How to Decorate a Journal Book

A decorated journal

Personalizing your journal is a good way of to give yourself an incentive to write in it every day. You don’t need a fancy expensive journal to have a place where you can write about your thoughts and feelings. A simple composition notebook that you decorate will work just as well, and decorating it will give you the satisfaction of making it a reflection of you.

Things You'll Need

• Magazines
• Photos
• Scissors
• Glue
• Composition notebook
• Self-adhesive laminating sheets

Instructions

1. Cut words and pictures out of magazines. Choose words and pictures that strike you or move you in some way. Cut out journal theme pictures and words if you are making a theme journal, such as for a new baby.

2. Use a glue stick to affix the cutouts to the cover of the journal. Apply a small dot to the back of the cutout so you can still move the cutouts around and arrange them the way you want.

3. Paste down the cutouts once you have them laid out to your liking. Apply a tiny amount of clear or white glue to the edges of the cutouts with your fingertip so they will lay flat. The glue will dry clear.

4. Let the journal dry at least 12 hours.

5. Cut the laminating sheet so that it is 1 to 2 inches larger than the cover of your notebook. Remove the protective paper from the laminating sheet. Place the laminating sheets over the cover and gently press into place. The sheets should overlap on the edges so that you can tuck them down about 1 inch on the inside covers.

6. Trim the corners and edges of you newly decorated journal for a neat finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate the back of your journal book!

• Decorate the inside covers with cutouts and journal topics.

• Don't go glue crazy! You need very little glue when decorating your journal book because you will be putting the lamination on in the last step.