I love that I could use the tape to finish the edges of my book which is very practical, while adding a touch of whimsy. Scotch® Expressions line of tape combines fun and function. I love that I could write on them with a chalkboard marker to add a touch of inspiration to my journal. Inside the pages, I added chalk board stickers every 10 or so pages. I really enjoyed allowing my creativity to flow- adding stickers and the W ashi tape wherever I felt it looked good. Next, I trimmed the edges of extra paper, added a bit of black ink to the paper and began to add the black Scotch® Expressions Tape and began to add some fun stickers. I lightly sprayed the journal with spray adhesive and gently placed the paper on the journal and began to rub the paper onto the journal until it was secure, paying special attention to the edges. I rolled up the paper and crinkled it to add some texture then unrolled it and smoothed it back out. I placed my journal upside down on a sheet of scrapbook paper, traced the outline and cut it out. The journal I selected had a strap to keep the journal closed so I added two slits in the paper for the elastic band to fit through (see photo above).

Not only will I be able to store my journal in this bag, I’ll also have a place to store brochures, postcards and pressed pennies. I set the bag aside to dry, which didn’t take long. Instead of adding more paint, I simply placed an ink pad on top of the stencil. I lightly sprayed my second stencil with spray adhesive and placed it inside the circle. To make sure the paint doesn’t go through to the back of the burlap bag, I inserted a sheet of newspaper or junk mail inside the envelope. This kept my stencil in place.Īfter I painted the circle, I removed the stencil and set it aside. I lightly sprayed the back of the stencil with a bit of Scotch® Create Brand spray adhesive and placed the stencil on the burlap. I started on my Part One of my project- a burlap bag to store my travel journal in.

Next, I protected my work space by laying out newspaper on my table. It was super easy to do and I finished mine from start to finish in under 30 minutes.įirst, I gathered the supplies I bought at Walmart with some supplies I had stashed in my craft closet. So I bought a lined journal, some stickers and Scotch® Expressions Tapes at Walmart and set out to decorate and make it my own for an upcoming road trip. Not just a notebook that will be mistaken as worthless notes, but a decorated journal where I can record my memories. So I’ve vowed to write those memories inside a journal. I know as I continue to age, my memories will fade, the moments I captured in my mind will lose their luster and if I don’t share those moments, they’ll pass away when my life is over. I’m so glad that I insisted my kids keep a journal of our trips, and finally, so are they. While I was insisting they create a journal, I neglected to write my own, something I deeply regret.

Reading the entries in their 9-year old handwriting with misspelled words always put a smile on my face and almost bring a tear to my eye. Now that they are grown, it seems as though those trips happened in another lifetime. I had no idea how much I (or they) would appreciate and enjoy reading those journals after the fact. And if they were really in the mood, they’d sketch a photo. Once in awhile, I’d get lucky and they’d jot down a paragraph or two about a destination they really liked. This typically included the state we were in, how long of a drive we’d had, what our hotel room looked like and a general description of the pool. Grudgingly, they would record the bare minimum. My kids balked at the idea of recording their thoughts, ideas, or even our whereabouts. As a homeschool mom, I focused on the practical side of journaling- penmanship, grammar and spelling. When my kids were younger and we started traveling on a regular basis, I required them to keep a journal. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc.

Diy travel journal