altered notebooks?

I have come across a couple of hard bound notebooks that I would like to alter. I have never altered one before and need some tips!! Do you cover just the front or the entire book? How do you deal with the spine of the notebook. This one is not spiral bound but I wasn't sure if I could cover the spine of the book since in needs some "give" in order to open and shut.
Thanks!

I've done a few but always on the spiral bound kind. I make sure the paper I am using matches the original cover so that I don't have to worry about removing the rungs and trying to put them back in or cutting around them.

I used heavier papers then mod podged them to the front. I also reinforced this with continuous line Glue Dots around the edges of the paper before putting it down on the book. You could also use self-adhesive papers.

Once the mod podge between the paper and notebook dries, I put a thin layer of mod podge over the top to protect the paper from tearing. Then I added embellies and tied ribbon through each of the rungs. Some examples are in my gallery.

Here's a few:

Karen's notebook
By Siameseplease

Notebooks By Siameseplease

• Rachel's mom Said:

Here's mine that I did. I covered front and back.

[url=http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/other/5 91553.html][img]http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/public/591553 _5_74198.bmp[/img][/url]
Altered book
By DawnInAZ

Strange. my embedding is not working on that one.

I wouldn't know how to cover or alter the spiral except maybe tie a bunch of ribbon pieces to each wire. Which would be pretty cute actually. I think most people buy those composition notebooks because they already have a covered spine and they have thicker covers.

Disregard my last message, I completely read your post wrong!

altered journals

here is an album of alterd journals I did, they were composition books... hope this helps.. I too, did front and back.

• Rachel's mom Said:

Whether you cover all is up to the artist.

Yes, you can cover the spine but, I would do it first and possibly with a different color. You need to add a little extra to overlap so when you cover the front/back you are not trying to make edges meet you will just be overlaying the extra width. I hope that just made sense...

I have found zip dry paper glue to work really on to make the paper stick to the book. The excess just rubs away. No bubbles, or wrickles.

you can buy Fabritac which is the same as zip dry cheaper...I use it all the time and it is my main glue for altering...

I do a lot of journals for my girls and if the spine is covered with pretty paper I usually leave it alone and cover where that part stops..if it is not I will usually paint it and then I don't have to worry about it getting messed up when the book opens.

After I adhere the paper I sand all around the edges and modge the top to protect.

I have done mini composition books and a spiral bound notebook,which was a prize for one of my challenges. I used paper similar to the color of the notebook so I wouldn't have to worry about the part under the spiral wire. for the composition book,I used pp and ribbon on the spine. It opens fine! Here they are if you want a peek...

Watch me grow altered composition book
By Byondbzr


Altered notebook
By Byondbzr

When I cover the composition books that have no spiral binding I use ribbon or fabric or even felt to cover the binding edge so it will have a little give. I glue that strip down (making sure that it extends to the front and back enough that paper will cover it) and then add my paper to the covers. Hope that makes sense !

I prefer to alter the ones with spiral binding though:
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/17797/view/ 992243/-1...