Munchkin really loves drawing and nature, so it is only natural to want to combine the 2 activities. We never seem to be able to find a nature journal that is “just right” for her. She likes to personalize her things, so we decided to take that idea and run with it.
Project Supplies:
- Cardboard (8 1/2″ X 11″ or desired size)
- Scissors
- Tape
- Glue Dots
- Scrapbook paper
- Loose leaf rings
- Hole punch
- Filler paper (plain or custom)
The Project Details:
1. Place your 12X12 piece of scrapbook paper on the table print side down. Place a glue dot on each corner of the cardboard and place cardboard (glue dot side down) firmly on the center of the scrapbook paper. Fold the bottom and top of the scrapbook paper up/down over the cardboard. Apply glue dots or tape in place. Crease in the corners of the side pieces and fold over (like wrapping a package). Apply glue dots or tape in place.
2. Repeat for back of nature journal. Decorate as desired using glue dots to attach your accessories. (I used coordinating scrapbook paper and “fun” scissors to create an inset and then a fun pattern that say Nature Journal.)
3. To finish off the inside covers, place glue dots on the corners of your coordinating paper and adhere to the inside of your covers. (For mine, I printed out Genesis 1 on colored paper and cut it to fit properly with “fun” scissors. You can also see that I like to do the back cover in a different, coordinating paper.)
4. Three-hole-punch the covers. Add pages. (I used custom pages that I made that allow Munchkin to draw a picture and write a little something about the picture. Plain paper works well if you want to use this as just a sketch pad.) After the pages are three-hole-punched, assemble using the loose leaf rings.
We’ve used this theme to make Nature Journals, Sketch Pads, Field Trip Journals, and much more. Munchkin loves that she can create her own journals and sketch pads. They also make great gifts as you can personalize them to the taste of the gift recipient.
Special thanks to Glue Dots for sending us a sampler pack to help create our fun projects as part of their Summer Bonding Project. Head over to the Glue Dots Facebook Page to see more project ideas.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Glue Dots blogging contest to be eligible to receive a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
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How cute. My students would be so much more motivated to use their nature journals if they had ones like that.
Briana recently posted..My Garden Shame
Twitter: lossoleffco
says:
Very nice indeed! So, about how much do you think that would cost to make? I mean, if you were to buy everything (but who doesn’t have scissors??). This is a great post. I love the papers you chose.
And thank you for stopping by my blog …we love it when people leave comments
Blossom recently posted..Giveaway- Right here-
Twitter: MarineCorpsNomd
says:
Hmm… The glue dots run about $5.00 (or less with coupon/sale) for 200 dots. I usually pick up the scrapbook paper when it’s on clearance, but you can routinely pick up scrapbook paper sheets 5 for $1 at Michaels. (You can also pick up packages of coordinating paper at the dollar store.) Most people have scissors and tape on hand. You can use cardboard boxes/cereal boxes for the cardboard covers, so those would be free. The loose leaf rings cost $3.79 at Staples (16 – 1″ rings). The paper is just copy paper you have on hand. I just pick up reams of paper when they have really good sales at Staples. This week, you could get 2 reams for 1 cent each. Love those kinds of sales!
My rough estimate would be less than $1.50 each even if you aren’t able to hit sales or don’t already have things on hand.
very nice
it will even nicer and a treasure to keep when it has Munchkins work in it
jen recently posted..simple Womans Daybook
My, this is awesome-gonna make a couple myself. Thanks for sharing! This will be a great project for the co-op kids-
Sheri
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