96 ideas

Sketchbook Front Cover Ideas

Three designs for the outside of your sketchbook per press, with the pen or material to use and the layout.

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Clouds with rosy cheeks raining starsPaint pens. Three clouds along the top. Stars fall in loose lines and pile up at the bottom.
The cover as a pizza box with an invented pizzeriaRed and black paint pens on kraft. A made-up name in an arc, a slice, and HOT FRESH SKETCHES.
A crescent moon and scattered stars in white pen on blackWhite gel pen. Moon off-centre. Stars as dots and a few four-point sparkles, thinning toward the edges.

Next step More ways to letter a name More cute things to draw

All 96 ideas

With your name 16

A library pocket with your name on the card Fineliner. A pocket shape with a card poking out: your name at the top and ruled lines for the dates.
A museum label in the bottom corner with your name and the dates Fineliner. A small ruled box: artist, title, start date, a blank for the end date. Nothing else on the cover.
A name plate that reads Sketchbook No. 1, with your name under it Gel pen. A ruled oval or rectangle with a double border. Change the number on the next book.
A tiny self-portrait with your name in its speech bubble Paint pen. Keep the portrait to a head no bigger than a coin, low in one corner. The bubble takes the space.
Your first initial as a giant letter wrapped in vines Paint pens. The letter fills the cover top to bottom. Wind one stem round it and let leaves overlap the edge.
Your name as a row of keys on a drawn keyboard Fineliner. Rounded squares in a row, one letter on each. Press one down by drawing it lower with no shadow.
Your name down the spine edge in tall thin capitals White gel pen on a dark cover. One letter under the next, all the same width. Leave the rest plain.
Your name in bubble letters that touch all four edges Paint pens. Pencil the letters big enough to crowd each other, then outline in black and fill.
Your name in letters that overlap like a fanned hand of cards Paint pens. Each letter on its own tilted card, the next card covering a third of the last.
Your name in lowercase, tiny, dead centre White gel pen on black or black fineliner on kraft. The empty cover round it is the design.
Your name on a row of drawn luggage tags Fineliner on a kraft cover. One letter per tag, each tag on its own string from the top edge.
Your name on a ticket stub with the day you started Fineliner. A rectangle with a notched side and a dotted tear line. ADMIT ONE over your name.
Your name spelled out in drawn pencils, brushes and pens Fineliner and markers. Each stroke of each letter is one tool. Overlap them at the corners.
Your name stitched in dashes like embroidery Gel pen. Write the name lightly in pencil, then go over it in short dashes with a needle drawn at the end.
Your name written on a strip of drawn masking tape Paint pen. A pale strip with torn zigzag ends, set at a slight tilt. Letter it in marker capitals.
Your signature enlarged until it runs off the cover Paint pen. Sign a scrap first, then copy that shape big. Let the last stroke leave the edge.

Cute 16

A bear peeking over the bottom edge, only eyes and ears showing Paint pen. Two half circles for ears and two dots for eyes. The rest of the bear is below the cover.
A duck in rain boots under a leaf umbrella Paint pens. Boots are two rounded rectangles. The leaf has one centre vein and a curved stem handle.
A family of round birds on a wire Fineliner. One sagging line across the cover and five egg shapes on it. One faces the wrong way.
A frog holding a pencil like a flagpole Paint pens. A round body with eyes on top. The pencil stands taller than the frog.
A hedgehog with coloured pencils for spines Paint pens. A round body low in one corner. The pencils fan out across the cover, each a different colour.
A ladybug parade marching round the edge Red and black paint pens. Half circles with a centre line and three dots each side. Space them like beads.
A little animal holding on to the elastic strap Paint pen. Place the paws just beside the strap so it looks gripped. A mouse or a sloth suits it.
A sleepy cat curled in the bottom corner, tail up the side Paint pen. One rounded loaf shape and a tail that runs up the edge. Closed eyes are two small arcs.
A small ghost hugging a sketchbook White paint pen on a dark cover. A rounded sheet with two oval eyes and a rectangle under one arm.
A smiling sun in one corner with rays crossing the whole cover Yellow paint pen. Quarter circle in the corner, then long rays to the far edges. Face last.
A snail whose shell is a spiral of rainbow lines Markers on a pale cover. Draw the spiral first, one ring per colour, then add the body under it.
A whale along the bottom with a spout of hearts Paint pens. A long teardrop body with a small tail. The spout fans up the middle of the cover.
Clouds with rosy cheeks raining stars Paint pens. Three clouds along the top. Stars fall in loose lines and pile up at the bottom.
Strawberries scattered like confetti Red and green paint pens. Heart shape, leafy cap, white seed dots once dry. Tilt each one a different way.
Three peas in a pod with sleepy faces Green paint pens. A long open pod tilted across the lower cover. Closed eyes are small arcs.
Toast, an egg and a cup, all with faces Paint pens. Three simple shapes in a row. Dots for eyes set wide apart and low.

