Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Travel Journal

PART THREE:  The Pages


I gave a lot of thought about what I wanted my pages and overall travel journal to look like when it's finished.  I know that I don't want it to look formal or store bought.  I know that I want it to feel very textural and I want it to be a reflection of the kind of vacation we're going to have; a fun, food, family and friend - filled two weeks!

PREPARING YOUR PAGES FOR JOURNALING:

It's important to remove some of the pages from your composition notebook (or other journal) to make room for additional travel treasures that you want to include.  If you don't remove some of the pages, your journal will be bulky and will not want to close.

I removed 2 and 3 pages at a time in my journal.  Here's how I did it:

1. Take the first four (or 5) pages. Remove pages 2, 3, (or 4) at the red, left-hand margin.
2. Glue page 4 (or 5) to page one. (I used Mod Podge for this)  The back of page 4 becomes the left side of your second spread.
3. TEAR your pages.  This will give you a seamless finish when you glue your pages together.
4. Save the pages you tear out to use in other art projects!
5. As you near the end of your journal, begin counting your remaining pages to make sure you have enough spreads for your trip!

TIP: Take advantage of the fabulous scrapbook papers that are available!

My very first spread is devoted to an index.  I will index my pages for Missouri on the left and California on the right.  I will probably print my index directly on the page for MO, but for the darker, brick page (scrapbook paper), I think I will type and print my index titles and glue them in for a more graffiti style look.
I have painted almost all of my pages with washes of craft and artist acrylics.

My next spread is reserved for the airport and flight to MO.  I haven't flown for well over ten years so I'm sure my experience is bound to be different than I remember.  This will give me a space for writing down my thoughts at the beginning of our journey and will be something to do on the flight.

TIP: Even if you've been to your destination before, order travel brochures online.  They're usually free and a great source of imagery for your journal! 

My next spread is for our first day in Missouri.  We arrive early in the day so I'm sure there will be plenty to document.

We don't have an itinerary (YAY!), but I am planning an art play date with my friend, Barb!  We've never met in person before but have developed a lasting friendship over many hours on the phone.  I included an extra spread because I know that day will require four whole pages!

On this spread, I only removed the top and side sections of pages 2, 3 and 4 so I would have a special place for journaling.

I cut each page about 1/2" shorter than each previous page and added scrapbook paper to the edge of each page for a little more support.  I also added scrapbook paper to the front and last  of the 3 pages.  I have plenty of additional room for journaling and any other small mementos that I want to include for this day.

TIP: Plan on using one spread per day.  This should give you plenty of space for journaling, sketching and photos.

The purple inset on this spread is a pocket I made using 4 pages.  I'm not going to show you how I did this because it was a HUGE pain.  I like how it turned out, but you'll note it's the only one in my journal!

I put a pocket on the back of my pocket. (Clever, huh?  I was out of control!)  The orange part is the front of the pocket folded down.  I used a paper punch to make the decoration and tacked the tag down with a spot of glue after looping it through one of the holes.

I tore about an inch off of the right hand side of the next spread.....and accidentally the one after that, too.  I'm sure it will end up being a happy accident.  I can add some tabs and they won't necessarily have to stick out beyond the covers. (Although I love that look, I'm thinking they will just get ruined during my travels.  That might be something I do once we return home.  Hmmmm.........)

TIP:  Use old or current maps of your destination as part of your backgrounds!

Here's another "flight spread" for our flight to CA.  We have to change planes in CO or TX (the airline can't seem to make up their mind).  I'm sure I'll have plenty to write about!

My first CA spread is a big deal because we've never been on the west coast.  I wanted to have plenty of space for photos and for writing down my initial impressions.  The "CALIFORNIA" is scrapbook paper I was lucky enough to find here in Ohio.  The blue booklet is also scrapbook paper. The only thing that is painted is the left side margin.

When I mentioned to my son that I would be more than happy to prepare some home cooked meals, he LAUGHED!  He assured me that there would be no opportunities for me to cook for them as they are taking us to all their favorite restaurants!  I know this includes Persian, Moroccan, Italian, Mexican, burger joints, and more.  When I heard Persian and Mexican, I knew I wanted to use lots of rich, gemstone colors.

I allowed to spreads per day (that they will be off work and with us all day) because I anticipate lots of carry out menus and photos, and lots of sight seeing.  I'm really looking forward to the very artsy, Laguna Beach!
I made an envelope out of this 12' x12" scrapbook paper that I HAD to use.  I love it!

As you can see, I've only got 1 1/2 spreads to complete - the "flight spread" for the trip home, and the final page will be "Home Sweet Home"........

Because as Dorothy said, "There's no place like home."

