little after drying. A little.
But it was still wrinkly.
So I had just enough paper left to add more paper on top, with a center panel, trying to make it look like I designed it this way. HA! Just totally trying to cover my screw-up!
I don’t even know if lace and yellow flowers match.
I guess it’s gonna have to.
My Other Boo-Boo
Open up the inside of the yellow one and you’ll see where I got a little tooooo happy with the spray adhesive. I had a lot of crazy stuff going on inside, so this one doesn’t look the best.
I love showing you the “fails” so that you know, we all make mistakes.
So don’t do this project thinking it has to look perfect! 🙂 It probably won’t. LOL. But at least you’ll know mine had its moments, too! LOL
STEP 5: Add pretty labels and documents.
I had picked up these labels eons ago from Target, from their Dollar section. I had never really used them until now.
But they worked out perfectly!
I’m going to be doing a lot more behind-the-scenes work on this blog, and I’ll document those things and put them inside these binders. You know–so I can operate like a real business. LOL
Let’s have another look at the before.
BEFORE
AFTER!
Other Projects You Might Like
If you like these DIY-covered notebooks, you might also like to make your own DIY wooden journals, too!
Like these DIY notebooks? Go ahead and PIN them for later.
So do you struggle with getting projects started, too? Have you ever made a DIY notebook like this, with decoupage and pretty paper? Leave a comment below and let’s chat about it!
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Thrift Diving inspires women to decorate, improve, and maintain their home themselves...using paint, power tools, and thrift stores! Use these 5 printables, checklists, and ebooks to get started!
Lovely! I know i’ve seen binders like this at Goodwill before. I’m thinking it might be a nice way to store our yearly tax documents since file cabinets are ugly. A binder for each year. Thanks for another great idea!
Definitely binders! And since you won’t be handling them much, even if you don’t seal the paper or anything, no harm would be done. Hopefully you’ll only be touching them a few times a month, at best! 🙂 And PLEASE don’t mention taxes again. I’m sweating bullets over doing them soon. LOL
Girl, I rest easy because I hire someone. Yeesh, what a mess otherwise.
Hi Serena, I thoroughly enjoyed this project. I to am going to have to try this for my craft room.
I am wondering if wallpaper pages would work? They are sturdier and some can just be wiped off with a damp cloth especially wallpapers like Sanitix.
Just a thought and I get wallpaper books for Free there are so many lovely papers.
Hey, Chanche! Yep, wallpaper would work, too! I agree–it’s tougher and would probably last longer! Lucky you for getting wallpaper books for free!
Could you also use old wallpaper to cover up the binders? Sometimes it has a nice texture to it and it is pretty tough. I think you could spray on a clear coat of sealer.
Brenda, you definitely could! It would probably work even better because it’s so tough. And that’s what I was thinking, too, a clear coat of sealer, or like what another reader suggested, a clear contact paper!
What kind of spray sealer would you recommend?
Hmmm….I would do a test piece of wallpaper first, but maybe a coat of shellac?
I ended up using single-sided Scotch Self-Seal Laminating Sheets and it worked great!
Great! Glad that worked for you!!
What a wonderful way to cover ugly binders. Don’t suppose you remember the pattern name of the gray and yellow paper? That would be perfect for several projects in my bedroom. It matches my comforter perfectly. Went to Pretty Paper, but they didn’t have any shown on there.
Pam, yep, it’s “Flurry Sunshine and White” but when I searched for it, I couldn’t find it online. :(. I’m wondering if they have some at my local Paper Source. I’ll have to check. If I happen to find it, I’ll buy you some and mail it!! 🙂 I haven’t been there in a while, but next time I go, I’ll check!
I love this simple idea. And I love that you show your “boo-boos! Really is a good way to reinforce how to and how not to do the project well. Love your down to earth style!
LOL, thanks Jackie! I would feel like a liar if I tried to pass it off as perfect, knowing doggone well that the inside was jacked up in one spot! LOL
I did something like this for my quilting patterns, but used fabric instead of paper.. I folded the fabric back onto the insides of the front and back covers. When I tired of that fabric, I simply slipped off the covering and replaced it. It seems to hold up better than the adhesive paper I had used previously, and of course I always have extra fabric around!
Jacquie, that’s a great idea! It definitely would hold up better. And with fabric, you could even wax it and make it even more tough! I’ll have to try another one with some thin, pretty fabric!
The lace cover-up is genius! I’m always trying to find ways to hide my boo-boos!
Yeah, isn’t that so pretty?? I have had that paper for a while and had no idea what I was going to do with it. Glad it came in handy!
‘Loved this binder cover project. The question is, if the Mod Podge didn’t work to be a protection for the cover without wrinkling, what did you use?
I’ve recently started following you and enjoying your blogs.
Hi, Bettie! Great question. Becky, from another comment, recommended clear contact paper. That could work. I usually like Mod Podge but NOT in this circumstance.
This is a really good idea! My youngest of three will graduate high school this year so I have a bunch of these around the house. I wonder if you could “seal” them with the clear contact paper? It might be easier to put it on the paper before putting it on the binders. Just a thought, one I will have to try when I can get some of the pretty paper. Thanks for the idea. Endless possibilities!
OOh, that’s a great idea, Becky! Because any bit of water or rubbing up against another binder, the colors might wear down or something. I was also thinking I could spray the paper with a clear poly, but I am very doubtful about that idea. I think your idea is much better! 🙂
Love the binder idea!! I have several that are just ugly!! I am going to have to try this!! Love that you show the oops!! too!!
Hey, Lou Ann! Yeah, it’s the easiest project ever. Something to do while you’ve got Netflix running in the background, like I did! (I’m addicted to Once Upon a Time!!!). I couldn’t help but show the oops, too, because I don’t like for people to think my projects are perfect. FAR FROM IT! 🙂