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How to make a journal
Deidre Osei
on August 2, 2021When journaling, you can let go. Say what you want to say and not worry about being polite, correct, or appropriate. You don’t have to think. You just write down whatever comes to mind. Commas, semicolons, exclamation points. They don’t matter. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are a distant thought. You can be free to write whatever you want!
Maybe you already journal and go through a lot of notebooks, diaries, or really anything you can write or draw in. So why not make a DIY journal of your own?
Making your own journal is fulfilling to do and makes writing so much more fun! You can really customize and decorate your journal to fit your own personal style and taste. You can choose the shape, size, and density of your journal. You may use traditional bookbinding methods, or recycle materials such as old books or your own art. Have a blast doing these DIY journal projects with your kids, your friends, or creating that moment just on your own.
What you’ll need:
- Regular 8.5 “x 11” printer paper
- String or twine
- Glue (optional)
- Cutting tools: Scissors/box cutter
- Embellishments for the cover
- Sturdy paper, leather, faux leather, or oil cloth for your cover material
Let's get creative!
Step 1: Grab your sturdy material for the cover and cut it to the desired size. (Ours is 4” x 6”.)
Step 2: We used glue and colored paper to cover ours, but you can decorate your journal however you want!
Step 3: Time to make the pages! Cut or tear paper to size. (We cut our pages to 8” x 6”.)
Step 4: Fold sheets in half and open back up.
Step 5: Divide pages into bundles of 4 or more. These stacks are called signatures.
Step 6: Carefully use staples to connect the pages of each signature.
Step 7: Attach signatures to your cover. We tied them in with string, as it will allow us to add more pages in the future.
Voila! You have a journal.
These journals aren’t just a fun activity, they’re an excellent place to daydream, doodle and store your Creative Challenges! They make really cool gifts too!
We want to see what you created. Take a pic and share with us on Instagram!
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