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Mini Notebooks

October 7, 2008 By Spoonful of Sugar - 62 Comments

When we built our house a few years ago, I collected quite a few samples of laminex and formica on little wooden cards. I kept them, thinking they would come in handy some day for a craft project. I found them recently when I was sorting through my craft supplies and was inspired to use them to make little notebooks – the perfect size for your handbag!
They are a great activity to do with children during the school holidays and would make for a fun activity at a pre-teens birthday party. This is the notebook made by Sarah.

What you need:

  • Laminex sample cards (a laminate used in benchtops)
  • scrapbboking paper
  • Mod Podge
  • ribbon
  • paper
  • stapler
  • hole punch
  • scissors
  • Trace the shape of the laminex samples onto scrapbooking or other patterned paper and cut out. Mark the position of the hole and cut out using a hole punch. Next you adhere the patterned paper to the sample card using Mod Podge, and allow to dry. Apply 2-3 coasts of Mod Podge to seal and add a glossy finish. Cut plain photocopy paper into rectangles that measure 0.5 cm smaller than the cover. Staple the paper pages together and add a hole to the top. Layer the paper between the covers and thread some ribon through. Tie loosely so that the notebook can open freely. Voila!

    These little notebooks can be embellished with stickers, buttons, ribbon – the sky is the limit! I made a Christmas themed one – perfect for storing those Secret Christmas lists.


    Posted by Lisa

    Filed Under: Miscellaneous

    « Strawberries, Smiggles and Socks
    School Holiday Activities »

    Comments

    1. Erin says

      October 7, 2008 at 10:43 pm

      Lisa – I seriously think that I created “2 Mod Podge” monsters in you and Sarah! Ha-ha! I’m so happy that the 2 of you have found so many uses for it. More than me! I’ve been a little out of it lately and am still recovering from a nasty spider bite! Yuk! Thanks for the comment about my first giveaway! It’s a good idea! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Tania - Jet Designs says

      October 7, 2008 at 11:23 pm

      Excellent use of the laminex samples – I have friends that own a cabinet building business – I might have to ask them is they have any old samples!!

      Reply
    3. Evonne @ Hilltop House says

      October 8, 2008 at 4:50 am

      Hi girls, I know I am always scratching around in my handbag for some paper… I hope you don’t mind if I add your little notebooks to my list of “quick Christmas gifts to make for friends”. You girls have so many wonderful and pretty ideas. Best Wishes, Evonne xx

      Reply
    4. Hoppo Bumpo says

      October 7, 2008 at 5:43 pm

      What a lovely idea – they look great. It must be time to head out and look for some “renovation” ideas!

      Reply
    5. Ritch in Love says

      October 7, 2008 at 6:08 pm

      Those are just darling! (I think I say that practically every time I comment on your blog! I bet you would be so much fun to be friends with in real life!)

      Reply
    6. Jodie says

      October 7, 2008 at 6:35 pm

      those are great – what fantastic use of those samples

      Reply
    7. Shellbells says

      October 7, 2008 at 7:15 pm

      gorgeous, love the idea….now to find the time to make my own!!!

      Reply
    8. Jenny says

      October 7, 2008 at 7:18 pm

      I reckon I have some of those somewhere too for a great little project like this-lovely idea.

      Reply
    9. our shabby cottage says

      October 7, 2008 at 9:11 pm

      What a fantastic idea – hubs has loads of those – i shall get to work….

      Reply
    10. Dancin' Puffin says

      October 8, 2008 at 12:29 pm

      Hey Lisa, these are so cute! I keep seeing Mod Podge on blogs. I haven’t seen it here in the UK but that could be my ignorance – I’ll have to keep a look out for that or something similar.

      Reply
    11. Michelle says

      October 7, 2008 at 9:38 pm

      i actually had some of these laminex cards when i re did our kitchen a long while ago…i kept them for quiet a while cause they seemed really interesting(for some reason) as we moved after we did the kitchen i have misplaced them in the cosmos of packing etc never to be seen again…great idea…

      Reply
    12. princess pudge says

      October 7, 2008 at 10:36 pm

      too cute!! you have such a creative mind!

