DIY Personalized Notepads

Learn how to make DIY Personalized Notepads with this fun and easy tutorial!

With the holidays just around the corner, I’m getting into the seasonal spirit. I love making DIY gifts for my friends and family!

Today, I have a super simple DIY Personalized Notepad tutorial, and they make such a fun gift.

These Personalized Notepads can be completely customized to fit the recipient using their name or fun clip art, and you won't believe how easy they are to make!

Seriously, you can put together these notepads with supplies you probably already have at home. Nothing fancy is required, and they make a great stocking stuffer.

DIY Personalized Notepads

Would you like to make a Personalized Notepad?

It's super easy ... just follow my detailed tutorial below!

Custom Notepad Supplies

Here's what you'll need:

• computer
• 12 sheets of white printer paper (per notepad)
• self-healing mat
• utility knife
• 3 large binder clips
• white glue
• card stock for front cover, optional
• clip art or other decorative paper for front cover, optional
• thin cardboard for back cover, optional

How to Make Personalized Notepads

Note: I used PicMonkey to create the designs for my notepads, so my directions below focus on that. You can use any online design program though, or even place clipart right in Word.

Creating Your Design

Start by going to PicMonkey.com to create your design. At the page top, choose "Design" and then select "Custom." In the dialog box, put in 1200 x 320. Note: This size is just a starting point and works well for a design on the top of the page. Feel free to experiment with different sizes.

Next, you'll use the icons on the left side of the page to create your design. The butterfly symbol has overlays with everything from basic shapes to birds to labels and banners. I used the "Leafy Stems" overlay for the image below.

Click the "Tt" symbol in the left column for text. After choosing a font, a dialog box will pop up with color and size options. I chose the "Janda Stylish Script" for this notepad. My printer was out of colored ink, so I created a black and white design but color would look even better.

You can also create borders, which are under the "frame" icon, and textures, which are under the diamond icon. Experiment and have fun creating your image.

After your image is finalized, click "Save" at the top of the screen. On the next page, name your file in the "File Name" box. Select the "Sean" for "Quality" and then click "Save to My Computer." Choose where to save the file in the next dialog box and then save the file.

Setting Up the Custom Notepad File in Word

Next, open up a blank Microsoft Word document, and then follow these steps:

1. Set your margins to 0.25-inches (go to Format>Document).
2. Use the line tool to draw two lines dividing your page vertically and horizontally into even quarters (see below). Don't worry if these lines aren't perfectly pretty, because you'll delete them before printing.
3. Go to Insert>Picture>From File to locate and open the graphic you created in PicMonkey.
4. Click on the image to highlight it, then go to Format>Picture. Under Layout, choose "In Front of Text" and then click OK.
5. Resize the image, using the corner grab bars, until it is centered between the lines (see below) or in the position you want it.
6. Click on the image to highlight it again, then copy it and paste it 3 times. Repeat the above steps, positioning the images between the lines, until your document looks similar to below.
7. Delete the lines you inserted in step 2 and then print 12 copies of your document.

Cutting the Notepad Pages

Next, grab your self-healing mat and utility knife.

Use the guides on the mat to cut each page into 4 quarters, each measuring 4.25 x 5.5-inches.

Take your time with this step. You want to pages to be a uniform size so they stack up evenly.

Gluing the Notepad Together

After you've quartered all 12 pages, stack up the pages as perfectly as possible, and then clip them together with a binder clip on each size.

This will hold the pages in place during the gluing process.

Run a thin line of glue along the top of the pages.

Smooth it out with your finger, so that it covers the end of each page.

After the glue has been applied, add the third binder clip to the top of the page.

This will keep the pages from buckling while the glue dries.

Let the glue dry and then apply another thin coat. Let the second coat dry, and you're done!

Adding a Cover

Want to add a cover to your note pad? Cut out a piece of card stock and a piece of thin cardboard in the same dimensions as your pages.

Decorate the card stock using clip art or decorative papers.

For my notebook below, I used old magazine pages and attached them to the card stock with Mod Podge. Set the finished cover under a stack of heavy books to dry so it stays flat.

To attach the covers to the pad, add them to your stack of notepad pages (before gluing). Clip the pages together and glue everything together as instructed above.

I also added a decorative strip of paper over my spine.

I wanted it to overlap the front and back covers, so I cut it to measure 4.25 x 1.25-inches.

After you've glued all the pages together and everything is dry, just attach the strip using more Mod Podge.

