Cricut Bug Head Notebook 12 Days of Christmas DAY SEVEN GIVE AWAY
I got the Car Decals Cricut cartridge in the mail today and I just had to use it immediately. Somehow I’d missed the fact that this cartridge had the bug head on it or I would have purchased it sooner. Isn’t he cute? Let me show you how easy it is to make this notebook and a matching pen.
At the beginning of every school year I buy a bunch of composition books (when they are super cheap) so I can turn them into cool and interesting notebooks. You can do this too. It can be as simple or as complex as you would like it. In this post I’m using my ATG gun, paper, vinyl and ribbon, but I’ve used Mod Podge in the past. You could even use fabric. You can decorate the inside of the books too. Just do whatever you like. That’s the best part of crafting. If you like it…it’s awesome.
I drew an outline of the notebook onto the side of the paper I wanted to glue down. Then I cut it to size and taped it down using my ATG gun.
Now it’s covered in adhesive from my ATG gun.
That weird little rolling thing is a brayer. I don’t use it very often, but I decided it would be perfect for making sure this paper was really stuck down and as flat as possible.
I used that file to sand the edges of the notebook. It wasn’t really important to sand the notebook, what I was really trying to do was get the paper to be flush with the edges. You can use any kind of sander/file that you have. Tim Holtz has a sanding block that I hope to find in my stocking this year. (SANTA are you listening?) I inked the edges of the notebook with that small pad. I actually meant to use a liquid catseye chalk, but I grabbed the wrong thing. It worked out well, but didn’t dry fast.
I used Fabri-Tac to glue the ribbon to the edge of the notebook.
After I finished everything I made a matching pen. You know how to do that? Just roll up a piece of paper and shove it carefully put it inside the pen. Here’s a link to the first matching pen I created and here’s the 2nd pen I created.
The newer Cricut cartridge booklets have a brand new look!
I used the “I’d rather be crafting” phrase from the Car Decals Cricut cartridge and cut it out using white vinyl. Then I applied it to the bottom of the notebook. You could use paper and do the same thing, but I love using vinyl so I used that. 🙂 Want to learn more about vinyl and the Cricut? Check out my Cricut Vinylology DVD!
Need vinyl? I like to buy mine from Expressions Vinyl.
There’s a boy & girl bug head in this cartridge. This one is my fav though.
All done and now … TIME FOR A GIVE AWAY!!!
On the 7th Day of Christmas Best Craft Oranizer.com Gave To FOUR Winners….
Their awesome Spool & Store Ribbon Storage and Dispenser System!
Check out my video to find out how it works.
Woo hoo! To be eligible to win a Spool & Store please leave a comment on this post. The FOUR winners will be chosen by Random.org on December 13.
Dear Joy,
I love this note book idea. These would make great teacher gifts. Your instuctions are wonderful and you make me think I could really do this! Thank you soooo much!!
With Warm Regards,
Carol Broney
love the notebook and matching pen set. OOOOH i would love the ribbon thingy.
I just love this. Great job! This is one of the carts I do not have. Need to get it. TFS. Keepthem coming. Thanks for the chance to win.
What a great gift idea for a student. Thanks for sharing your creativity and a chance to win.
I did this only twice before. But now you got me excited about making another altered notebook with my Cricut machine, Thanks Joy.
Very cute idea!!
I really like this, it would be wonderful for anyone I know that kids use these all the time I am sure that they would love to have them in something that they like
Thanks,
Teri
[email protected]
You make everything look so easy!
Making altered items, especially notebooks, is one of my favorite things. Nice job on this one!
I love car decals. Such a fun cartridge 🙂 The notebook is cute. And love the matching pen. Love– you shove, I mean carefully place the paper 🙂
Such a cute book…and it gives me lots of ideas for other styles, too. Thank you 🙂
Really like this project and matching pen is the perfect addition. Cool ribbon holder.
That notebook is ADORABLE! And thanks for the chance to win the ribbon storage–I need to do something about my ribbon!
I love, love, love how you did it in pink! This is such a cute set and would make an awesome giftt!!! Thanks for sharing such great ideas!!!
what a great idea! I love it!
Super fun gift idea!!! Love it!!
Omgoodness…. Super stoked about receiving my Car Decals cart in the next few days.
Love the notebook…. I have tons of those. I think I’ll make some for the grands with there names on them and a car decals that looks like them…..
and a pen of course.
Thanks
Crystal
LLved your bug head notebook and pen set. I don’t have that cartridge, will have to think about getting it. ribbon storage idea is cool. Thanks for the chance to win one.
