I wanted to make a travel journal that is a true travel journal. I didn’t put in anything but lined notebooks (signatures) so I can write what we did every day and I bought a Fuji Instax Mini Camera that is like the old Polaroid cameras and produces photos that are maybe 2 1/2″ tall by 1 1/2″ wide and its photos will fit perfectly in the journal. I also bought some stickers that are travel inspired and put them in the outer pocket of the journal. I bought charms representing the countries we’re going to as well as ship charms and put them on large paper clips and will use them as book marks so you know if the charm hanging from the top is the Eifel Tower, I wrote all about Paris on that page.

In the first video I show you how to cover a premade album and here’s a link to that video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0btGM8lUDB4

In this video, we’re going to cover the inside of the journal and I’ll show you how to cover the signatures which are the individual notebooks I put inside. I used basic Tacky Glue to cover the inside covers of the journal and then cut paper to cover it. Your two papers need to be 8 5/8″ tall by 4 5/8″ wide to decorate the inside covers. My journal measures 4.75″ wide x 8.75 tall. Make sure if your paper has a design, that it faces toward the top of the journal. Make two pockets, 3″ tall by 4 5/8″ wide. I added 1/8″ wide tear tape to three sides then added a thin line of Tacky Glue on the same three sides, leaving the top edge without any glue or tear tape. I used a blending brush and Distress Oxide Brushed Corduroy ink to cover all of the edges of the pockets, notebook covers and the journal. When I glued the pocket in, I pinched the sides a little so there’s a small gap at the top of the pocket so when you put things in the pocket, the gap allows the items to be put inside. To cover the individual notebooks (signatures) that go in the journal, you’ll need 12 x 12″ scrapbook paper. If your paper has a pattern with a direction to it, make sure it’s facing the top of the scoreboard and score at 6″ then score one line to the left of 6″ and score one to the right of 6″..Score also at 1 1/2″ and 10 1/2″ then turn the paper one turn and score at 1 3/4 and 10 1/4″ then fold and burnish all of these scores. Then put the book into the center of the paper so the spine of the book is butted against the 6″ score and tuck the ends of the notebook into the end pockets and the notebook should close easily. The notebooks (signatures) I used were 4.25 x 8.25″ and the scoring I give is specific to this size notebook. Once my signatures (notebooks) were covered, I put the brass corner covers on the corners. If you have pliers that are made to not damage metal, use those, but I just put a piece of foam and used a jewelry tool to squeeze the corners shut. You’ll want to put some glue inside the corner cover before you slide it over a corner so it’s glued and pinched into place. You’ll want to go to the center page of your signatures (notebooks) and cut a small notch out of the center at the top and bottom so when you put the signatures into your journal, they stay in place.

Here are the products I used:

Graphic 45 journal and 3 notebooks: https://tinyurl.com/4sny7hxm

DCWV World Map 12 x 12″ paper link: https://tinyurl.com/mr3pjf4w

Temu:

Large silver paper clips: https://tinyurl.com/mtxmbp83

Silver ship charms: https://tinyurl.com/mwfn8p3x

Travel charms (Eifel tower, Big Ben etc) https://tinyurl.com/bdv65r9t

Pin for side of album: https://tinyurl.com/3curudbb

Key chain for dangle: https://tinyurl.com/4nyps3a6

Stickers of London and Paris landmarks: https://tinyurl.com/yckake7t

Stickers of old stamps: https://tinyurl.com/yckae9h8

Metal brass looking corners for journal: https://tinyurl.com/26zfkvh4

I took the elastic strap out of the front of the journal, you definitely need to do this, and if I didn’t mention it in this video, you’ll want to poke a hole through the paper in that hole once you’ve covered the front, but BEFORE you cover the inside of the journal with paper, otherwise you’ll lose track of where that hole is. NOTE: I replaced the elastic with one that’s 24″ long knotted on the open end and after the trip’s over, I’ll know how long it needs to be and will shorten it.

If you want to make your own journals, no require sewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqU50Z6zSyY&t=0s

DIY: Refillable leather journal cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yju82AwTb_M&t=0s

Travel journal signature inserts premade: https://tinyurl.com/ykv727y7

Making your own travel journal notebook inserts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJiCT9E6Ofc&t=0s.