If your school books are looking a little drab or boring, you might be thinking about giving them a makeover. You use your school books every day, so why shouldn’t they look fabulous? We’ve compiled some of the best ways you can DIY your school books and notebooks to keep them looking fun and fresh all year.

2

Chalkboard paint

  1. Write fun messages on your notebooks, then erase them! Use a paint brush to cover your notebooks in chalkboard paint. When the paint dries, it will turn into a chalkboard surface that you can use chalk on.[2]
    • You can find chalkboard paint at most craft stores.
3

Washi tape

  1. Easily mix up your decoration with this patterned craft tape. Pick out a fun color or pattern, then add the tape to the border, side, or back of your school book.[3]
    • You can even pick out multiple styles of tape to create patterns, like checkerboard or plaid.
  2. Advertisement
5

Watercolor

  1. Let your creativity shine with a fun watercolor gradient. Cover your school book with a sheet of white paper, then grab your favorite watercolors. Add a few different colors in a gradient from dark to light, then let the paint dry.[5]
    • This works best for hard cover school books. Soft cover ones could get a little wet and messy.
  2. Advertisement
6

Duct tape

  1. Spice up any plain notebook with patterned duct tape. Use long strips of tape to completely cover the front and back of your school book. Cut off the excess with scissors for a smooth, uniform look.[6]
    • If you want a more random and fun look, try making a pattern out of different colors or shapes.
    • Duct tape is tough to take off, so only do this on books you own or don’t have to sell later on.
7

Mod Podge

  1. With this craft glue, you can add any picture to the front of your book. Grab a plain white sheet of paper and arrange a few doodles or photos on it. Use a layer of Mod Podge to stick them to the paper, then cut the paper to match the dimensions of your book and glue it onto the cover.[7]
    • You could use pictures from a magazine, printed quotes, or even small bits of colorful paper cut up to look like confetti.
  2. Advertisement
8

Colored pencils

  1. Create your own designs easily on brown paper. Wrap your notebook in a brown paper bag, then use colored pencils to draw triangles, zig zags, squares, or circles.[8]
    • You could even write your name on your book or label it with the class name.
    • Sketch out your design using a normal pencil first so you can erase it if you need to.

About This Article

Hannah Madden
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 14,293 times.
19 votes - 80%
Co-authors: 6
Updated: August 25, 2021
Views: 14,293
Categories: School Materials
Advertisement