Want to reorganize and refresh for the new year? Learn how to decorate a journal with a cool quote just for this purpose!

Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll be applying paper to a notebook cover with Mod Podge. There’s a little bit of painting and die cutting too.

While it’s a few days away from Christmas, I’ve been thinking of the New Year and everything that comes with it. I don’t know why but I have the urge to organize and refresh everything once the New Year hits, and this DIY Journal is perfect for recording your goals, resolutions about thoughts on the coming year!

Decorating a Journal

Check out how easy it was to decorate this notebook cover and turn it into a custom journal!

Gather These Supplies

Notebook
Patterned cardstock
Vinyl letters or decals
Matte Mod Podge
Brayer
Sponge brush
Craft knife
Brass liquid gilding (or metallic paint)
Parchment paper or wax paper

Notes and Thoughts on This Project:

I still love the rustic look so I went for a fun, white washed wood design (P.S. I got them from Michaels on the Christmas paper aisle!).
You can use any Mod Podge formula for this project. I used the matte finish, but you can use the gloss or satin finishes as well. You don’t need Paper Mod Podge for this project. Regular is fine.
The reason for the parchment or wax paper is so that the pages of the notebook or journal won’t get stuck to the front when you are decoupaging.
You can use a brayer to smooth out the paper, but an old credit card works as well. Any excess Mod Podge can be wiped away with a paintbrush on the edges and allowed to dry.
Make your notebook glamorous by painting the spine (mine is an orange color) with some brass leafing. I used a flat brush to distribute the paint evenly – and about two coats of it. Dry inbetween coats.
Pick out a saying! I used a quote I found on the Silhouette store as it was very apt for the New year, don’t you think so? I cut mine on mirror gold vinyl, but you can definitely purchase decals to use on Etsy or even create them on your own using vinyl stickers (so you don’t need an electronic die-cutter in this case).

Decorate a journal cover with paper and Mod Podge

And you are done! The whole process takes less than an hour, and it’s a fun activity not only to make on your own but to make with your friends as well. What are your rituals for the New Year? Will you decorate a journal?

Yield: 1 journal

Decorate a Journal

Learn how to decorate a notebook cover the easy way with Mod Podge! The whole craft takes less than an hour.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $2

Materials

Notebook
Patterned cardstock
Mod Podge
Brass leaf
Parchment paper or wax paper
Die cutter and vinyl (optional)
Adhesive letters (optional)

Tools

Craft knife and mate
Sponge brush
Brayer

Instructions

Choose a notebook and the patterned cardstock you want to cover it with. Place a piece of wax or parchment paper between the cover and the first page.
Apply a generous amount of Mod Podge on the front cover of the notebook.
Apply the patterned cardstock and use the brayer to roll out. Wipe away excess Mod Podge that comes out the edges. Let dry for 20 minutes.
Once dry, cut off the excess and repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the notebook.
Paint the spine with two coats of brass leaf, letting dry between coats.
Cut a saying out using your die cutter that fits the cover (I used gold vinyl) OR use adhesive letters to create your saying. Apply the vinyl or stickers to finish.