How to Make a Smash Book Journal

Ready for a really fun project? You are going to love this Smash Book Journal! If you’re a regular around here you know how much we love Smash Book projects! Smash Books are the perfect way to save memories, which got me thinking, why not merge it with a journal. That way you can still have your journal entry but you can also add some spunk to your journal by adding in flat memories!

Journaling with a smash book twist! All the benefits of journaling with an extra bonus, it encourages you to keep any and all flat paper memories and “smash” (glue/tape/paperclip) them into your book and include them within your journal entries whenever appropriate.

Smash Book Journal

You’ll Need

• Blank Journal — The DaySpring  “Live Original” Journals are perfect for this! We picked ours up at Hobby Lobby
  
• Pens and/or Markers
• Small flat memories (i.e. Movie stubs, postcards, pictures, drawings, etc)
• Glue stick or tape

Instructions

First, read this post about Smash Books — so you understand the general concept.

Next, remember it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are no real rules when it comes to this journal, get creative and journal anyway you like. Make it your own, one-of-a kind piece — there’s absolutely no wrong way. Upside down is even ok!

What will make it most unique is when you smash the flat memories within. Save anything flat that has a memory attached: postcards, movie stubs, birthday cards, pictures, etc. etc! Tape it into the book and then save room to write your entry about the day around it.

See the complete Smash Book Step-by-Step Tutorial Here — this will help give you even more ideas!

Instructions for Helping Kids

If you have kids, buy an extra journal for each kid.

Here’s the one I grabbed my daughter from the Sadie Robertson “Live Original” line. I love the quote on the front!

P.S. Come follow us on Instagram! 

Let your smile change the world! Perfect first journal for my girl! #DayspringSadieRob #liveoriginal #PMedia #ad @DaySpringCards @legitSadieRob @ChicBlvd

A photo posted by Alida Quittschreiber (@therealisticmama) on Jul 29, 2015 at 5:38pm PDT

Journaling is so important for kids. It teaches them how to sort through feelings, understand emotions, and problem solve. Replaying what happened yesterday or today also helps them learn more about themselves.

They may express a lot one day and nearly nothing the next.  That’s ok! The instructions that follow are just to give you some ideas on where to start.

If you’ve went somewhere recently that had an admission ticket, bracelet or postcard let them smash it into their books and write a memory from the day beside it.

For pre-writing little ones, you can let them draw and scribble. When they are finished date their drawing and keep their journal in a special, safe place.

 

Once they are talking you can write for them. That way they can look back and remember the types of thoughts they had in their head. Be careful not to overpower their thoughts by over-suggesting. A great question to begin with is “What would you like me to write?” “What’s your story about today?” or “Can you tell me about your day?” Some days they might make-believe, other days they might tell you in detail everything that happened to them that day. Both are great! It’s just about them expressing their thoughts.

That’s it! No matter what the age this is the perfect project. We all need to journal so we can get our feelings out but why not make a Smash Book Journal so it’s even more fun and the perfect memory to look back on later.

 

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This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and DaySpring, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #DayspringSadieRob http://my-disclosur.es/

 

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