Making Notebook Covers by Hand: Easy DIY Methods

Before you start: pick a method

Making a notebook cover by hand can be as simple as taping a sheet of decorative paper around a notebook, or as involved as sewing a fabric sleeve. The right method depends on how long you want the cover to last, what your notebook is made of, and how much time you have.

If you are decorating the cover pages inside the journal as well, see bullet journal cover ideas.

What material should you use?

There is no single best material. A few common choices and their trade-offs:

• Wrapping paper or scrapbook paper: cheap and decorative, but it can tear at the corners. A layer of clear self-adhesive film adds protection.
• Kraft paper: sturdy, plain, and good for painting, stamping, or drawing.
• Cardstock: stiffer than regular paper, which helps it hold shape.
• Fabric: soft and durable. Cotton is easy to cut and glue. Fabric may fray, so fold the edges under or use fabric glue or fusible web.
• Printed paper or sticker paper: lets you use your own artwork or digital designs.
• Clear contact film or laminate: a protective top layer over paper designs. Self-adhesive vinyl is a common choice.
• Faux leather, felt, or thin craft foam: more structured options, though thicker materials can make a notebook harder to close.

Choose lighter materials for notebooks that need to fit in a bag with other items.

Supplies checklist

• Notebook to cover
• Cover material
• Scissors or craft knife and a cutting mat
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Pencil
• Glue stick, double-sided tape, or fabric glue (check it suits your material)
• Clear self-adhesive film, if protecting a paper cover
• Bone folder or the edge of a card for smoothing

How to measure a notebook

Accurate measurements are the difference between a neat cover and a wrinkled one.

1. Measure the height of the notebook from top to bottom.
2. Measure the width of the front cover.
3. Measure the spine (the thickness) with the notebook closed; types of notebook binding explains how binding affects spine thickness.
4. Add the parts together. For a full wrap, the material width is roughly back cover plus spine plus front cover.
5. Add a margin on each side for folding inside, commonly about 1 to 2 centimeters (a half-inch to an inch), depending on the material.

Sketch the layout on scrap paper first and check against the notebook before cutting your good material.

Method 1: Paper wrap

1. Cut paper to the full-wrap dimensions plus margins.
2. Place the notebook open in the center of the paper.
3. Fold the top and bottom edges over the cover and crease them.
4. Cut small diagonal notches at the corners so the folds sit flat.
5. Fold the side flaps over the inside covers and glue or tape them.
6. Close the notebook and smooth out bubbles with your hand or a bone folder.

Method 2: Printed design on sticker paper

This method is common for composition notebooks, which have a flat, glued cover (see composition vs spiral notebook).

1. Measure the front and back covers.
2. Create your design in a graphics or design tool, or draw it and scan it. Make the artwork slightly larger than the cover so you can trim to fit.
3. Check the print size before printing. A common mistake is a design that prints smaller or larger than expected, depending on export settings and printer scaling. A test print on regular paper helps.
4. Print on sticker paper, or print on regular paper and attach with adhesive.
5. Optionally cover with clear sticker film for protection.
6. Peel, line up one edge, and smooth across the cover to reduce bubbles.
7. Trim the edges and round the corners with scissors.

Using a printed cover on a notebook with a decorative black-and-white marbled pattern, such as a classic composition book, hides the original pattern well if the paper is opaque.

Method 3: Fabric glued to the cover

1. Cut fabric about 2.5 centimeters (an inch) larger than the cover on every side.
2. Press the fabric flat with an iron on a suitable setting.
3. Apply fabric glue evenly to the notebook cover, avoiding the spine area if you want the notebook to flex.
4. Press the fabric on, smooth it from the center outward, and fold the edges to the inside.
5. Glue a sheet of plain paper over the inside edges for a tidy finish.
6. Let it dry under a stack of books, with parchment paper between to prevent sticking.

Method 4: Fabric sleeve

A sleeve slides on and off, so one cover can be reused for several notebooks.

1. Cut a rectangle that covers the open notebook with space to fold flaps inside.
2. Fold the short ends inward to form pockets for the covers.
3. Stitch or glue the top and bottom edges, keeping the pockets open.
4. Slide the notebook covers into the pockets.

Hand sewing is enough for this; a sewing machine is optional.

Decorating the cover

Once the base is in place, decorate with:

• hand lettering or doodles in permanent marker or paint pen
• stamps
• stickers and washi tape
• collage from magazines or old maps
• a title label on the front or spine

Test paint pens and markers on a scrap of the same material first, since some inks smear on glossy surfaces. If the cover will be handled frequently, a protective clear layer helps. For lettering ideas, see bullet journal fonts and header ideas.

Mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the measurement step, which leads to covers that are too tight or loose.
• Not allowing for the spine, particularly on thick notebooks.
• Using too much glue, which can warp paper and soak through fabric.
• Trapping air bubbles. Smooth from the center outward.
• Choosing very thick material, which can prevent the notebook from closing flat.
• Not testing the artwork size before printing the final copy.
• Using materials that bleed when decorating a light paper cover.

How can I make a homemade book cover?

For a quick option, a paper wrap using the method above works for most hardcover or paperback books too. Measure the book the same way, fold the paper over the covers, and secure it inside the flaps.

Care and tips

Allow adhesives to dry fully before using the notebook. Keep covers away from damp areas, since paper and fabric can warp. If you want to change the cover often, use tape rather than glue, so you can peel it off cleanly. Test removal on a hidden corner first.