By Noreen Doll.
Holly jolly notepads are perfect as a small gift for a friend or co-worker, and because of their size would be wonderful stocking stuffers.
Plan to make a bunch of them at once and they will go together quickly.
Your kids may like to make some with you, so they can give some to their friends.
Christmas notepads would also make great party favors for Christmas or classroom parties. Or have the group make notepads as part of their party activity.
Save cereal and cracker boxes to make the covers, and use computer printing paper for the inside pages.
Check the Dollar Spot in Target well before Christmas for packs of Christmas scrapbooking paper.
Or buy a small pad of Christmas scrapbooking paper at the craft store when they have it on sale for 50% off. Or use a 40% off coupon.
You can cover a lot of holly jolly notepads with even a small pack of decorative paper.
What You Need
Scrapbooking Paper in Christmas Colors
Cereal or Cracker Boxes, or other light weight cardboard
Twist Ties, Ribbon, Twine, Pipe Cleaners, or Colored wire to Fasten the Notepad Together
Stickers or other Embellishments for the Cover
Paper Cutter
Scissors
Glue Stick
What You Do
1. Carefully pull the box apart where the edges meet and cut off the flaps.
2. Mark off 2 inch x 3 inch rectangles with a ruler and pencil, using only the flat pieces of the box. Cut the rectangles out.
A paper cutter will make quick work of cutting them.
3. Cut strips from the scrapbooking paper that are wide enough to fit the covers.
Or use paper scraps that are slightly larger than the rectangles, for ease of gluing.
4. Cover the entire surface of the colored side of each small rectangle with glue, and place it glue side down on the WRONG side of the scrapbooking paper.
Press firmly around the edges and over the entire surface of the cover to make sure it is firmly attached.
5. Only the colored side of the cardboard needs to be covered as the inside is either brown or gray and looks fine as is.
6. Trim off excess paper from the back side of the cover.
7. Using computer printing paper, cut lots of 2 inch x 3 inch rectangles for the inside pages of your holly jolly notepads.
I used about 24 pages in the notepads, but more or less could be used.
8. Punch 2 holes in the top of each cover and the inside pages, about equally distant from each other and the edges.
Be sure you have the covers right side up before you punch the holes.
9. Stack the holly jolly notepad together starting with the front cover, and then thread the twist tie, yarn, ribbon, pipe cleaner, or twine through the holes to hold everything in place.
Tie the yarn, etc, loosely to allow the pages to move easily.
Tie the ends together with a bow or square knot, or twist the wire ends together.
10. Trim the front cover with Christmas stickers or embellishments.
Tips
Use up your Christmas scrapbooking paper scraps by making a collage on the front cover of the Christmas notepads.
Use double sided tape to attach scrapbooking paper to the covers.
Precut and pre-punch the cover and pages and use twist ties or pipe cleaners to assemble them, and even preschoolers can create holly jolly notepads.
Some of my Christmas notepads were put together with my Bind It All.
2 or 3 holes may be punched across the top of the pads, and twine or ribbon added in each hole.
To help the ribbon or twine thread more easily, you can punch larger holes.
Or coat the ends of the ribbon or twine with a small amount of glue, twist them tightly and let dry. The ends will then be stiff enough to thread through the holes easily.
Haunting Halloween Notepads Tutorial
Noreen Doll
BiggSis says
What a sweet idea! I was thinking you could use last year’s Christmas cards as covers as well. Thanks for sharing – I found you at the Just Winging It Linky party. 🙂
admin says
That’s a great idea, too!
Noreen
Michelle L says
Hi, Noreen – those are so ideal for little gifts. Love the recycled green twist ties for the binding!
Creative2xmom says
These are very cute. Love it!
Donna says
What a great idea! They would make great teacher gifts or stocking stuffers at Christmas. Thanks for sharing.
Donna @onceuponasewingmachine.com
Laura @ Real Momma says
LOVE it! this is really fun and a great thing to do for almost any occasion…I’m thinking Valentines day?! Thanks for join the Pinteresting party!
Mary@Back to the Basics! says
Great idea! Your note pads are super cute!
Karri Reiser says
Wonderful idea. I should make these for my ministry team so they always have somethings to take note on when we have our planning meetings. Thank you for sharing at my Our Favorite Things Link Party.
kelley @ Miss Information says
So cute! What a great gift idea and something my kids can help make. Thanks for linking up @ Miss Information
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
What a great idea! Love how simple this project is to make. And the kids can help decorate the front as a gift to their teachers. Thanks for posting this.
Leslie says
So clever. These would be great to make for out bazaar at school. The kids would purchase them for their loved ones. Thanks for sharing.
Jill says
Such cute little notepads! Thanks for the tutorial.
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Fitness Buff says
How creative! These are lovely.
My entry.
Erin says
This is a great idea for Christmas gifts on a budget. Thanks!
JDaniel4's Mom says
What a wonderful stocking stuffer! I love that you reused a box to make the covers!
Capri + 3--Theresa says
The note pads are really cute and festive! Great idea. Thanks for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday on Capri + 3. : 0 ).
Mixed Kreations says
What a great idea, and so easy. These little notepads are so cute! They would make great gifts. I bet my grandkids would love them. Thanks for sharing your wonderful tutorial.
Pinning and sharing!
Diana Rambles says
I just love these and pinned them. Thanks!
Kelly - Two Kids Cooking & More says
Adorable! Thanks for sharing ’em at our Sunday Show and Tell!
Kelly
Amanda says
Cute gift idea! Thanks for sharing at I Made It! Monday. Can’t wait to see what you link up this week.
Tulip says
So easy! I can’t wait to make some with my preschoolers. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library.
Tulip says
Featuring you this week!
Vanessa says
I was so excited to find this tutorial at Mom’s Library. These would be perfect for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes! Thanks for sharing.
Michelle says
Noreen,
These are perfect to keep the little ones busy at the holiday dinners this year! I’m making these for sure 🙂 Thanks so much. Can’t wait to see what you make this week! Have a wonderful rest of the week 🙂
Michelle