Tonya here… summer break is well under way here and as I’ve been getting creative coming up with ways to stop the summer slide, I decided to make DIY journals for my daughter. Kids will love these. Thank you to Testors.com for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
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.
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, 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.
Step 5.
Using paintbrushes and assorted colors of Testors Craft Acrylic 2oz Paint paint over the design on the chipboard. You may need to do 2-3 coats.
Step 6.
Now, if you haven’t already (and if you didn’t use standard-sized paper) hole punch down the side and put your journal together using book rings – these come in a variety of sizes, so you can change them out to larger ones as the journal grows and more pages are added.
And there you have it! You can make journals for just about anything your kids want from bucket lists, to summer journals, daily to-do lists, and more.
About Testors Paints:
Testors Craft 3 oz. Aerosols are available in a wide variety of colors and specialty finishes (including metallic, glitter, and glitter sealer) and adhere to a variety of surfaces including wood, metal, glass, terra cotta, ceramic bisque, and more.
Testors Craft Acrylic Paints are water-based paints available in a wide variety of colors as well and can be used for general craft and decorative painting. They can also be used on surfaces such as wood, metal, fabric, canvas, ceramic, glass, and more!
What will you create with Testors Paints?
Take a look at my other Testors creations too:
- How to Make an Easy Unicorn Costume for Kids
- How to Airbrush Personalized Shirts for Kids
- Get Outside And Play With Spray Chalk
- A Handmade Breakfast Tray
Giveaway
Would you like to win a Testors Craft Paints Prize Pack including an assortment of brush-on and aerosol paints with an approximate retail value of $50?
Leave us a comment telling us if you’ve ever used Testors Craft Paints and what you used them for. If you haven’t yet, let us know what projects you’d like to try.
Then complete your entry using the form below. Please note that by entering this giveaway you are allowing Testors to receive your email address to possibly follow up with product information.
Products in the prize pack will be an assortment of brush-on and aerosol paints and not necessarily be the same as used in this blog post. Open to the US only.
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored, so extra thanks for reading and sharing.
Written by Tonya Staab, contributor at 5 Minutes for Mom
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The post Kids Will Love These Handmade Journals for Summer appeared first on 5 Minutes for Mom.
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