Cereal Box Project: Homemade Notebook

Cute Cereal Box Project:

Learn how to upcycle a cereal box into a cute little notebook!

I’m always looking for creative ways to upcycle items I have around the house – especially something that might just end up in the garbage or recycling bin – and this fun project does just that!

This is a fun and easy project you can get the kids involved with. Then they can also turn these into the trendy bullet journals I see so many making and using to help keep life organized.

Materials needed to make your upcycled cereal box notebook:

• cereal box
• 8×11 computer printer paper
• needle and thread
• decorative craft tape or duct tape
• decorative button

1.  First you need to find an empty cereal box and cut out the flat side.  (there are 2 flat sides, so you can make 2 notebooks from one box!)

2.  Use 8″ x 11″ printer paper (I had some blank light blue that I wanted to use.  But use any color you want!)  Then you will want the paper to fit the width of the cereal box, so cut it to be 7 1/4″ wide x 11″ long.

3.  Use about 10 sheets – so this will be a 20 page notebook.  I wouldn’t use much more than that amount of paper or the stack becomes too thick to fit in the simple cereal box cardboard cover.

4.  Fold both the cardboard and paper in half and slide the paper inside the cardboard cover.

How To Make A Simple Book Binding For Your Cereal Box Project:

5.  This notebook will be held together with a very simple binding.  You will sew the paper into the cardboard cover in three places.  Mark those three places – the center, top and bottom and make two dots as stitch markers.

Pro Tip:

6.  Pushing a needle through 10 pieces of paper and a layer of cardboard can be a huge pain (literally on your finger trying to push it through!) So to make the sewing easier, use a push pin first to make holes in the paper and cardboard so you don’t have to push the needle through that stack.

7.  Use some embroidery floss (thicker than thread for more durability, but not as thick as yarn) and thread your needle.  Then go ahead and stitch the top first, and then the middle and bottom, then tie off.

I used the same long piece of embroidery floss for the stitching.  You could tie off and cut each stitch if you want, but for a speedier sewing, I kept them all in one piece.

8.  This binding will be covered with craft tape or decorative duct tape, so you don’t have to worry about what the stitch knots look like.

How To Finish Your Cereal Box Notebook:

9.  Now you need to get a strip of duct tape or wide craft tape.  I found this pink chevron craft tape at Walmart, but any decorative duct tape would also work wonderfully. 

After you smooth and press the tape on both sides, you’ll want to trim the ends so it is even with the edge of the notebook. This is done for the purpose of both strengthening the binding, and for aesthetics.    

How To Make A Button Closure On Your Handmade Journal:

10.  Then you need to get a cute button to use as a button closure for your notebook.  You may want to pre-punch holes again using a thumb tack, for easier sewing.

11.  Sew through the holes a couple of times.  You can tie off the stitch into a knot, but don’t cut the string.

12.  You will want to use the rest of the embroidery floss to wrap the notebook and twist the floss around the button a few times.  Then cut the floss and your notebook is done!

Here is a quick 2-minute video to summarize how to quickly complete your cereal box project:

Pro Tip:  

As a bonus tip to keep the end of the floss from unraveling too much, put a bit of clear nailpolish on the end to hold it together.

I made a couple of varieties with different tape I had on hand.  My daughter made one and covered it with stickers!

You can color or decorate it, or leave it in its simplistic chic design.  Then fill your notebook with pictures, dreams, lists, funny kids quotes, ideas, doodles – whatever you want!

Looking for more upcycling project ideas?  Check these out:

Upcycle a Spaghetti Sauce Jar with a Flower Loom Decor!

Coffee Filter Wreath

Toilet Paper Tube Wreath

Plarn Tote Decorated With Toothpaste Tubes

No Sew Tote Bag Made From A Tank Top

DIY Magnetic Board Made From Dollar Tree Oven Covers

Coffee Table Tray Made From Old Photo Frame

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