Aesthetic 15

A blossom branch reaching in from one side Paint pens. Dark branch first with a few forks. Five-petal flowers in clusters and some loose petals.
A comet crossing the cover with a tail of dots White gel pen on a dark cover. A small star shape, then dots that spread and fade toward the far corner.
A crescent moon and scattered stars in white pen on black White gel pen. Moon off-centre. Stars as dots and a few four-point sparkles, thinning toward the edges.
A face in profile drawn in one line, with leaves for hair Fineliner. Forehead, nose, lips and chin in a single stroke. The leaves can run off the top edge.
A loose border of tiny stars, thicker at the corners Gel pen. No ruled line. Crowd the corners and let the stars thin out along each side.
A paper crane with its folded shadow Fineliner. Straight lines only. Shade one wing and drop a flat grey shape beneath it.
A vine trailing from the top corner to the bottom corner Fineliner or paint pen. One loose S-curve of stem, leaves in pairs, smaller toward the tip.
A wavy checkerboard in two soft colours Markers. Draw wavy lines down, then wavy lines across. Fill alternate squares.
An arched rainbow in three earth tones Paint pens or markers. Three thick arches with gaps between them. Leave the ends blunt.
Butterflies drifting up from one corner Paint pens. Largest at the corner, smallest near the far edge. Vary the angle of every pair of wings.
Five wildflowers in a row, like a pressed specimen sheet Fineliner on kraft. Stems of different heights, each a different flower, with a tiny strip of tape drawn on each.
Houseplants in mismatched pots, in line only Fineliner. Five pots along a shelf line. Tall leaves, trailing leaves, a cactus. No shading.
Mountains in three layered tones with a small sun Markers. Palest range at the back, darkest in front. The sun is a plain circle, no rays.
Three vases in a stack of line drawings Fineliner. Tall, round and wide, overlapping a little. One stem in each.
Waves filling the bottom third of the cover White and blue paint pens. Rows of overlapping curls, each row offset from the last. Plain above.

Alt 16

A bat hanging from the top edge Paint pen. Folded wings make a long teardrop. Feet grip the edge and the ears point down.
A black-and-white checkerboard border with the middle left bare Paint pen. Rule two rows of squares round the edge and fill alternate ones.
A cover crowded with drawn sew-on patches Paint pens. Each patch gets a stitched border and one simple picture: a star, an eye, a bolt, a moth.
A crossed-out title with a better one written under it Paint pen. Write a dull title, strike it through twice, and letter the real one below, larger.
A row of drawn safety pins down the spine edge Silver gel pen. A long loop, a coil at one end, a clasp at the other. Repeat at even gaps.
A spiderweb spun from the top corner White gel pen on black. Straight threads fan from the corner, then sagging curves between them.
A thorny rose vine climbing the side and across the top Paint pen. One stem runs up the side and across the top. Thorns alternate. A single rose in the corner.
A wall of torn flyers, layer over layer Paint pens. Draw ripped paper edges overlapping. Let one word or one eye show on each scrap.
Chains draped across the two top corners Silver gel pen. Interlocking ovals, every other one seen edge-on as a short bar. Let each chain sag.
Cracks spreading from one point like broken glass White gel pen on black. Straight lines out from the point, then short lines joining them in rings.
Drawn strips of tape holding the cover together Silver paint pen. Three crossed strips with torn ends and a few wrinkle lines. Tilt them.
Eyes of different sizes scattered across the cover Paint pens. Almond shapes with a ring and a dot inside. Make them all look toward one corner.
Flames rising from the bottom edge White paint pen on black, or orange and red on kraft. Tall tongues with smaller ones in front.
Moths circling a bare hanging bulb Paint pens on a dark cover. The cord drops from the top edge. Three moths, wings open, at different sizes.
Stars and lightning bolts scattered edge to edge Paint pens in two colours. Vary the sizes, let some run off the edge, and overlap a few.
The title in mismatched cut-out letters Paint pens. Draw each letter in its own box, in a different size and style, tilted. Black, white and one colour.

Collage and decoration 16

A border printed with a stamp carved from an eraser Cut a simple shape into the eraser, ink it with a marker, and print round the edge. Re-ink each time.
A cut-paper window frame with a small drawing behind it Cut a window in coloured paper, glue it over a small drawing, and draw the frame on in fineliner.
A grid of paper-tape squares like a tiled wall Cut tape into squares and lay them in rows with thin gaps. Two patterns and one plain.
A loose paper jacket with a new drawing each month Fold a sheet round the cover with flaps tucked inside. Swap it for a fresh one when the month turns.
A ribbon glued across the cover as a pencil loop Glue both ends and leave the middle free, just wide enough for one pencil. Draw stitches at each end.
A strip of four tiny self-portraits like a photo booth Draw four faces on a strip of white card, one per box, each with a different expression. Glue at a tilt.
An old map glued flat and drawn over in black pen Glue stick, edge to edge. Once dry, outline roads or coastlines you like and turn them into creatures.
Charms and beads threaded onto the spiral binding Tie short lengths of thread to the top coils. Keep them short so they do not catch on the pages.
Fabric corners like an old ledger Cut four triangles of cloth and glue them over the corners. A strip down the spine finishes it.
Gold pen lines following every crease and scuff For a worn cover. Trace each crack and scratch in gold gel pen so the wear becomes the pattern.
Leaf rubbings cut out and glued in a wreath Rub the leaves onto thin paper with a crayon, cut them out, and overlap them in a ring.
Old drawings cut up and rearranged as patchwork Cut squares from drawings you would not keep. Glue them in a grid and ink a stitch line round each.
Paint-chip strips fanned out from one corner Trim the strips narrow and glue them like a hand of cards. Letter your name along the top one.
Punched paper dots drifting from one corner A hole punch and scrap paper in three colours. Glue them thick at the corner and sparse further out.
Strips of old book pages woven into a panel Cut strips a finger wide, weave them over and under, and glue the panel in the middle of the cover.
Ticket stubs and receipts sealed under clear tape Overlap them at angles. Write the date on each in fineliner before you seal them.