      Reply
    13. Emerald Arts says

      October 7, 2008 at 11:01 pm

      What is this Mod Podge stuff? I’m trying to find something that I can use to put a clear coat on paper cranes so I can preserve one of my sculptures… and I am obsessed with art supplies 🙂

      Reply
    14. Renee says

      October 7, 2008 at 11:32 pm

      what a great idea for something that would most likely have ended up in the rubbish. They look fantastic 🙂

      Reply
    15. crafty things says

      October 8, 2008 at 1:31 am

      What a great idea – they look fantastic.

      Reply
    16. upstateLisa says

      October 8, 2008 at 2:06 am

      how clever! (as always)

      Reply
    17. Fiesta says

      October 8, 2008 at 3:19 am

      great idea.

      Reply
    18. LollyChops says

      October 8, 2008 at 6:54 pm

      I love this idea. I am going to see if I can find some of these laminate samples! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    19. Stephanie says

      October 8, 2008 at 3:59 am

      What a clever idea!

      Reply
    20. Jenny says

      October 8, 2008 at 4:06 am

      What a fantastic way of re-purposing something that would be otherwise lost to the bin! Jen

      Reply
    21. Kris says

      October 8, 2008 at 5:14 am

      Oh I think I need one of those Christmas notebooks because I have lots of lists to make (and check twice!). They’re all lovely.

      Reply
    22. prettywithribbons says

      October 8, 2008 at 5:37 am

      What a cute cute idea. You should hook up with Martha (maybe you already have??)

      Reply
    23. Janellybelly says

      October 8, 2008 at 5:48 am

      Thrifty and gorgeous – what a great combination. You guys are so clever!

      Reply
    24. Vickie says

      October 8, 2008 at 7:04 am

      What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    25. Fiona @ Dragonfly-Crafts says

      October 8, 2008 at 10:30 pm

      What a wonderful idea. You girls come up with such great projects.

      Reply
    26. Rosezilla says

      October 8, 2008 at 8:54 am

      How adorable! I love those. I’m always saving little things thinking I can craft with them, but I can never think of what to craft, so basically I end up with little bits of junk everywhere! Wish I could think of what to do with it all…

      Reply
    27. Rachel@oneprettything.com says

      October 8, 2008 at 9:24 am

      This is so cute! I’ll be linking to this project.

      Reply
    28. Catherine says

      October 8, 2008 at 2:13 pm

      What a great idea!!! Cathy

      Reply
    29. Carrie P. says

      October 8, 2008 at 3:30 pm

      Awesome idea!!

      Reply
    30. Alison Boon says

      October 8, 2008 at 8:38 pm

      These are super cute. Another great idea, I think you must have a magic pot brimming with them.

      Reply
    31. pinkflowerbuttons says

      October 9, 2008 at 12:44 am

      They are a clever idea.

      Reply
    32. Michelle says

      October 9, 2008 at 2:11 am

      just made your yummy strawberry jam…have just put up a post about it…
      it was a great recipe…

      Reply
    33. MissyMack says

      October 9, 2008 at 2:40 am

      I love it!!! what a fantastic and creative idea! I’m sure my mum has some of those laminex samples left over….me thinks I’m going to have to raid her collection and make some gifts!
      Thank you!

      Reply
    34. Rachel says

      October 9, 2008 at 6:24 pm

      Great project1

      Reply
    35. Karol-Ann says

      October 9, 2008 at 7:40 am

      If I was a kid, I’d be trying to get my hands on the Christmas one to see what I was getting 🙂 (I’m no good at surprises!!)

      Reply
    36. colourdujour says

      October 9, 2008 at 10:44 am

      great Idea…I just picked up a bunch of those samples just the other day. sometimes I use them as key fobs.

      Reply
    37. Rachael Rabbit says

      October 9, 2008 at 12:09 pm

      My you ladies have been busy. I love the notebooks – but I really really love the strawberry jam labels 😉

      Reply
    38. Pink Lemonade Bags says

      October 9, 2008 at 12:50 pm

      Very clever idea! I will definitely try these myself!

      Reply
    39. Kylie says

      October 9, 2008 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks so much for this tute – will try it with Amelia for a few little gifts for her friends for Christmas

      Reply
    40. Tammy says

      October 9, 2008 at 10:36 pm

      Wow, what a wonderful idea! We have some of these, since we’re getting ready to do our countertops. Thank you so much for the tutorial!

      By the way, I’m having a 350th post giveaway over at my place, so feel free to stop by and enter in!

