Last July, I went to Manila to deliver my client's invitations and meet up with a new one. It was a delivery, meeting, and shopping trip all rolled into one! Well, it was more practical to do it this way due to the rising cost of fuel and toll fees. Little did I know that this trip would also give me the creative spark to get me started on my next to-do project!

While waiting for my client, I decided to try the tacos at the Mexican restaurant Tia Maria's. Halfway through my 2nd order of tacos and still with no drink at hand (it took them forever!), my eyes started to wander around. The designer in me took notice of the restaurant's interiors, from the walls all the way up to the ceiling.

I was struck by the detailed painting done on the ceiling - thin stripes in bold, different colors. Hmmm, I thought to myself, this would make a great design pattern! And just like that, the idea for a personalized notebook cover was born.

I can still utilize my tiniest scraps by cutting them into strips and use these strips to decorate anything I may have in mind. Thinking along the lines of a mosaic, instead of using square tiles, I decided to use strips of patterned papers or plain colored cardstocks instead. For this project, I used a decorative monogram as cover for my notebook/journal.

It is quite easy to create a monogram from scratch. First, print a monogram on chipboard using any graphic software. In CorelDraw, just choose the letter and size you want. Add outline and remove the fill color. Next, cut out the monogram using fine tip scissors or an Xacto knife. OR, you can use a pre-cut chipboard monogram made by several manufacturers like Chatterbox, Provo Craft, Basic Grey, etc.

Cut patterned paper into strips and paste them line per line on the monogram. Don't worry if the strips are sticking outside the borders of the monogram. Just make sure that you cover the entire monogram. Next, flip it backwards. Using fine tip scissors, trim off the excess strips to reveal the shape of the monogram. Adhere on the cover of your notebook. You may also use foam squares as adhesive to give your monogram an added dimension.

Who said it gets harder nowadays for scrappers to get inspired? Look around you. You just might be surprised where your next inspiration will be coming from - not to mention your personalized notebook that's bound to make your girlfriends turn green with envy!