DIY foam notebooks for kids
Encouraging children to write can often be challenging. My children frequently like to try making their own books by sticking several sheets of paper together, which is great but it often falls apart, so we decided to make some DIY foam notebooks together.
There are several ways to make these foam notebooks.
DIY Foam notebook with a loomband fastening
You need:
- Foam sheet
- Paper
- Loomband bracelet
- Scissors/craft knife/hole punch
- Stickers to decorate
To make a foam notebook with a loomband fastening:
- Ensure your sheets of paper are slightly smaller than the sheet of foam, cut if necessary.
- Fold the papers in half so it’s like a book.
- Using a paper hole punch, punch the holes in the papers.
- Fold the foam sheet in half.
- Place the papers on top of the folded foam sheet and mark with a pencil through the holes, this is where you then need to punch a hole through the foam sheet. You may need to use a bradle and craft knife for this.
- Thread the loomband bracelet through the holes and fasten. This can be a bit fiddly so children may need help with this.
- Decorate the front with stickers, or however you like.
DIY foam notebook with button fastenings
Follow the instructions as above, but instead of using a loomband to fasten the paper, thread a piece of elastic through two holes of a button, then through the foam book and out the back, then through two holes of a four hole button and back through the other two holes of the button. Tie it to secure.
DIY foam notebook cover
You need:
- Piece of foam bigger than the notebook
- Double sided tape or strong glue
- Spiral notebook
- Extra strip of foam
- Velcro
- Foam stickers to decorate
To make a DIY foam notebook cover:
- Ensure your piece of foam is slightly bigger than your spiral notebook and 5/6cm longer.
- Fold each end of foam in and stick it down with double sided tape, or strong glue.
- Slot each end of the notebook into the folded foam.
- Cut a strip of foam and glue it to the back of the foam book and stick a piece of velcro onto the front for fastening together.
- Decorate the front as you like.
The children enjoyed making their notebooks, they are cheap to make and very personalised. 
I think these notebooks are fantastic for inspiring children to write and draw. My children really love their notebooks and BB is now writing a journal every night about his day, which is fantastic writing practice!
This is such a great idea! And the notebooks look so pretty – they would make good handmade gifts as well.
Thank you
What a brilliant idea – these look great and such a good way of encouraging children with writing too
Thanks, it has been great seeing BB write in his ‘journal’ every night, it really has inspired him!
Little 1 loves showing off her new writing skills now that she is at school andloves little notebooks, she would love to make a cover for one herself, a great idea #minicreations
My children love them
What a good idea. I made a fabric cover recently at a craft event but I like this kid friendly (and no-sew!) version!
Thank you
Lovely DIY idea for kids. Thanks for the tutorial.
I shared this article on DIY best posts.
Thank you very much