Activity Days: Making Journals

I haven't posted any of our Activity Days projects for a while.  We seem to get so involved in the activities we are doing that I forget to take pictures.  Bad Activity Days leader!!

Well, we did a really fun project today.  It would be fun for the primary age kids, the young women or for a rainy day activity at home.  The girls really had a fun time.  It is neat to see how creative they can be.  Some of the girls went all out and decorated their journals a lot, and some went for the more simple approach.  But all in all, it was a really fun activity.

We talked about the importance of keeping a journal and about what kinds of things should be recorded.  We also talked about what would have happened if the authors of the scriptures hadn't written down their experiences.  Imagine not having the 4 gospels of the New Testament, or the writings of Nephi, King Benjamin or Alma in the Book of Mormon.  We also talked about how important our writings will be for our children and grandchildren.

Okay, on to the journal making!

Supplies needed:

• Composition notebooks
• Assorted scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Glue (We used white school glue)
• Paper plates (For holding the glue)
• Foam brushes
• Pencils
• Stickers, ribbon, assorted embellishments 

Begin by letting each girl choose the scrapbook paper they want.  Cut the paper so there is about a half inch over hang on all 3 sides of the notebook that open.  Spread a THIN layer of glue over one of the covers of the composition notebook.  Allow it to dry for just a few seconds.  Then carefully place the paper over the notebook and press out all the bubbles.  Repeat with the back cover.

My front cover.

 Fold over and glue down the overhanging paper.  Cut another piece of scrapbook paper to fit inside the cover to hide the glued down edges.  Spread glue inside the cover and carefully place the paper inside the cover.  Repeat on the inside of the back cover.

I opted for an off white paper for the inside cover of mine.  Some of the girls used a patterned paper. 

Create a "binding" on the edge by cutting strip of paper about 3 inches wide and as long as the notebook and glue around the bound edge of the notebook.

The binding.

Add additional embellishments to make it your own.

I went for simple!