Clever and cool 17

A chalkboard listing today's specials, all of them drawings White gel pen on a black cover. A wobbly border and a hand-lettered menu of things you plan to draw.
A field notebook for an expedition you invented Fineliner on kraft. Expedition name, a compass rose, VOLUME 1 and a coffee ring drawn in one corner.
A film clapperboard with the start date chalked in White gel pen on black. Striped bar along the top, then ruled rows for title, artist and date.
A keyhole with a tiny scene showing through it Paint pens on a dark cover. One keyhole shape in the middle, and inside it a sky, a room or a sea.
A map of an invented town that carries on over the back Fineliner. Roads, a river, a park and a label for where you draw most. Wrap it round the spine.
A passport for a country you invented Gold gel pen on a dark cover. A crest in the middle, the country's name above, PASSPORT below.
A seed packet for ideas Paint pens. A scalloped top, a picture of what the seeds grow into, and sowing instructions in small print.
A spell book with corner clasps and a gem in the middle Gold gel pen on a dark cover. Metal corners, a strap with a lock, and a title in made-up runes.
A zipper drawn half open with drawings spilling out Paint pens. Teeth down the closed half. From the open half, let pencils, stars and creatures tumble.
An X-ray view of what is inside the book White gel pen on black. Outline the book, then ghostly shapes of drawings to come and one paper clip.
The cover as a control panel of buttons, dials and switches Paint pens. Rule a few panels. Label the dials with things like INK, IDEAS and SNACKS.
The cover as a fish tank seen from the front Paint pens. A water line near the top, gravel along the bottom, three fish and a column of bubbles.
The cover as a game cartridge with a made-up title Paint pens. A label with a pixel-style title, grip ridges at the top, a notch at the bottom.
The cover as a paint can label for a colour named after you Paint pens. A band across the middle, a drip down one side, and a swatch of the colour itself.
The cover as a pizza box with an invented pizzeria Red and black paint pens on kraft. A made-up name in an arc, a slice, and HOT FRESH SKETCHES.
The cover as a vending machine stocked with art supplies Paint pens. Rows of shelves with pens, tubes and erasers, a coin slot, and one item dropping.
The cover as a wooden crate stamped FRAGILE Brown marker and black paint pen. Plank lines, a few nail dots, stencil-style letters at a tilt.

How it works

A plain cover is the one page everybody sees. These 96 sketchbook front cover ideas cover it with a name, a pattern, a collage or a joke, and each names the pen or material to use.

Read the full guide

Sketchbook cover ideas with name or initials

With your name holds 16. Some shout, such as bubble letters that touch all four edges. Some whisper: lowercase, tiny, dead centre. A museum label or a library pocket carries the dates as well, which helps once there is a shelf of finished books.

Sketchbook decoration ideas with tape, paper and glue

Collage and decoration holds 16, most made with tape, scrap paper and glue: a grid of paper-tape squares, ticket stubs sealed under clear tape, charms on the spiral binding. They also work as notebook cover drawing ideas for school, since most hide a scuffed cover.

Test every pen on the back cover first. Laminated covers make ink bead, and paint pens grip where gel pens skid.
Seal a finished cover with wide clear tape or a coat of varnish, because a bag rubs the front every day.

Questions and answers

What are some cute sketchbook cover ideas?

Cute holds 16: a sleepy cat curled in the bottom corner, a bear peeking over the edge with only eyes and ears showing, strawberries scattered like confetti. Most are two or three simple shapes in paint pen.

Which are the sketchbook cover ideas aesthetic pages copy most?

Line and sky designs: a crescent moon and stars in white pen on black, a vine trailing corner to corner, an arched rainbow in three earth tones. Aesthetic holds 15, and most use one or two colours.

What pens work on a black sketchbook cover?

Opaque ones. White and metallic gel pens suit thin lines, and paint pens cover larger shapes. Ordinary markers and fineliners vanish on black, so keep those for kraft and pale covers.

Are there cool sketchbook cover ideas that are not just a drawing?

Clever and cool holds 17 creative sketchbook cover ideas that turn the book into something else: a game cartridge, a pizza box, a crate stamped FRAGILE, a spell book with corner clasps. Alt adds 16 darker ones.