      Blessings,
      ~Tammy (Lattes and Lollipops)

      Reply
    41. méri says

      October 10, 2008 at 1:52 am

      Lovely idea, indeed!

      Reply
    42. jacquie says

      October 10, 2008 at 7:02 am

      what a clever idea! my son used to collect these when we were building the house…these and paint samples. these would make such nice stocking stuffers.

      Reply
    43. Tiff says

      October 10, 2008 at 11:09 am

      OMG!!! THis is such a cute idea!! It would make great stocking stuffers!!

      Reply
    44. A World in a PAN says

      October 10, 2008 at 11:28 pm

      I lived in Iraq 1982-1986. There was a war (a different one) and our life as a family with two girls ages 2 and 5 was not easy. I used to collect anything that could be recycled into a “little somehting” that could be fun to craft. I had a big box with all that “junk” and took it out of the pantry on weekends and the girls and I did so many things together … Giving a new life to old stuff is a favorite past time!

      Reply
    45. Bec says

      October 11, 2008 at 3:46 am

      What a fantastic idea! Perfect for the car or handbag or…..anything! All you need now is a pencil attatched on a string.
      Bec xxx

      Reply
    46. Kirsty says

      October 11, 2008 at 4:39 am

      Really cute idea girls.

      Reply
    47. DAWNIE says

      October 11, 2008 at 5:15 am

      What a great idea – can even see these would be ideal personalised luggage tags too.

      Reply
    48. Leanne says

      October 11, 2008 at 1:20 pm

      You are very imaginative Lisa. I was fascinated with Mod Podge I had never heard of it.

      Reply
    49. Annie says

      October 11, 2008 at 3:45 pm

      What a great idea, those note books are fabulous

      Reply
    50. Kellie says

      October 11, 2008 at 5:01 pm

      You guys are too clever!!!! Fantastic idea! Hope you are having a good weekend!

      Reply
    51. Jaime says

      October 13, 2008 at 7:25 am

      What a fabulous idea. Super cute!

      Reply
    52. Ruth says

      October 14, 2008 at 8:20 am

      Sooo cute! Excellent idea… I always hang on to things like this, and can never think of anything fantastic to make with them…

      Ruth xx

      Reply
    53. I am Jamie Sue! says

      October 20, 2008 at 7:37 am

      That is adorable. Do you know of any good substitute for the laminate cards?

      Reply
    54. Anonymous says

      October 20, 2008 at 2:48 pm

      What a great idea! I’ve been making these little “samples” into keychains but this is better. These laminate samples are FREE at Lowes and Home Depot!

      Reply
    55. Gina says

      October 27, 2008 at 2:24 am

      Oh just gorgeous work!

      Reply
    56. Mod Podge Amy says

      October 18, 2009 at 5:30 pm

      Yay! These are wonderful.

      Reply
    57. Linda @ Craftaholics Anonymous says

      October 21, 2009 at 6:11 am

      Awesome idea! Im totally making one!!

      Reply
    58. Tracy says

      October 21, 2009 at 12:53 pm

      such a cute idea! love it!

      Reply
    59. Tweetie says

      October 22, 2009 at 12:28 pm

      These are the cutest little notebooks. I can’t wait to try making some. Instead of filling them with paper, you could also make them into mini photo albums by simply adding laminated photos. I’d like to also check out your tutorial for Custom Notebooks, but when I click on the link, it takes me to FaveCrafts.com, and I can’t seem to find it there. Thanks for sharing your and your daughter’s handiwork with us, Karen C. in Lebanon, PA

      Reply
    60. Mural Maker says

      October 22, 2009 at 7:10 pm

      Too, too cute. Have to do this for Christmas stocking stuffers. btw, just found your blog thru ModPodgeRocks & I love that you’re a mother/daughter duo. I’ve been taking care of my mom for 6 months (lymphoma) and we’re having the best time – cooking, baking, just hanging out together. She’s 81 yrs old and still teaches 3 classes of step aerobics a week – even w/chemotherapy. She’s an inspiration, believe me.

      Reply
    61. michelle@somedaycrafts says

      November 14, 2009 at 6:29 pm

      Darling! These would be so fun for my daughter. I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com Grab my “featured” button.

      Reply
    62. Leanne says

      November 15, 2009 at 12:06 am

      I love these. I guess me and the kids should get busy. I so want to make these with them. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

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