Transformed Composition Book

Yesterday, I started a new notebook for our finances and budget information.  I keep a journal of sorts for our money and bills and needed to start a new one.  I decided to try and make it more "my style" by decorating the front of the composition book.  If I need to be on a budget, I might as well make it fun.

Here is what the notebook originally looked like:

I like this particular type of composition notebook because the pages are secure.  I wanted to transform the cover so I went to my stash of pretty papers and gift bags for inspiration.  I found several papers that I liked and a gift bag that had pretty flowers on it.  I grabbed the Mod Podge and scissors and sat down to start the project.  As I looked at the gift bag, I realized that it actually had a printed verse on it:

"God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"  Philippians 4:19

I thought this was VERY fitting for the cover of a budget/finance notebook so I cut it out and used it.  After getting the verse, background, and three flowers on the cover, I felt it just needed something else.  I decided to look through magazines and cut out the letters to spell "Budget Book".  I was then finished with the simple transformation.

I plan to decorate three more books in a similar way.  One is going to be my gratitude journal for 2012, another is going to be my daily agenda book for 2012, and the other is going to be a prayer journal for 2012.  I have about 30 of these notebooks that were only 10¢ each during a back to school sale.  All of the embellishments will be from scraps of things I already have on hand.