Polkadoodles Digi Choosday Project | Spring Animals Mini Notebooks

I’m back for another Digi Choosday project! This week’s DT theme is Spring Animals, and I had so much fun with it. I originally planned to make just one mini notebook using the adorable Chicks in a Basket digi, but when I saw Bunny Rabbit with Roses, I couldn’t resist. So of course… I ended up making two mini notebooks instead of one!

These sweet little notebooks are perfect for jotting down notes, journaling, or even adding to an Easter basket as a handmade gift. I love projects like this because they’re not only cute but also practical, and they’re a great way to use up scraps and recycled materials too.

For the covers, I used patterned paper from Paper Patterns 4 – Winnie Daisy Fairy, which has cute designs that felt perfect for a spring-themed project. To make the notebooks sturdy, I used recycled cardboard from a cat food box (we never throw those away! They’re perfect for crafting!).

I colored both digis using Ohuhu Alcohol Markers. To decorate the covers, I added gauze and string for texture, then popped the colored digis on top. I ran out of foam tape, so I simply glued a small piece of cardboard behind the images to create dimension - a handy little crafting trick!

To finish the notebooks, I added some sparkly gemstones from Rosie’s Studio Softly Spoken Gemstones, choosing the glittery ones to match the gold wire binding.

These tiny notebooks measure 3x4 inches, making them the perfect little size to carry around or give as a gift.

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Materials Used

• Mini Cinch

• Pattern Paper - I used Polkadoodles' Paper Patterns 4 – Winnie Daisy Fairy

• Digi Stamps - I used Polkadoodles' Bunny Rabbit with Roses and Chicks in a Basket

• Bond paper / typewriting paper

• Cardboard (recycled - I used a cat food box)

• Tim Holtz Guillotine

• Ohuhu Alcohol Markers

• Gauze

• String

• Surebonder Glue Gun

• Rosie’s Studio Softly Spoken Gemstones

• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

• Optional: We R Makers Book Guide

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Instructions

1. Prepare and color your digi stamps.

   I colored mine using Ohuhu markers.

   Bunny Rabbit with Roses: GY4, GY5, R211, R3, R26, RV23, YR45, CGII07, CG02, CGII00

   
   
   

   
   

   Chicks in a Basket: YR511, Y10, Y4, BR5, PR3, RV23, T03, Y19, Y06, GY5, GY4, BR1, BR2

   
   
   
   

2. Cut your paper pages.

   Trim bond paper/typewriting paper to 3x4 inches. I used 45 sheets per notebook, but you can adjust depending on your preference.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Create the covers.

   Cut two 3x4 pieces of cardboard per notebook. Recycled boxes work great - cereal boxes, soap boxes, or in my case, a cat food box.

   
   
   
   

4. Cut your patterned paper.

   For each notebook, cut two pieces measuring 5.5 x 5 inches.

   
   
   
   

5. Wrap the covers.

   Glue the cardboard in the center of the patterned paper.

   
   
   
   

6. Trim the corners.

   Use a Book Guide to make diagonal marks on the corners, or simply measure and trim them manually.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. Fold and glue the flaps neatly around the cardboard.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. Finish the inside covers.

   Cut two pieces measuring 2.25 x 3.25 inches and glue them inside the covers to hide the exposed cardboard. I used leftover patterned paper scraps.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

9. Punch holes.

   Using your Mini Cinch (or other binding tool), punch holes in the covers and pages.

   
   
   
   
   
   

10. Bind the notebook together.

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

11. Decorate the cover.

• First glue down some gauze for texture.

  
  
  
  

• Add string on top for extra interest.

  
  
  
  

• Mount the colored digi images (add cardboard behind them if you want dimension).

• Glue them onto the gauze and string.

12. Finish with embellishments.

    Add gemstones for sparkle!

    
    
    

    
    

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Now you have adorable Spring notebooks you can use yourself, give as gifts, or tuck into Easter baskets!

If you love crafting with digital stamps, make sure to join the Anything Goes challenge at Digi Choosday for a chance to win Polkadoodles goodies.

And don’t forget to follow along with my crafty adventures here:

Instagram: @my.cat.and.crafts

Facebook: My Cat and Crafts

Happy crafting!