Please note: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase from a partnership site, I may earn a commission.

Personalize Your Own Journals

Written by: | Published: March 13, 2020 | Updated: January 16, 2023

Let’s make personalized journals today! Capture favorite experiences with your own personalized journals. Decorate the cover, add a custom touch, make it all your own. Then take it with you wherever you go. You can apply this same project to any notebook or planner as well.

decorate your own journal cover for a personalized memory keeper
decorate your own journal cover for a personalized memory keeper

This is Day 6 of CRAFTWEEK and today’s theme is Paper. We have a giveaway on Instagram sponsored by Xyron. Go check it out!

It’s CRAFTWEEK!
March is National Craft Month. So I’ve partnered with some of my favorite creative bloggers to share some crafty ideas with you all week long!

With all the travel I’ve been doing, I thought it would be fun to showcase some travel inspired projects.

CraftWeek 2020

This quick craft is just one of the fun DIY ideas I’m sharing for CRAFTWEEK. All week I’ll be featuring some fun and easy crafts you can create yourself. Plus you’ll find more craft ideas from other bloggers below PLUS each day this week we will be sharing a link to a giveaway.

I’m making a paper collaged notebook cover to create a personalized journal I can take with me. It’s small enough to fit in my purse, so it’s perfect for on-the-road note taking.

Personalize a journal - create your own custom look
Personalize a journal – create your own custom look

Make a Custom Journal Cover with Collage Art

I like to bring a little notebook with me when I travel. No matter where I go, remembering the special moments is what makes traveling and exploring so fun! Even just adventuring around my own hometown, there’s always something to discover.

Materials

  • Small spiral notebook
  • Variety of pattern paper, markers, coloring pages or other paper decorating supplies.
  • Adhesive
  • Scissors
Materials you need to decorate a journal in minutes
Materials you need to decorate a journal in minutes

Instructions

  1. Cut different strips of papers and layer them on your notebook using adhesive. I’m using a Creative Station by Xyron to add an adhesive back to all my paper. This leaves no wrinkles or bubbles like wet glue and sticks completely compared to double sided tape.
  2. You can create different shapes and patterns, cut out words or write in your own. Really it’s a collage art project you can design yourself… super fun and easy!
  3. Trim down the edges and seal if you’d like.
Use a Xyron to make your own sticker paper
Use a Xyron to make your own sticker paper

Once you create your own sticker paper, you can cut out any shapes you’d like and make all kinds of fun designs and patterns.

If you don’t have a Xyron, you can still create this journal look. Just use a glue stick to layer everything together.

Cut your sticker paper to make all kinds of designs and patterns on your journal
Cut your sticker paper to make all kinds of designs and patterns on your journal

Use your colored paper to create your own embellishments. Cut designs and shapes. Make stickers and fun little art decals. The options are unlimited, so get creative and make your own art!

You can download the rainbow art I used for this project here.

And, download this flower background paper coloring page below.

download this art by Jen Goode
Get this Free File

Flower background pattern coloring page

Icon 1.54 MB | 41 Downloads
Copyright © Jen Goode, JGoode Designs. For Personal Use Only. Contact for commercial use inquires.

 

Decorate your journal with custom art and personalized designs
Decorate your journal with custom art and personalized designs

You can also personalize your journal with your favorite photos. If you have a mini photo printer or camera, like a Sprocket or Instax camera, you can print photos to use on your journal cover. You can also use your printed photos INSIDE your journal as you’re write about your experiences and capturing your memories.

Personalize a journal - create your own custom look
Personalize a journal – create your own custom look
« previous post

next post »

Jen Goode Headshot

Jen is Passionate about Creativity. She is the owner and "doodle in charge" of JGoode Designs, a Denver based design studio. She is an illustrator, mixed media artist and creative lifestyle blogger. Jen has been a creative professional since 1998 but says she's been an artist since she was old enough to eat glue.

Connect:
Facebook iconTwitter iconPinterest IconInstagram IconFeed Icon
Join the FREE Creative Club!

Get tutorials, free file downloads and project ideas right in your email.

Leave a Comment

Featured on:
Brands Jen at 100 Directions has partnered with.
100 Directions is full of tutorials and project ideas to inpsire trying something new and sharing creativity in every direction.
I work with a variety of companies to share ideas and insight about products, services and all kinds of fun, creative things to do.
I stand behind my recommendations and hope you love the things I share as much as I love sharing them with you!

 

Privacy Policy and Disclosures | Work with me

 

100 Directions is a JGoode Designs property. Copyright © 2011-2024 Jen Goode. All Rights Reserved.

100directions.com is a JGoode Designs property. Owned and operated by Jen Goode.