Get Creative!

These instructions are just a starting point!

You can get really creative with this project using different colors, stamps, stickers, and washi tape. Have fun experimenting!

And by the way, iIf you like these DIY Personalized Notepads, check out my Customized DIY Notepads post. It has a free Spring Has Sprung printable!

Looking for more holiday gift ideas? I know there's not always time to make something for everyone on your list, so I rounded up some fun ideas below for women and men!

If you're searching for that special something for a friend, here are some great ideas!

1. Kate Spade Office Kit. This chic set has everything she needs to set up a fun desk.
2. Frends x Bauble Bar 'Layla' Headphones. Update her headphones with a little sparkle! This cute set even includes matching earrings.
3. Halogen 'Touch Tech' Cashmere Gloves. These luxurious gloves are available in 13 colors, guaranteeing there is one just right for your favorite loved one.
4. Braids, Buns, and Twists. This book, which features 80 classic and contemporary step-by-step tutorials, is from one of my favorite bloggers and has been on my wish list for a while now. Hello, Santa ... are you listening?!?
5. C. Wonder Ivory Faux Fur Scarf. A luxe scarf (also available in gray) that's perfect for keep her warm this winter.
6. C. Wonder Buffalo Check Wool Easy Weekender. Encourage frequent visits with a fun bag!
7. C. Wonder Delicate Enamel Zodiac Necklace. Wrap her sign around her neck!
8. My Quotable Kid. Help her keep a lasting record of her child's most memorable quotes.
9. WaveHooks Bathtub Wine Glass Holder. This is pretty much the perfect stocking stuffer for a wine lover!
10. Neon Heart Tote.  Fill this cute tote with some fun surprises!
11. Dammit Doll. Do you know someone who's a little too stressed out? Give her a Dammit Doll, and encourage her to slam, whack, pull, and squeeze it, all while yelling her favorite obscenities.
12. U|R Pleated Tech Headband. This cute stretchy, fleece-line headband is fitted with modular speakers and an in-line cord that's compatible with most mobile media. Perfect for working out or just keeping warm.
13. Women's Thermal Pajama Set. How cute are these striped PJ's?
14. Benefit Candy Coated Advent Calendar. Looking for the ultimate Advent calendar? Benefit's is filled with 24 bite-size beauty treasures. You favorite beauty-lover will flip over this gift that gets sweeter every day!
15. C. Wonder Velvet Heart Travel Set. Remind your favorite frequent flyer how much you love her each time she flies!
16. Fun with Washi. This cute book makes it easy for any crafty lady to add colorful accents everywhere.
17. Anne Klein Round Watch and Bangle Set.  Create an arm party the easy way with this pretty rose gold set.
18. C. Wonder City Bike. This is truly the cutest bike around!

OK, it's time for the men's gift guide. Guys can be so difficult to shop for, right? Here are some great ideas they are guaranteed to love!

1. The Rail Gradient Knit Scarf. Keep him warm this winter in a cool ombre scarf.
2. Authentic Record Coasters. The perfect gift for a music lover, these unique coasters are made from vintage LP's.
3. Areaware Concrete Desk Set. Workaholics will appreciate having all their supplies contained in a desk set with great design.
4. Fort Standard Crest 1 Bottle Opener. My husband has been known to carry a bottle opener on his key chain. This one would definitely up the style quotient!
5. Areaware Alarm Dock. Who uses an actual alarm clock anymore? This docking station is a fun solution for storing his phone at night.
6. Skagen 'Ancher' Dual Time Watch. I love this watch's spare design!
7. Barbour Tartan Hip Flask. Give him something to carry his hootch in style.
8. Izola 'Mint Condition' Money Clip. This money clip makes a great gift for the guy who likes to travel light.
9. Baxter of California Skin 1.2.3.  Encourage him to take better care of his skin with this trio of products designed to balance and control excess oil production.
10. Mason Shaker Homemade Gin Kit. This DIY gin-making kit will have him creating a flavorful, amber-colored gin from a bottle of vodka in less than two days time!
11. Sphere Ice Molds. This cool mold creates solid slow melting ice spheres that will cool his craft cocktail without watering it down.
12. Polk Audio Buckle Over Ear Headphones. Give him an excuse to block out distractions with these sharp headphones.
13. Gents Leather Brim Baseball Cap. Convince him to trade in his team hat for this more stylish number.
14. Grei Donegal Fingerless Gloves. Keep his fingers free so he can answer all your texts!