Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Travel Journal Tutorial (June Counterfeit Kit)

I learned how to make a Travel Journal out of manila envelopes and cardstock from an article in the now defunct Scrapbook Answers magazine.  The author is Vicki Chrisman, who is definitely not defunct! She has a wonderful blog called "This Art That Makes Me Happy." I emailed her, and she said I was welcome to share instructions on how to make her travel journal.
I started by gathering the following supplies (all, except the envelopes and chipboard from my June Counterfeit Kit):
1. 3 manila envelopes (9x12 inches)
2. 8 pieces of paper (Cut one to 9x12 inches for the outside cover; cut one into two pieces 8.75x5.5 inches for the inside covers; cut two pieces down to 8.5x11 inches for two inside pages; take two pieces and cut each into two 8.5x5.5 to cover manila envelopes; take last two pieces and cut each into two pieces, one 8.5x5.5 and one 8.5x4.5).
3. 2 pieces of chipboard 5.5x8.5 inches each
4. two pieces of twine (24 inches each)
5. one piece of ribbon (32 inches long)
6. themed embellishments and letter stickers
7. tools: bone folder; tape; hole punch; adhesive
Before I go further, let me show you a few views of one of my completed travel journals, so you can see where this tutorial is going and how I use mine.  I love these because I can fill the envelopes with memorabilia, and there's lots of room to jot down important arrangements before the trip and journal about our adventures along the way.
Now, on to the tutorial. . . Start by folding all three of the manila envelopes and the two 8.5x11 interior pages in half.  Next, insert the two chipboard pieces, side by side into one of the envelopes (there should be about an inch between the two). Seal up the envelope. This will be your cover.
Cover one side with the 9x12 piece of paper for the outside cover (I used a dark blue). Take the two 8.75x5.5 pieces (inside covers; I used the butterfly paper) and adhere them to the other side. Glue them along the outside edges, not along the spine. Next, stack the two interior pages and envelopes, on top of the cover (alternating them):
Take the eight pieces of paper that you have left. You will use these to cover the eight sides of the manila envelope. I like to decide where to place these, so that the patterns and colors coordinate with the opposite page and also with the places I will go. So, I put papers appropriate for London up front, those appropriate for the Cotswolds in the middle and papers for Cambridge/London at the end. The two thinner papers (8.5x4.5) go on the side of the manila envelope with the flap. Once you've decided on the order, adhere the papers, again aligning them with the outside edge of the envelopes, not the spine:
Next, take you hole punch and punch two holes along the spine of the cover. I punch the holes the full length of my hole punch:
Punch holes along the spine of the envelope pages in the same position. Line the 8.5x11 interior pages up inside the cover (note, they will be smaller than the envelope pages) and punch holes in them. Line all your pages up and thread the two lengths of twine through the holes:
Tie the twine securely on the outside to complete the binding.  Slide the ribbon under the twine and wrap around the journal horizontally around the middle.  Tie it in the front.  Flip the journal over, and secure the ribbon to the back with stickers:
Flip the journal back over and decorate the front:
Finally, decorate the interior pages.  I like to leave some room to adhere postcards and definitely room for writing down our itinerary, important numbers and journaling about our trip. I also tend label our destinations.  Here's some of my pages:
So, there you have it! Thanks again to Vicki for allowing me to share her process. Feedback on the tutorial definitely welcome. Do you create travel journals before a trip?  Do they look anything like this? 

42 comments:

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

pretty nifty, I love love it! I'll have to try making one. It looks pretty easy to make, thanks for the instructions.

I finally purchased a blank art journal and have already filled two pages....but I'm not so happy with them. I'll have to be comfortable with it before I post them on my blog...it will take time but it will happen one day.

furrypig said...

that is such a great idea and I have everything that is needed! Will be coming back to this post to give it a go me thinks. Thanks Rinda xxx

Jennifer Grace said...

Cool travel journal, great to have a place to store all the memorabilia. Thanks for sharing the tutorial! x

Margi said...

Absolutely love this tutorial Rinda, thank you so much! Very kewlio!

JO SOWERBY said...

i take a diary with me and write in what i did each day. then i save up all the ticket stubbs, and other memorabilia to put in when i get home so i can link up all the photos and experiences with a bit more time.
jo xxx

Katie said...

I love this idea. I'm adding it to my to-do list. I usually write in a notebook and put items I want to save in an envelope to save for the scrapbook.

Amy said...

I made a travel journal a couple of years ago - it was based on one Shimelle made and used some of her digital hybrid downloads. Once I stuck all the pretty stuff down I didn't want to write of attach anything else over it - I managed, but it was quite different for me ... I should dig it out one day and show you!

Susanne said...

Fun project!

Margie said...

What an awesome travel journal! Thanks for sharing how you made it!

Jen Cro said...

Great idea, thanks for sharing. This would be perfect for a weekend getaway.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Ooooh what a great idea for a travel journal! I love the use of the large envelopes, creating big pockets that close up and hold bits of paper you collect along the way.

