Brighten up a plain note book. Cheap gift

I was wondering what I could write about today, as life is becoming pretty mundane while I wait for the 25th to arrive. I don't know about you, but this is my least favourite time of year. It seems like everything has been put on hold and the tension is building up as we hurtle towards a black hole. Then when we come out the other side and hit the first of January it's a great sense of relief as I look forward to the start of a fresh new year. So now I am filling in the time untill this happens.

Did you all cover your school books with old wallpaper, or wrapping paper, or even newspaper if you were poor enough? I did, I used old colourful pop magazines, the Beatles usually ended up on the front cover. Then I seem to remember they brought out plastic covers you could buy from Woolworths, in all the colours of the rainbow. Anyone who didn't cover their books was pretty square, you had to follow the crowd and make your books stand out.

Some of you have mentioned you are going to start or resume sewing again, here is a simple idea which you might like to have a go at. Take one hard back cheap note book with a spiral spine. Spiral is best because you need to fold it back.


Open the book out flat and cut out a piece of fabric which is slightly taller than the book, and double the length of it. Sorry if I haven't explained that very well. It helps if you use a pencil or pen to mark the edges of the book on the wrong side of the fabric.

This pic might help. I am using a dress I got from a car boot sale. Fabric with a slight stretch is best because the cover has to be a tight fit. My dress is polyester.

First make a hem along each end, one turn is enough. Then with fabric face up fold the ends to the middle but not quite, leave a centre strip for the spine. Machine along the top edge, then insert your book to check where your bottom seam should be. The book should fit tight. Sew bottom seam. Trim off any excess fabric if there is any.

Then turn it the right way round, and insert your book. That's why you need to fold the cover right back.

One covered note book.

The whole of the inside of the cover is enclosed in the new cover.

A cheap and easy pressie to make. You could use plain fabric and personalise it with embelishments or embroidery etc. This one is an A5 but you could use any size note book.

Have fun. Toodle pip.