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Joanna Campbell Slan

Thanks for visiting the official website for New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author and Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, Joanna Campbell Slan.

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Decorating Composition Notebooks

September 4, 2010 by Joanna Slan

This is a perfect time of year to buy composition notebooks at a great price. Big box chains like Walmart and Target, as well as drugstores like Rite Aid and CVS, all have these notebooks at reduced prices.

I suggest you grab a handful and have a notebook decorating party.

Above are a few of my faves. (Starting upper left, going clockwise)

1. Nana–I started with a red background color on the front and back. Tip: Lightly sand your notebook cover to make the paper grip. Add bits of scrap paper in red tones. I painted a piece of chipboard and used rub-on letters to write “Nana.” Then I punched a hole in the upper right corner and tied on some ribbon. Last, I glued a piece of velvet along the spine and added sequins.

2. Shop ’til You Drop–The inspiration for this notebook was a marketing flyer I found. It had all the little shops on it. Since notebooks don’t need to be acid-free, think outside of the box and use magazine photos or promotional materials. (Yeah, rah, recycling!) I added my initial from a QuickKutz font and a penny.

3. Gryffindor–I think this Harry Potter sticker came with a Happy Meal or some other sticker pack. I wrapped ribbon around a slide mount and “framed” the sticker.

4. DS–I had some embellishments left over after I did a golfing page for my husband. Again, I used my Quick Kutz lettering tool for the DS. On the very center page (with the stitching) I added a silky thread and a metal tag. I stamped the word “Dad” and colored the tag with chalk.

Think of all the ways you could use these notebooks: party favors, stocking stuffers, thank you gifts, teachers’ gifts, and again, why not plan a party around making up a bunch of them? They’re easy, cheap, and useful.

My kind of scrapping!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: cardmaking, composition notebooks, how to information

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marilynne says

    September 5, 2010 at 2:16 am

    I love empty notebooks off all sorts. I like the special touches you gave them.

    Did you decorate the ones with a cardboard cover?

  2. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    September 5, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    Yes, they had cardstock covers, but I covered those. I like UHU's glue stick, but lately I've been in love with white craft glue. I spread it on with coffee stirrers. It's a bit messy, but I can glue down sequins, ribbon, paper, metal and plastic and I never have any problems!

  3. Jane Jeffress Thomas says

    September 6, 2010 at 2:36 am

    Love them all, but the one with that cute little red frame really catches my eye. You are so talented in so many ways.

  4. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    September 6, 2010 at 3:07 am

    Thank you, Jane! I'm a by-gee and by-gosh type of scrapbooker. I try all sorts of combinations until I find what I like. I love red. I have a red phone, a red phone case, and a red car. So that little notebook is dear to me, too.

  5. Leah says

    September 7, 2010 at 1:11 am

    Those are so beautiful!

  6. Serendipity Stamping says

    September 7, 2010 at 1:12 am

    Hi, Just discovered your book series and then the website. Happiness – I scrap and make cards, so always looking for ideas. Yes the red book grabbed me, I also buy red vehicles and it is my favorite color. Trip to library or store for next book!!

  7. Sandy says

    September 7, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    I just read Paper Scissors Death and Cut Crop & Die and I read on a Kindle. I'm wondering if your latest Kiki book will be available on Kindle?? Thanks for such fun reads!

  8. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    September 10, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    Leah and Serendipity, thanks so much!

    Sandy, I don't have an answer for that. I keep expecting it to be up any time. When I find out, I'll post info here.

  9. Lori@KitchenFunk says

    January 17, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Hi Joanna – These are gorgeous! I posted a link to this on mine, hope that's okay. ~Lori

  10. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    January 18, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Lori, thanks so much! I appreciate the link.

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