35+ Cute Notebook Decoration Ideas for School or Journaling

Discover 35+ notebook decoration ideas that are cute, creative, and surprisingly easy to make for school, journaling, personalized gifts, and everyday inspiration.

Ever since I was young, decorating notebooks has been one of my favorite creative outlets. Every back-to-school season, I’d grab plain supplies and immediately start thinking about how to personalize them with paint, stickers, scrapbook paper, markers, and anything else I could find. A plain cover just feels like a blank canvas waiting for ideas.

These days, decorating notebooks is even more popular thanks to journaling, planners, and bullet journals. Some people use fancy planners to stay organized, while others prefer something simple they can completely customize themselves.

The best part about notebook decoration ideas is that there are no rules. You can keep things minimal and aesthetic or go bright, colorful, layered, and over-the-top creative.

Whether you love washi tape, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, photos, paint pens, or stickers, there are so many ways to transform an ordinary notebook into something unique.

If you’re looking for inspiration, these 35+ notebook decoration ideas are full of creative designs for school, journaling, gifts, and everyday organization. Some are cute and simple, while others are artistic enough to look store-bought.

And don’t stop at the cover — you can use these ideas to inspire the inside pages too. Add creative dividers, decorative headers, colorful layouts, and personalized details throughout.

Grab a few blank notebooks or journals and start decorating. You’re going to find plenty of ideas here that make organizing your thoughts way more fun.

Notebook Cover Decoration Ideas

1

DIY Notebook in a Matter of Minutes

This adventure themed notebook is the perfect gift idea for everyone from hostesses to teachers to kids! So simple to personalize and perfect for a travel journal.

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2

Overlay with Mod Podge

Learn how to decorate your notebook with a laser cut overlay and Mod Podge. Keep all of your notes, calendar, or journal inside. So cute!

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3

New Year Journal

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

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4

Scrapbook Paper and Die Cuts

Transform your stationery with this easy guide! You can personalize any notebook cover with simple materials and techniques.

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5

maritzalisa.com

DIY Floral Patterned Notebooks

This is such a fun tutorial that uses temporary tattoo paper to decorate a notebook! If you don't have a cutting machine it's okay – you can still use temp tattoos from a site like Tattly.

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6

burkatron.com

Decorate Notebooks with Wrapping Paper

Use a glue stick and wrapping paper to decorate notebooks – then add some glittery letters! Simple, easy, and perfect for gifts.

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7

Paper Bag Cover

Back in the day we used to cover school books with grocery bags! Now you can do it with journals or anything for back to school.

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8

Ashlee Park

Embroidered Notebook

When I picked up this cute map notebook, I thought it would be perfect for embellishing with a stitchy quote! It's easier than you think.

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9

designeatrepeat.com

Cute Printable Notebook Stickers

Decorate back-to-school notebooks, binders, folders, and book covers with these printable stickers! Choose one of the trendy designs and watch those boring school supplies transform into colorful desk decor.

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10

Marisa Edghill

Make Collage Covers

A collage doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, Marisa shows you how to do several on the front of notebooks with old magazines. I love her colorways! Make them for a recipe book, shopping list, mind mapping, vision boarding . . . the possibilities are endless.

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11

twinspiration.co

Inspirational Covers

Sometimes you need a little bit of a pick me up, or at least something to keep you motivated. That's the point of these cute covers! And if you don't have a cutting machine, it's okay – you can get pre-printed vinyl quotes on Etsy.

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12

Comic Book Covers

Cute comic books to fit the covers and then add then to the front with a bit of decoupage medium! Super easy and fun.

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13

kimspireddiy.com

Coolest Color Changing Notebook

How cool would it be to have a notebook that changes colors? This is a super exciting craft to take back to school.

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14

mypoppet.com.au

Postage Stamp Notebook

If you're using your journal for travel or sketches, a cute way to decorate it is with postage stamps! You can use real ones that you get online (eBay has them), or print some images off from online.

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15

foxandhazel.com

Stenciled with Paint

I feel like I always forget about stencils, and I'm not sure why! Today's stencils come in some pretty cute designs, perfect for adding to the front of a notebook.

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16

handmadecharlotte.com

Washi Tape and Fingerprint Art

Fingerprints make the cutest pencil erasers! The washi tape pencils on the front of this notebook are perfect for back to school, no matter your age.

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17

Colorful Vinyl

Personalize the front covers with some cute vinyl cuts as well as some printed labels! These are really fun and colorful.

