DIY Mini Notepads – {Free Template and SVG Cut file}

Learn how to make a sweet mini notepad using chipboard and scrapbook paper! A fun customized gift that is perfect for the office, at home or on the go! Download my free SVG cut file and PDF pattern to create your own notepad!

Hello Crafty Friends! I’m excited to share this fun craft tutorial for making your own DIY mini notepads! They are so cute and they make taking notes and staying organized extra special. These notepads are created using chipboard and two sheets of scrapbook paper. 

What I love the most about these little notepads, other than being inexpensive to make, is how easy it is to customize them. My mom created some as favors for my wedding shower using scrapbook paper that matched my wedding colors.

A few years ago I made six notepads as thank you gifts for a costume shop I was working with. I created my own paper in Photoshop from vintage fashion images and used that to wrap the notepads. They were a great gift that I knew would be useful. 

Below is the tutorial for how to make these notepads by hand using my PDF template. If you plan on using the SVG cut file, check out my tutorial on making Teacher Notepad Gifts where I use my Cricut cutting machine.

How to Make a Mini Notepad

Supplies Needed

• PDF and SVG Cut files – Grab the free files by filling out the purple form at the bottom of this post.
• Chip board – I used .024″- 24 point chipboard by Clear Path Paper.
  • I recommend using a chipboard with a thickness of around .024 to .032. With this thickness you should be able to cut it with a scissors. If you use a thicker chipboard option, you may need to cut the pieces slightly smaller to work with the pattern and use a craft knife.
• 3″ x 5″ notepads
• Decorative paper for cover and lining of book – thinner paper works well for the lining
• Adhesive: double-sided tape, tape runner, glue stick
• Paper trimmer and/or scissors
• Pencil
• Scoring board
• Optional: About 14″ of ribbon

Preparing the File in Cricut Design Space

In Cricut Design Space, upload the notepad SVG file and insert it into a new project. The SVG includes score lines in bright pink. If you are using a cutting machine that is not capable of scoring, delete these layers and score by hand using the PDF pattern as a guide. If you would like to use the scoring layers you will need to attach them to the correct pieces. Start by ungrouping the entire project.

Select all of the score lines and change the operation from “basic cut” to “score”. The lines will change from pink lines to dashed lines. 

Next, attach each score line to the notepad piece they are positioned on top of. The score lines should grouped with the piece they match. Select the group and use the “attach” tool located in the bottom right. The group will move to the top of the layers panel and the word “attach” will appear above the group. 

The notepad is ready to be cut. Double-check your mat to make sure the score lines are attached. The dashed lines will appear on top of the pieces and “score” will be listed above “basic cut” on the left. Don’t forget to insert your scoring tool. The gray pieces are chipboard and you may wish to change your machine settings for those pieces and use a deep cut blade. 

Step by Step Tutorial

Step One: Cut out the notepad pieces.

Cut out the notepad pieces by hand using the PDF printable pattern or cut with a cutting machine following the directions above. You will need to cut three pieces from decorative paper; the cover, lining, and topper (the paper that covers the top of the 3″x5″ notepad). I chose to cut my cover and topper out of the same paper but you could do this any way you like!

Use the template to cut three pieces from chipboard. In all you will have six pieces cut.

Step Two: Create the book cover for the notepad.

Start by scoring the book cover to make a spot for the spine. Score at 3.75″ and 4.25″ from the left edge. Fold along these lines.

Next, adhere the pieces of chipboard using a tape runner, glue, or double-sided tape. Position the spine in the center of the scored lines. Position the two board covers so they are lined up with the scored lines and the tabs.

Wrap the cover edges around the tagboard and glue in place. Start with the long tabs. Be sure to really hold these edges down until they are secure and do not pop up.

Repeat for the last two side tabs with diagonal edges. 

Step Three: Adhere the lining.

Next, add the lining using an adhesive that is slightly reposition-able like a glue stick or some tape runners. Pre-score the lining. You can do this following the pattern lines, or I recommend laying the lining over the book and lightly marking with a pencil line where the score lines should go.

Adhere the lining starting with the spine and moving outwards. Make sure to close the book before the adhesive is set so the lining can shift. I used my scoring stylus to help press the lining into the scored lines and smooth it out.

*Tip: If you want to add ribbons to close the notepad, add them to your book before the lining. I added ribbon to some of my teacher notepads so the notebook could be held closed. Use two pieces of ribbon that are about 7″ long and adhere the ends to the book. Below is a picture from my teacher notepad tutorial.

Step Four: Wrap the top of the notepad with coordinating paper.

Start by scoring the topper, the piece that will wrap around the top of the 3″ x 5″ notepad. Score at 7/8″ and 1 1/8″ from one of the long edges.

Step Five: Add the notepad to the back book cover.

Use strong adhesive to attach the notepad to the back cover of the book. I used 1/2″ double-sided Scor Tape.

The mini notepads is all finished! Aren’t they cute! Perfect to carry in your purse or keep at your desk for quick notes or shopping lists. If you have fun making this notepad, be sure to check out my other DIY Handmade Notepad Tutorials including my animal-themed notepad patterns for a fox, sloth, owl and more! 

Get the Free Mini Notepad Files!

Fill out the purple form below with your first name and email address! The free file will be sent straight to your inbox! If you have already filled out the form below, don’t worry – you won’t be added to my list twice! This freebie is for personal use only. I hope you enjoy crafting something special. Please let me know if you have any questions :)