How to DIY a Totally Fetch Burn Book

Get in losers. We’re making a burn book

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: January 20, 2023 References Approved

Is your hair so big it’s full of secrets? Well, maybe it’s time to create your very own Burn Book. The iconic 2004 film Mean Girls made fetch happen and October 3rd a holiday, but, more importantly, it presented the gossip-ridden Burn Book. Now, we don’t recommend following The Plastic’s lead and filling a book with nasty comments and hateful rumors (that is bullying, after all), but we can always recommend a fun DIY project! Whether you want to make a famous prop from your favorite movie or are planning a Mean Girls Halloween outfit, we bet your Burn Book will be grool (as long as you follow our steps).

Things You Should Know

Use a bright pink composition notebook or pink acrylic paint to make your Burn Book the movie’s iconic color.
Draw geometric shapes and zig-zag lines on the inner corners of the cover and print out the iconic letters to copy The Plastic’s design.
Mark your DIY Burn Book with a kiss, so everyone knows your secrets are hidden inside.

1

Buy a pink composition notebook.

The original Mean Girls Burn Book is a bright fuchsia pink. Scour the internet or browse your local office supply store for a notebook of the exact color.^{[1]
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Research source} If you can’t find one, no worries! Paint over the cover with a pink acrylic paint instead.^{[2]
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- If you’re making a Burn Book for fun (instead of for a costume), consider switching up the color to give it a more personal touch.

2

Doodle on the cover with black permanent marker.

Fill the inner corners of the book with geometric shapes. Regina, Karen, and Gretchen certainly had fun decorating and drawing on the cover of their Burn Book, so you should too! Pull up a picture of the original Burn Book and do your best to copy The Plastic's designs or come up with your own.
- Draw zig-zagging squiggles, hearts, or squared swirls.
- Write words like “mean,” “stab,” and “eat me” to replicate the movie’s design.
- Try using thick and thin black permanent markers to achieve the original’s care-free design.

3

Glue the title “Burn Book” onto the cover.

Print out the iconic Burn Book letters or cut out your own. To make a replica of the movie’s Burn Book, search “mean girls burn book letters” online and select an image to print. Cut out the letters with scissors and arrange them on the cover of your book with a glue stick, using a reference photo as your guide.^{[3]
X
Research source} For a more creative approach, flip through a magazine and cut out letters to spell “burn book.”
- Try using hot glue for a more secure hold but know that it may cause the paper letters to bubble and crease.^{[4]
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4

Kiss the center of the cover.

A Burn Book isn’t complete without the signature kiss. Put on some red lipstick and kiss the center of the cover, right between the words “burn” and “book.” The smooch doesn’t have to be perfect—it’ll be fetch no matter what!^{[5]
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- Apply your lipstick thickly so it sticks cleanly to the book.
- Try using a long-lasting lipstick so it doesn’t swear on the cover.

5

Seal the cover if you’d like.

Consider adding a spray sealant or clear tape to protect your Burn Book. Now, this isn’t movie accurate, but it can help your book last longer, especially if you plan on using the notebook as a diary or class book. Use a spray sealer to cover the book in a beautiful shine, or carefully place strips of clear packing tape over your designs.
- If you use a spray sealant, make sure to follow the instructions carefully on the back of the can.
- If you use packing tape, wrap the ends of the tape over the edge to the underside of the cover to keep it from peeling.

Community Q&A

Question

Could you use the burn book as a notebook?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, of course! A Burn Book can be used as a notebook to take notes in during class or to simply jot down quick memos or thoughts.
Question

Does it have to be blank paper?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Nope! You can make a Burn Book with a composition notebook full of lined paper, graph paper, or any other paper you'd like.
Question

Can I make a miniature burn book?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Of course! Simply start with a smaller composition notebook and glue on smaller letters.