Jazz up ordinary lined paper notebooks with nothing more than a little chalkboard paint. This projects turns plain Jane notebooks, compositions books or steno pads into something a little more hip and fun. Perfect for that doodler in your family, they can draw and re-draw art on the cover, or keep it simple and just add a name or subject in always-cool black and white.

Difficulty level: easy
Time required: 30 minutes plus dry time

Things you’ll need:
Notebooks, starting with a dark cover makes it easier, but isn’t required
Chalkboard paint
Foam brush

Things to do:
1. On a covered work surface set out your notebooks.

2. Paint the covers of the notebooks with chalkboard paint in several thing layers, working up and down on one layer and then across on the next, repeating until you have a nice, solid chalkboard surface.
3. Allow the chalkboard paint to cure overnight before using. Wipe clean with a just barely damp cloth as needed.