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18

Pien’ the Sky

Hexagon Catalog Pages

Grab your Mod Podge for this notebook – you're going to cut some catalog pages into hexagons, and then decoupage them to the front. Super easy!

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19

Larissa Holland

Mini Memo Book Cover

If your composition books are of the mini variety, this is the perfect tutorial for you! Larissa provides a template and tutorial to make a cute little cover with a closure.

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20

Fruit Covers

A little cutting and painting and you've turned your notebooks into the cutest fruit you've ever seen!

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21

www.burkatron.com

DIY Wood Notebook

Okay it's not real wood, but it sure looks real, doesn't it? Contact paper makes a great notebook cover idea it turns out! This would be a cool idea for a hobby journal.

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22

polkadotchair.com

Fabric Covered Notebook

If you like sewing, Amy is ready to teach you how to make a fabric cover with this free pattern. She’s even added a bit of applique detail to the cover making this the perfect simple summer sewing project!

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23

damasklove.com

Colorful Graphic Composition Book Covers

Amber has some free printables for you so that you can decorate a notebook the easiest way possible! Grab her cute covers, some glue, and you'll have new journals in minutes.

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24

cloverandviolet.com

Notebook Slipcover with Pen Pocket

This is another simple sewing project to cover your notebook! The best part about this DIY is that it adds pockets in the front for pencils. Perfect if you like to sketch.

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25

prettylifegirls.com

DIY Back-to-School Stitched Notebooks

If you've never stitched on paper, it's actually pretty fun! I love the results, especially on these cute notebook covers.

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26

quiltsocial.com

Denim Notebook Cover

Whether you’re covering a binder, a book, or a composition notebook, recycled denim is a great way to go! It would be fun to make these from colored jeans. Bonus: built in pocket in the front.

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27

damasklove.com

Galaxy Painted Notebook

Amber has come up with a super simple way for you to create your own galaxy on the front of a journal with exactly ZERO crafty know-how. All you have to do is smudge and splatter. Foolproof!

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28

cutefetti.com

DIY Unicorn Notebooks

I'm all about the unicorn trend and I don't intend to ever give it up! I love the party flair that was added to the front of these notebooks, complete with unicorn ears and a horn.

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29

Brepurposed

DIY Mini Chalkboard Notebooks

Have you ever used chalkboard paint? It's actually quite easy. This notebook cover idea is really cute especially if you use them decoratively. And you can change the messages out regularly too!

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30

Lia Griffith

Washi Tape Notebooks and Pencils

This idea is cute because not only do you cover your notebooks, but you add washi tape to the pencils as well. If you like it when things coordinate, this will be right up your alley.

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31

Mermaid Sequin Noebook

You can make this mermaid sequin cover using hot glue! No sewing skills required. You won't be able to stop brushing it back and forth.

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32

Chelsey Foy

Gold Foil Notebooks

I've never used a foil letter kit, but it looks really simple – plus you can make the notebooks say anything you like. And then once the gold is added, your journals are instantly cute.

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33

polkadotchair.com

Hogwarts Inspired Notebooks

There are too many Potter fans out there not to include these Hogwarts inspired covers! Melissa provides a free printable, so you'll be good to go in minutes.

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34

lanaredstudio.com

Origami Embroidered Book Cover

Turn your journal cover into a surface for origami! This embroidery is such a cute way to decorate a cover, and I love the geometric shape.

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35

www.diybeautify.com

Decorate a Notebook for a Teen Girl

Cindy turned a notebook she got at Hobby Lobby into a cute gift for her niece! Add a bit of trim and some tabs and I guarantee it will be a big hit.

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36

fleecefun.com

Watercolor Notebook Cover

You can make a notebook cover look almost like stained glass with the help of vinyl and some watercolor! I love this idea, especially the book is going to be an art journal.

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37

happyhooligans.ca

Mod Podge Journals for Tweens and Teens

Turn a composition book into a personalized journal with Mod Podge and magazine clippings. Both teens and adults can decorate their journal covers with a collage of images and words that inspire and motivate them.

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Which ideas from the list would you like to try? Let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other posts:

Bottle Cap Crafts • Coloring Page Ideas • Crafts to Do at Home • Decorate a Cork Board • Desk Organizers • DIY Keychains • DIY Phone Cases • Fabric Crafts • Fridge Magnets • Painting Ideas for Beginners • Rainbow Crafts