How I Re-cover My pen+GEAR Notebooks
I’m so excited about this cost-effective notebook!
A couple of weeks ago, I posted an Instagram story about my Walmart haul. After watching some videos from Seaweed Kisses, I took her recommendation to snap up some memo-sized (4x6”), 80 sheet (160 page), fountain-pen friendly, lined pen+GEAR notebooks. They were on sale for $0.97 each and the size is perfect for some of my business needs.
I grabbed a bunch of them, then also proceeded to pick up some other sized notebooks on sale, as well as a pen+GEAR pouch.
For less than $50, I got 50 notebooks and a pouch in my haul. Score!
After testing these notebooks with the pens and markers/highlighters I use most, I’m very happy with them. See below - there was only one incident of bleeding (with a long-pressed Mildliner).
There is ghosting, but it doesn’t bother me. These will serve as “temp” notebooks for me - to jot down notes and thoughts.
If you’re middle-aged like me, you might remember when recycled paper was first released to spiral notebooks back in school. The paper in these notebooks feels soft like that, but thinner.
To be candid, the pen+GEAR pouch is made of thin cloth and cheap zippers, but it also cost less than $5. I like it because it has a sturdy carrying handle, can fit all of my favorite pens, my EDC a6 bujo, one of the pen+GEAR notebooks, a pen pouch for grouping some longer dual-tipped Tombow markers, and my common planner supplies (correction tape, adhesive tape, and a small pair of precise scissors).
So far, I’m super happy with my haul!
But…I’m a planner and it’s in our nature to pretty things up! So I had to do something about the very average looking covers on these notebooks. I didn’t have to do any special shopping - I had all the materials I needed to create my own nice looking covers at home!
Here are the steps I took.
Supply List
4x6” pen+GEAR notebook
4x6” or larger plain index card (or decorative paper) to dress the existing notebook cover
double-sided permanent adhesive tape
scissors
decorative elements (washi tape, stickers, etc.)
Step 1: Ensure your decorative paper is large enough to hide the entire notebook cover. I put the paper directly on top and then flipped it over to make sure it was fully covered.
Step 2: Run adhesive tape all over the top of the notebook cover. Make sure you get the edges and corners well. I usually run the adhesive tape over all edges, then do at least one line down the middle. Tip: sometimes adhesive tape balls up. You don’t want these balls - the tape needs to be flat or else it will create a bumpy cover, which will impact your ability to write in the notebook.
Step 3: Carefully lay the decorative paper over the notebook cover and ensure that it’s stuck well. I rub my fingers over all the edges and corners to ensure it’s properly adhered.
Step 4: Flip over the cover and cut around the edge so your decorative paper is the same shape and size as the underlying notebook cover.
Step 5: Now decorate whatever you’d like on your cover! Again, be careful about thick embellishments, as you don’t want to impede the use of the notebook. I usually use washi tape or other flat paper elements.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa4be1810-4b8d-46ed-85a2-cf7e772cd86d_3024x3024.jpeg)
Then start using your awesome-looking notebook. Enjoy!
This is great! thank you so much for sharing!