Kids Will Love These Handmade Journals for Summer

My daughter takes after me in many ways, especially her organization and need to be constantly changing things up.

She’s been writing lists for the longest time, normally just scrawled on pieces of paper, but they help her remember everything she needs to do each day.

So, when I suggested I make her a couple of journals she was so happy. She decided that she would need one for summer to document things she’s done, to make a bucket list of things she wants to do and to take with her on our vacations to take notes and draw sketches.

She also wanted one to keep ideas for decorating her bedroom. She recently decided she wants and ocean-themed room, and so with the help of Pinterest, magazines, and various websites she’s been making notes of what she wants, and drawing ideas. I thought a journal would be a great place to keep clippings from catalogs and photos of ideas she comes across, almost like a vision board.

How To Make Handmade Journals for Summer

What you need:

• Chipboard
• Box cutter
• Assorted paper – you can add lined, plain, tracing, graph paper etc.
• Hole punch
• Book rings
• Testors Craft 3oz Aerosol Paint – I used silver and gold in metallic and glitter (or whatever color you want)
• Testors Craft Acrylic 2oz Paint – assorted colors
• Testors Craft Glitter Sealer
• Printed images and text – (or alternatively, you can use stencils)
• Drill
• Paintbrushes and a pencil

Step 1.
Cut the chipboard to the size you want to make the book, you will need two pieces for each book.

Now, you can do this the easy way, or the hard way … of course, I never do things the easy way.

I didn’t want mine to be a standard letter size, but wanted them a bit smaller like a journal or notebook, which meant having to cut and punch holes in the paper, but if you take the easy route, then just measure the chipboard to the size of the paper you plan on putting in it.

This is a great way to use those workbooks the kids have brought home from school that haven’t been completely used up. I hate throwing them straight into the recycling bin, but because they’ve been partially used I know the kids won’t use them again next year. My son brought home 2 of them that only had a few pages used in each so I used those to make this project.

If you make the journals stand paper size, it will be easier to print out lists like this summer bucket list for kids and add to your new handmade journal. If you want more ideas to help your child get writing this summer, here are some fun writing prompts.

Step 2.
Next, since the chipboard is too thick to pop into the hole punch, you need to measure and then drill three holes down one side. Again keep in mind if you are using paper with holes already in it, or if you’ll be hole-punching your own.

Step 3.
Now it’s time to decide what will you put on the cover of your handmade journals, and what colors will you use?

The first thing you’ll want to do is spray the front and back chipboard covers for the journal with the Testors Craft 3oz Aerosol Paint.

I did two coats of metallic on each, a coat of glitter, and then the glitter sealer, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next. You will not need to apply the glitter or glitter sealer to the inside of the front and back cover, just the outside.

Step 4.
Once you have the image and text (if you aren’t using a stencil) print it out, and then using a pencil, trace over it leaving an impression in the chipboard underneath. I used PicMonkey to create the images and text I wanted to use.