Hobonichi Marble Makeover
Hello Team Tangerine! As you can see below, my beloved Hobonichi is a little worn out. I’m not ready to let it go or get another one, so I’ve decided to give it a little makeover. This project requires very few supplies and the steps are simple and easy to manage. If you have a well-loved journal or planner in need of an upgrade, check out the steps below or watch the tutorial on YouTube!
What you’ll need:
Hobonichi or well-used notebook
*Clear tape or a paperweight
*Washi Tape (optional)
Step 1: Gather your supplies. Make sure you have everything you need and a clean, clear space with plenty of room to work. It helps if the area is well-lit, so you can see what you’re doing!
Step 2: Measure the cover of your Hobonichi and trace the outline on the contact paper. You will probably want to take a look at a large piece of the contact paper and line it up with a part of the pattern you like best. Make sure that you measure out two pieces of contact paper— one for the back and one for the front.
Step 3: Lay the contact paper out on the cutting mat. It may help to use a small piece of clear tape or even a paper weight to hold the contact paper down. Because it’s stored in a roll, it tries to roll back up and it can be hard to keep it flat! That’s what I found out during filming!
Step 4: Hold the paper taut and carefully use the ruler as a guide for your craft knife as you cut along the marks you made. Watch your fingers!
Step 5: Embrace your mistakes. Even though this is a simple project, chances are that something might not go the way you like. Don’t worry. Perfection is not required.
Step 6: Hold the contact paper against the Hobonichi and make sure it’s lined up the way you like. You may need to do some trimming, but it’s best to do that after you stick the paper on, that way you don’t cut away too much.
Step 7: This is the scary part, carefully peel away the lining of the contact paper and gently smooth it over your Hobonichi cover. It’s a good idea to do this slowly and to smooth from top down to the bottom in order to avoid air bubbles. A good tip is to use your ruler instead of your hands for a nice finish. You’ll do this to both sides of the journal. At this point, you may want to trim any edges that are too long or a bit ragged.
Step 8: Make it your own! I chose not to decorate any further, but you could easily add your favorite washi tape to the spine for a finished look!
So, what do you think about the final product? Will you give any of your favorite notebooks or journals a summery fresh makeover? Let me know in the comments below! And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to look great! Be sure to share your makeover results with me on social media too!