THINGS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR PAGES

1. Consider your destination. For example, if you're planning a vacation that involves most of your time in the woods, you may want to prep all your pages similarly using lots of earth tones and nature imagery on your borders.
2. Do you plan on doing a lot of sketching?  You may want to take along loose sheets of paper or another journal that you don't mind tearing pages out of. (I'm going to take along a small journal for quick sketches.)
3. You might want to number your pages or at least write the day or date somewhere on your pages so you allow enough spreads in your journal.
4. Remember that your prepped pages are backgrounds and will be mostly covered with photos, sketches and ephemera.  If you're like me, it's easy to become tempted to add too many details.
5. The more work you put into your journal before your trip, the more fun and pleasurable it will be to add memories and treasures day to day.

I hope you've found this helpful, and I invite you to come back next week for my last installment of Travel Journal.

NEXT WEEK: PART FOUR
Embellishments and add-ons

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips & Techniques: Create a Travel Journal

PART ONE - TIPS

It's been many years since Keith and I went on a vacation, but later this year we'll be headed out for just over two weeks.  Yes, I'm just a little excited!  Not just for the travel, but to hang out with family.  First we'll be staying in MO with Keith's sister and hubby (Keith's sister and I have been best friends since we were 10 yrs old!), and then we're off to CA to stay with our son Mike & his girlfriend, Nadia.  We've never been to CA before, so I'm really looking forward to finally going out west!

That I would take along a travel journal is a given.  I've done one other travel journal in the past and it was a on a return trip to FL so I knew exactly what to expect.  This time is a little different.  I've been to my sister-in-laws before so I remember the "flavor" of the area and know pretty much where we will go.  Since we're also going to CA and I want to include both trips in the same journal, I had a lot to consider.  By sharing my thought process with you, I hope I can save you some of the agony I went through to finally arrive at my journaling decisions.

Things to Consider

How are you traveling?  If you're traveling by car, this probably isn't an issue.  If you're traveling by air, you'll have to be a bit more particular about the items you back for journaling.  After all, you don't want to be detained as a possible security threat and undergo hours of interrogation. <insert sigh here>  Yes - I'm a little annoyed that I can't just throw my little tube acrylics into a bag and be done with it!

What's your journaling style?  Do you like to write detailed descriptions of your travel adventure, or are you more prone to outlining your major thoughts with words and phrases?  Do you collect freebies everywhere you go, such as carry out menus, paper/board coasters, pamphlets, business cards, etc.?  If you collect these things do you want to include them on your pages?  

How much time are you likely to spend on your journal each day? Will you have leisurely time alone to gather your thoughts and work in your journal?  Do you want your journal mostly completed by the time you return home?  Do you want to allow just one set of pages per day or per special activity?

Considering all of these questions first, will help to determine the type and size of the journal that will best suit you.

Keith and I have decided to do nothing but carry-on bags for our trip.  We're not fru-fru types, so we won't need anything besides comfy, lightweight clothing. (As long as I have room for my art stuff, I'm good!) That was a major factor for me in selecting a journal.  I don't want to take anything too large since packing space is limited, so I chose this journal.  I thought it would be a perfect size to carry around for sketching and writing, and it would take up very little room in my luggage.  At $2.99, it was also the right price!

  

I had to do something about the white cover right away, so I applied a light coat of heavy bodied gesso, let it dry, and then applied black acrylic paint around the perimeter.  I didn't like the smooth, glossy texture either, so I took a sheet of handmade paper, added crimson and cadmium red paint and applied it to the cover with gel medium.

I didn't know what else I wanted to do to complete the cover so I began working inside the journal.  I began by making pockets out of the first pages  so I would have somewhere to stash the items that I know I will gather along the way.

I then began prepping the next set of pages for our airport experience and flight to MO.  I used acrylics and painted sky and clouds.

And then I decided that this journal just wasn't going to work!

It's far too small for my style of journaling.  I like to include every juicy detail of my experiences.  I like including napkins, and coasters, and receipts, etc., etc., etc.  I decided I didn't like the ringed binding.  I decided to go larger.

I decided to go with the very book that began my art journaling in the beginning - A Mead Composition Book.  I've been working diligently on this project and I've decided that it's the perfect journal for me. I realize that had I asked myself the correct questions to begin with, I would have never given the first journal a thought.

This journal is going to be absolutely perfect for my journey!  I'm really happy with the way it's turning out and I can't wait to fill it with goodies from our travels.  Here's a sneak preview of some of the pages:

Come back next week for Part Two, and I'll share the techniques I used for the cover and pages.  In the meantime, gather all the fun papers, stickers and stamps that feel like vacation to you!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE