How to Create a Journal

If you have always wanted to keep a journal but can't bring yourself to keep up with it as you would like to, it might help to create the physical object yourself. Invest your time, energy and creativity in making your own journal, and you'll soon discover that it's easy to keep up with something you've created for yourself. (They also make great personalized gifts at an affordable price!)

Things You'll Need

• A plain, hardback journal
• Old magazines
• "Treasures" - rocks, ribbons, other small valuables!
• Photographs
• Paint
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Finishing sealant
• Paintbrushes -- any size, material or shape

Instructions

Purchasing A Journal and Making it Your Own

1. It may seem more "authentic" to make your own paper and cover for your journal, but the relative cost of such a project is a little high. If you like, you can purchase writing paper of your choice and make a cover for it out of wood, metal, fabric or other materials. Covers are fairly simple items to make: Simply measure your paper and use that as a guideline for the cover material. However, for most journaling projects, it's easier to buy a plain, hardcover journal in a store. A good choice is a brown journal made of recycled materials; these are seldom brand-name journals, and don't usually have frills like pockets, but they work well for creative journaling purposes.

2. Decide what you would like to put on your journal. If you're unsure, an easy way to get started is to take some old magazines and begin to collage the back cover. Since this is the least-noticed part of the journal, it takes some of the pressure of designing off of your mind. Collaging magazine cutouts is an easy way to get started, as there are really no rules or forms to follow. Glue sticks work best for collaging work -- they don't clump or form raised lines like liquid glues do. With paper, there's no need for strong glues; post school-grade glue sticks will work.

3. Once you've warmed up with the collaging, try experimenting with other objects. Small rocks, ribbons, photographs and fabrics work well on journal covers. You can make pockets easily by gluing or stapling heavy cardboard or fabric to the inside of the cover. I like to braid various threads for a pen-holding rope, to be tied to the rings binding the cover together, or to use as a placemark. Remember to place dimensional objects -- like rocks or beads -- on the outside front cover to avoid bumpy writing surfaces.

4. Another trick that has proven helpful is to play with the pages of your journal. If you know you need some direction in your journaling, try putting something on every few pages -- song lyrics, quotes, pictures that have meaning for you -- that will help unlock your creativity while you're journaling. You'll remember it all when you first begin journaling, but months down the road, those little "surprises" you hide for yourself can stimulate your writing. Make sure you let the outside covers of your journal dry out completely before beginning to glue inside the pages; the inside pages will become stuck together if closed up in the covers too soon!

5. It's best to use some form of sealant on the outside of your journal after everything has dried completely . (It's recommended to leave your finished product lying face down on a counter or table overnight for full drying.) A good craft sealant is ModPodge, a clear coating that comes in both glossy and matte and is available in most craft stores and department-store craft sections. The coating looks white in the plastic jar, but don't worry -- it really does dry clear, and gives a protective cover to your artwork. For different textures, use different paintbrushes to apply it -- the sponge brushes work best -- and work in a well-ventilated area. Wash your brushes thoroughly with soap and water when finished, as the covering hardens as it dries.

6. Enjoy!