DIY buffalo plaid notebook

I did a post on Tuesday about the trend I’ve been seeing a lot lately – the buffalo print plaid. If you missed it, check it out here. I really fell in love with this pattern and even though it seems to be everywhere lately, it’s really a classic. So I wanted to do something to bring this pattern into my daily life. And the one thing I really can’t leave home without everyday is my notebook. My life is contained in my little one-subject, college ruled notebook. My grocery and to-do lists, sketches, recipe ideas, dimensions for current projects, and all-around important info. It might seem funny to have all this “stuff’ in a basic lined notebook but it works for me. I’ve tried other expensive, fancy organizers but they just didn’t work. They look nicer but they didn’t make my life more organized.

So I decided to make the cover of this important but simple notebook a little trendy with a buffalo check plaid using washi tape. This was such a fun project. I had to really think about the pattern and how it was created and then translate that to tape. The classic plaid is made up of just white and black squares and then a combination of the 2 colors where the 2 yarns come together. Originally I thought of using gray for those sections but then I found the perfect tape that emulated the pattern more accurately. I think it came out really cool and now I feel a little more hip carrying my simple little notebook around.

Here’s what you’ll need:

white notebook {I used a  plastic-covered 8-1/2 x 10-1/2″ standard notebook}, washi tape in black and a black & white pattern, Xacto knife, ruler and pencil.

And the instructions:

1. Measure the width of the washi tape {mine was 3/4″} and mark vertical lines on your notebook cover every 3/4″, starting at the left side.

2. Attach your black & white tape to every other vertical line. Wrap the tape around to the inside of the cover and secure.

3. Next, mark horizontal lines on your notebook every 3/4″, starting at the top and attach the black tape on every other horizontal line. I started on the second line to cover up the notebook label.

4. Now, with your Xacto knife carefully cut out squares of the black washi tape where it sits over the white.

5. Then you’ll need to fill in those squares with the black & white washi tape. You’ll need to cut 3/4″ squares either with your Xacto knife or scissors and place them between the black spots.

6. Do you see the pattern coming together?

7. When all the black squares are replaced with the patterned tape, it should look like this. So pretty!

8. Since the inside is a little messy with all the wrapped around tape, glue a piece of scrapbook or colored paper to cover it up. I used Super 77 Spray Mount adhesive but a glue stick or double sided tape would work fine too.

Now you have a one-of-a-kind notebook for all your important info. Plus the buffalo check plaid is a classic print AND it’s super trendy. 

I hope you enjoyed this project. It would make a great gift for a teacher or friend. If you don’t want to tackle a buffalo check plaid, try any pattern with this fun tape. Enjoy your weekend!!