Create a Dollar Tree DIY distressed notepad holder using chalk paint, wax, and packing tape for a rustic farmhouse finish. Easy budget-friendly craft!
How to make a simple notepad holder, with a distressed chalk paint finish.
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Why I love this craft
If you love quick Dollar Tree crafts that look like high-end farmhouse décor, this project is going to be a favorite. Using a small unfinished wooden house cutout, chalk paint, and a fun tape-and-wax technique, you can make a rustic little notepad holder that’s both practical and adorable. You can even add a magnet to the back to stick it on your fridge!
Video Tutorial: Distressed Notepad Holder
Watch this quick video to see how this craft came together:
DIY Chalk Paint Mini Notepad Holder
This Dollar Tree DIY notepad holder uses chalk paint, wax, and tape to create a perfectly chippy, rustic finish. Fun and easy craft idea!
Materials
- Dollar Tree unfinished wooden house cutout
- Dollar Tree taper candle (or any plain wax candle)
- Chalk paint (base coat: purple or any darker shade you like; top coat: light blue or any light contrasting color)
- Mini clothespin (Dollar Tree)
- E6000 glue (or other strong craft adhesive)
- Optional: small magnet for the back
- Small notepad
Tools
- Paintbrushes
- Packing tape
- Smoothing tool, credit card, or scraper
- Scissors
Instructions
- Watch the video tutorial. Follow along with the video tutorial for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to make your own mini notepad craft.
- Apply Wax. Rub a generous amount of wax from your candle across the entire surface, including the edges. This will act as a resist, giving you that chippy, distressed look later on. Pro Tip: The more wax you apply, the more paint will peel away in the end.
- Add Base Coat. Paint on a thin layer of chalk paint in your base color (the transcript used purple, but you can pick any shade that contrasts with your top coat). Let it dry completely.
- More Wax! Once the base coat is dry, rub on another layer of wax — this time even more aggressively, especially around edges and corners.
- Paint the Top Coat. Brush on your lighter chalk paint color (light blue works beautifully for farmhouse vibes). Cover the entire front and sides. Optional: paint the back if you’d like it finished all around. Let it dry thoroughly.
- Tape Distressing Technique. Take strips of packing tape and press them firmly onto the surface. Use a smoothing tool or credit card to really burnish the tape down. Then peel it away slowly. Watch as bits of the top layer of paint pull off, revealing the base coat underneath for that perfect chippy look. Try pressing tape onto the edges too — it adds a more natural worn finish.
- Add Clothespin. Using E6000 glue, attach a mini clothespin near the top of the house shape. This will hold your notepad in place. Let the glue cure according to package directions.
- Optional Magnet Backing. For a functional twist, glue a small magnet on the back so you can stick your note holder to the fridge.
The finished craft
And that’s it — your adorable Dollar Tree distressed farmhouse notepad holder is ready to use! This quick little project is a perfect example of how simple supplies (a $1 wood cutout, some chalk paint, wax, and tape) can turn into a functional, high-end-looking piece of décor. Play with different color combos to match your kitchen or office, and don’t be afraid to experiment with how much wax and tape you use — every piece comes out unique.
PIN this DIY Distressed Notepad Holder for later
Packaging Tape Crafts You Must Try
This craft was part of a compilation video over on my YouTube Channel, along with DIY Washi Tape using Packing Tape, Dollar Tree Craft: DIY Distressed Notepad Holder, Dollar Tree DIY: Distressed Chippy Kitchen Sign, DIY Pressed Flower Bookmarks… Using Packing Tape!, DIY Image Transfer Candle Craft (Dollar Tree Hack!), Photos on Glass – This DIY is Easier Than You Might Think, DIY Packing Tape Stickers.