Decorative Papers

• Decorative papers are becoming increasingly easy to find. The paper is strong, easy to work with and comes in a wide range of design styles. Cut two pieces slightly larger than your book's cover. Spread PVA glue on the cover and place the paper on top. Use your fingers to smooth down the paper, working from the center out. Trim the excess.
  
  

Collage

• Use photographic prints, cut-outs from magazines or strips of printed text to cover your book. You also can use old admission tickets and scraps of handwriting. Lay them in a pleasing arrangement on the book cover and then glue into place. You can customize the images by drawing or gluing silly hats, wings and striped stockings on people. Create humorous juxtapositions between images. Add random text, meaningful messages or speech bubbles. Seal the collage with an acrylic medium or paper varnish to protect it.
  
  

Paint

• Prepare the cover by applying a coat of gesso, readily available at art suppliers. The gesso provides a good base on which paint can stick. You can use acrylic paint in several ways. Apply one color and add a collage, or use several colors and mix them directly onto the cover for a swirl-effect. Spread thick metallic paint onto the book using an old credit card, to create a textured surface.
  
  

Stickers

• Stickers come in all shapes, sizes and varieties and are the simplest way to decorate the covers of a book. Combine them with decorative paper or paint and keep to a theme, such as cupcakes or flowers.
  
  

Rubber Stamps

• Use rubber stamps with ink pads or paint. They come in a myriad of designs. Combine them with any of the other techniques. You can color them or enhance them with marker pens, paint or embossing powders.
  
  

Embellishments

• Once you have decorated your book, all you need do is start using it.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Decorate the spine of the book with fibers, beads, old jewelry or small keys hung on ribbons. Glue sequins, buttons, leaf skeletons, small crystals or anything else you can find to add the finishing touches to your altered composition book.