I've never made a travel journal before, but this certainly inspires me! Can't wait to see it after your trip, all filled up with goodies! xo

laurie said...

thanks so much for sharing the process. it looks great and very functional, too! i am always on the lookout for new ways to make travel journals. wouldn't that be a great book idea?!?

Anonymous said...

what a fun idea! I made something similar for Angelina to take to Hawaii .. ya she brought back a blank book :) oh well!

Mariana in CA

Capescrapper said...

Rinda, thanks so much for sharing this unique idea! And thanks to Vicki for allowing you to give us the tutorial!

nancy y said...

thanks so much for showing us how to make this... not enough time to make one for the Spokane road trip, but when I get home I'm going to put one together to have ready!

beccaf1970 said...

Thanks for sharing this! I may have to make one for my road trip with my mom & niece later this summer!

scrappyjacky said...

Great tutorial,Rinda...that journal is going to be great once it's full. I usually make a travel journal when we're going overseas...but not if we're staying in this country.

Lauren said...

This is simply lovely! I should really try something like this... esp. since we have a big trip to yellow stone planned this year!

Emily said...

Wow!! I love it! This is your travel smashbook! Thanks for sharing how to make it.

Anonymous said...

This so makes me want to stop doing all the things on my calendar and finish my travel album! I bookmarked this post in Evernote so I can come back to it next time I'm looking for a travel album.

GlorV1 said...

Excellent project. Looks great and pretty easy to make. I mark on my calendar as well. I have calendars that go back 15 years. I've thought of tearing out the pages and adding them bit by bit to my journals. What you've done is great and thx for sharing.

Tara O said...

Wow...look at all of the work you put into it! Great project

Crystal said...

Great job! I love it, it would be super cute for housing cards etc from birthdays too, like a mini with lots of storage! I love all the details in it! Great job!

Sian said...

Ooh, I could make one of these for our trip to Norway! I am a huge collector of postcards and tickets etc etc - this would be perfect . Thank you - I'll be back.

Lisa said...

Great kit can't wait to see what you create!

Jennifer Shaw said...

Such a lovely journal! Great tutorial!

Anonymous said...

Oooh - I love that idea. Great tutorial.

A Creative Operation said...

That is a great kit, and I love the book. I love mini's and this is awesome!

Linda said...

Your travel journals are fabulous! Thanks for sharing the tutorial on how to make them.

ms.schwiet said...

Beyond awesome idea

Tricia said...

This is fantastic! I have not done this before, but I will be doing it from now on. Great tutorial, thanks so much for sharing!

Vicki Chrisman said...

Oh.. thanks so much for bringing this back to the forefront of my mind. I loved being a part of Scrapbook Answers Mag, and I SO miss it! So much creative inspiration came from that publication. I love your travel journal. I think I might just have to make another. Fun to see the idea being used:) Thanks for contacting me.

Angela said...

What an absolutely fabulous project! I'm full of ideas now -- thanks!

MArtha Richardson said...

Thank your for posting this tutorial...fab product and so glad I stumbled onto your blog via Vicki!!!

Lizzie said...

Ooh, I just went to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge site and found a link to You! http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-spyrinda.html

This tutorial is great - the travel journal structure is a fab idea - well done to you and Vicki!

Can't wait to see you this summer, while you're filling this new journal.
I just happen to have some lovely paper, which is printed with a collage of trunk labels - one of them is exactly the one you have used in your journal (the one with the ship funnel and "Travel Line" heading). Would you like some of the paper to go with it?

Well done for making it to the Counterfeit Kit blog!

Lisa said...

this is an awesome project and what a wonderful finished result. As for your trip, I'm so jealous - you seem to be visiting some of my all time fave places England (I'm English but live abroad so a holiday back home is a dream for me!).

Thanks for the wonderful instructions on how to make this great travel journal - definitely bookmarking this for future use!

Congrats on the Counterfeit highlight today!

kellkat said...

I can see making this for a few nieces and friends who are traveling this summer who aren't crafty/scrapbookiers. But they sure could collect stuff and then enjoy it time & time again. Thanks for sharing.

Jimjams said...

Lovely tutorial Rinda - thank you. I am gathering ideas for a travel journal to give to my son for his forthcoming trip ... I'll let you know how I get on!

nomorelittlemonkeys said...

I love your travel journal and tutorial! What a great idea to use manila envelopes to hold all your treasures!

Christy said...

This is awesome. Ive been looking up ideas for a journal book for a friend and his partner who are always traveling. He is such a great guy and i want to make something special for him. Thanks to you both for sharing.

Lucy said...

I love it! You just gave me an idea for my next travel journal! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the blog. I made one up this afternoon, mostly from unfinished project papers. Lots of fun to make and it turned out very nicely.

I think I'll make one for my travel companion as well.

Cheers

Kate