Personalized Notebooks – Summer Themes

Hi fellow paper crafters! Here are two more examples of easy personalized journals. This time I used inexpensive composition books and added embellishments to make a travel journal and a garden journal. You can find small and standard size books at any store – even the dollar store!

I like using handmade paper and vintage embellishments, including dimensional items, to make them special. For gluing, I use large glue sticks. Just make sure to spread the glue past the edge of the embellishment, and use scrap paper underneath to protect the surface. The glue makes a strong bond on the cover and dries completely flat. I also have a brayer (a small roller) to seal the bond.

For heavy dimensional objects like a shell or coin, I like red line tape. It is a super sticky tape that comes in 15 feet rolls at most craft stores. It is double-sided and has a red film over one side. You can cut the length you want, adhere it to your embellishment, peel the red film off, and stick it onto your piece. (Note: if you are cutting a lot of pieces, your scissors will start accumulating a sticky residue, so designate special crafty scissors for this purpose. To remove the residue, you can use Goo Gone or other cleaner periodically.) It is super strong and the embellishments will not fall off with normal use. Example brands are Wonder Tape and Sticky Thumb.

In this beachy travel example, I used my handmade paper with glitter glue to look like ocean wave ripples flowing on the sand. I also used a quote and playing card from my vintage stash. My favorite addition is the 1964 gold-colored half penny coin from Great Britain with an old-timey ship on it.

In the garden example, I also used a vintage quote and playing card. In addition, I added a real pressed flower and leaf, sealed under a piece of waxed paper. Using the wax paper keeps it from getting rubbed off with use. To add the wax paper, evenly spread the glue stick on the wax paper and avoid any glue blobs. Then brayer it on top of the pressed flower. Another option for protecting a pressed leaf or flower is to use a piece of tulle, attached in the same way.

In both examples, I added stamped wording with an alphabet stamp set to add personality and a purpose for what to write or sketch in the journal. And for a decorative bookmark, I used a circular paperclip with a knotted piece of ribbon.

Since these journals are so inexpensive to make using composition books and crafting stash items, you can make one for yourself and a gift for a friend, or make a matching set to take on a family trip for each family member.

Then take a few minutes to sit in a comfy chair on a sunny day and jot a note about your summer fun. Happy crafting!