DIY Mini Notebooks: Easy Back-to-School Craft
This craft can be made with a Cricut or by using scissors and cutting it by hand. Make this mini notebook journal for jotting down new friends' names and numbers. Or writing about how the first day of school went. Name of the teacher, classroom number, and more!
I love sending snail mail to my granddaughter since she doesn't live close by. If you are looking for something else to craft, find our latest Cricut Craft Ideas here.
This Cricut Craft is easy to make and beginner-friendly. If you don't have a Cricut, you can still make one by cutting paper, cardstock, punching holes, and assembling the mini notebook. Just follow the directions below.
New to crafting with digital cutting machines or considering getting one? Start here: Cricut Crafts. Or search and browse our craft topics. Find even more back to school crafts at the end of the post!
Back To School Crafts
Mini School Notebook- Mini Journal DIY
- There is a cut file if you do have a Cricut (see below)
The inspiration for the mini notebook was a different project. One that I want to make for myself down the road. It was the Vintage Revivals DIY Leather Notebook on the Cricut website. It's called Feather Notebook – Vintage Revivals.
Here is how I adapted the craft for Back To School
Back To School Crafts Cut Files:
Easily adapt this back-to-school craft project by varying the supplies you use. That is just what I did. Get the cut files in Design Space It is called Feather Notebook by Vintage Revivals.
If you don't have a cutting machine, you can use scissors, a hole punch, and a ruler to make your mini notebooks. Or mini journals.
Supplies for making Mini Notebooks
For the mini notebooks:
- For the covers: Card Stock Papers by DCWV 8×8 called the Edumacation Stack
- Card Stock Papers by Die Cuts 12×12 called the School Days
- For inside papers: Card Stock Papers by DCWV called the Snapshot Stack
- Card Stock Kraft Paper by Recollections Kraft Neutral Smooth Pack
- Binding: White Cotton Butchers Twine
Tools:
- Cutter Bee Craft Scissors
- Glue Sticks
- Cricut Explore
- Cricut Cutting Mat
- Cricut Design Studio (free designing Online studio that comes with the machines)
For the Mini Notebook, I used the Cricut Cut Files mentioned earlier. Or find them by searching for journals in Design Space.
How To Make Mini Notebooks or Mini Journals
- Cut the cover: Cut 1 cover and a stack of papers to go inside. I cut 6 for each book.
(Cut as many for the insides as you like! From one sheet of 12×12 cardstock paper, it will cut 6 of the mini size inside paper pages. - Add Embellishments:Use the sheet of card stock that came with the Edumacation Stack and cut out the embellishments (with my favorite Cutter Bee Craft Scissors) and a few covers.
- Use a glue stick to add the embellishments to the sheets of cardstock in the mini notebooks.
- Assemble: Insert the papers inside the cover (sandwiched between covers).
- Bind: Tie them together with the butcher's twine by lacing it through twice and tying them off in the back.tie them together with the butcher's twine by lacing it through twice and tying them off in the back.
- After, cut off the excess.
Note – For two of the notebooks, I had Kraft brown cardstock from Michaels Crafts that I had grabbed on sale.
Tie the twine on the back of the notebook like this.
l could have used a tighter twine; this is for a 6-year-old. I thought the strength of the butcher's twine and color worked just fine! The elements that came on the cardstock page that I cut out were tabs that said: Friends, Homework, Teacher, and Notes. Other embellishments on the page included: School, Awesome, I love reading, My first day of school, speech bubbles, and more!
This is a pretty easy craft project. You can adapt these for mini journals. I am making a few more of them and will share them later.
- You can also use stickers instead of gluing cardstock elements. However, you can adapt the project to your liking.
- I hope you enjoy this #backtoschool mini notebook/journal DIY, I know I did!
- I sat around one hot afternoon making mini notebooks one after the other.
Audrey will love adding her first-grade memories and writing in her mini notebook. When it's all filled, she can add it to a box I made her just for snail mail from Grandma! Who will you make them for?
More Back To School Ideas
- No-Sew Unicorn Pouch: Perfect for holding erasers or small treasures.
- Butterfly Pencil Topper: A cute way to dress up standard #2 pencils.
- 25 Back To School Fun & Easy Crafts: Upcycle a mason jar for a organized desk at home.
I hope you enjoy this #backtoschool mini notebook/journal DIY, I know I did!
Pin it for Later!
Quick & Budget-Friendly Back to School Projects
- DIY Bookmarks
- DIY Felt Bird Paperclip Bookmarks
- Printable Bookmarks (Daisy design)
- DIY Personalized Zipper Pouches
- Make a DIY Iron on Tote Bag (for books and library books).
- Back To School Ideas
DIY Felt Bird Paperclip Bookmarks
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I can't wait to share my next craft project with you!
Do you want to make a leather journal?
Here is the original Post DIY Leather Notebook via Vintage Revivals.
See this Video Tutorial on YouTube – DIY Leather Notebook With a Cricut
Have you ever made your own mini or regular-sized notebook or journal?
You might like this traveler mini journal project, too! Or these DIY mini notepads. 3 Easy ways to make journals.
Those are adorable! I need to use my Cricut more often.
Thanks Shelly! They are even cuter in person if I say so myself. Can’t wait to hear how Audrey loves her package. It’s in the mail to her now. Thanks for stopping by!