Love your notebook and think Zippy does Too!! Thanks for showing the ribbon organizer, this looks fantastic, you could do each roll in certain colors, love it!! Thanks again!! Cindy
awesome notebook, I so need a different storage system for my ribbon, it’s a hot mess. Thanks for the chance to win.
Love the notebook!! I also buy them at the beginning of the school yr!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Lynne
thebowsersapril97 at yahoo dot com
This is such a nice gift idea!!!! Love the matching pen!!
How cute is that!
I know more bug heads.. I bought this cart .. I love the sayings they have in there.
Now thats a good idea.. compositions…
that is such a cute notebook! looks like a great cartridge!!
Wait.. .is that bug head polka dotted???
Mmlsweet,
It IS a polka dotted bug head! 😀 So fun!
~Joy~
I need to make this for a friend. She was just saying yesterday how she needed a crafting notebook! So cute!
such a cute notebook. I agree with you on loving that bug!
[email protected]
LOL! I have a bunch of those notebooks that I bought thinking the kids would use them! Now Mom’s gonna get crafty! Thanks Joy!
Very cool notebook and pen. I’m inspired to go make one. 😉
I haven’t seen this cartridge yet! It’s so cute and just went on my christmas wish list! What a great idea and seemed pretty easy to do!
OHHHHH boy…saw this…want this soooo bad! My ribbon storage is “one hot mess” as my DD would say 🙂
thatgirl48316,
I say “hot mess” too! 😉 LOL!
~Joy~
The bug head is sooooo cute! I enjoyed your ribbon box disaster video, would love to own one of those cool ribbon storage systems. Thanks for all the ideas that you keep showing.
Monique
That is a FANTASTIC teachers gift idea. Me thinks I’ll have to go out and buy a few for my sons teacher! That’ll keep me busy in my crafty room!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!!
[email protected]
Such a cute notebook and pen! And the cartridge looks neat too!
I have made matching book n Pen sets before but where I sewed the book cover, they were not nearly as cute as this one is though! never get tired of that bug head… how cute!
Thanks for showing the cool ribbon storage with out you I probably would just pass it by…………..
your book is great, really, but those spool & stores…how great are those, santa, santa please i NEED these!!!! lol, ty for the chance !!!!!
How fun would this be as a back to school project with your kiddos and let them decorate their notebooks for school? Cute, cute!
JonaSwim,
That’s a great idea! 😀
~Joy~
Love this gift idea and the bug is super duper cute!
i remember doing something like this to my notebooks when i was in high school! we used magazine clippings of boy bands and etc. and would stick them on with school glue with an extra coat on top to protect it :0)
Great idea!! I have several of those notebooks that I bought on sale too. CarolH:)
I love the Car Decals cartridge, especially the bug heads.
Me too Sherrie! Bug heads ROCK!
~Joy~
That notebook is so cute, what a great idea for a personalized gift! And I love that cart, I’ve never really seen it before your post but it may have to go onto my want list!
How do you like the layout of the new cart handbooks? It looks a lot different, so I didn’t know if that was a good thing or bad thing… 😉
I’ve been trying to figure out new storage for my ribbon as its starting to really accumulate in my too-small drawers as I buy more and more, so that system looks like something I will have to pick up – thanks for showcasing it for us!
Kimberli,
I like the layout of the new cartridges. It’s really been simplified. I have to admit that the change did freak me out a bit. Isn’t that silly? I was used to the old look. There’s even a little dot on the page showing what button it corresponds to on the overlay. I just wish they’d had the books designed like this when I first started with my Cricut. Trying to figure out those booklets as a beginner is like reading stereo instructions. 😀
~Joy~
Oh I am soooo going to make one of these…. that is just too dang cute Joy!! I HAD to have that cartridge because of the bug head, but still have not used it. Thanks for the inspiration! (that ribbon spool thing looks awesome… hope to win, WOO HOO!) Happy Holidays!
Lori
http://got2bcrafting.blogspot.com/
got2bcrafting at gmail dotcom
What a great idea to personalize the composition notebook. I NEVER would have thought of that…and now I can’t wait until next spring to pick some up to make some personalized journals for friends! I may just have to go and get one full price (gasp) now to give to my best gf this year for Christmas! So cute! Thanks for another great giveaway!
That notebook is adorable! I love the bug head! I wasn’t really interested in the Car Decals but I do love the Bug Heads! Another great project!
I think i may have to get that cart!!! I think I am going to use this idea for my personal cookbook! thanks for the idea
I love the altered notebook. I only picked up 4 notebooks before school started, I wish I had got more. The ribbon storage is awesome. TFS
Kerry
mommakcrafts.blogspot.com
Oh I so want this cart! TFS
I have made several of these altered notebooks and love them and love to give them as gifts. Great job!