For one of Bee Happy's Weeklies project last month, I made a Traveler’s Notebook, but with a little twist.
Instead of leaving it with mostly blank pages (because let’s be honest, that’s usually how travel TNs end up), I turned this one into a practical junk-catcher for trips. Collecting memories while traveling is easy… actually sitting down to journal properly is a whole different story.
In 2024, I had big plans. One page per day in my junk journal. I thought, hey, a 10minute journaling at the end of each day during our vacay? Sounds easy! Tickets, receipts, and random bits were supposed to be added neatly to each page. What actually happened? I just kept inserting everything between the pages. Fast forward to now, and they’re still just… inserted. Some even ended up mixed into different days.
I was a bit more prepared in 2025 and actually managed to do a little journaling per day during our trip. Progress! But then my mini photo printer died, and we didn’t even have a micro USB printer with us. Still, I managed to journal little by little while traveling, though, full honesty… I still haven’t finished journaling that trip. Haha.
That’s exactly why this Traveler’s Notebook came to life.
I added pockets...lots of them. This TN has 10 pockets for 10 days, giving every receipt, ticket, note, and random piece of travel junk a proper place to land until I can sit down and journal without pressure. No more loose bits falling out, getting lost, or being shoved into the wrong page.
The pages are hand sewn for the binding, making it sturdy yet flexible. It can be slipped into a Traveler’s Notebook as an insert, or you can bring it along as is, depending on how you like to travel and journal.
This project is my way of accepting that journaling doesn’t have to be perfect, or immediate. Sometimes memory keeping starts with pockets, and the stories come later.
If you liked the collection I used for this TN, you can check it out at Traci Reed's website. It's called Wander and Wonder, just so perfect for all your traveling crafting.
This TN is so nice sis! 😍😍😍 Love the story how it came to life 😊❤️
ReplyDeleteEureka! This is a good idea and I will make one for myself. I love collecting travel souvenirs/memorabilia but it ends up inserted everywhere and I only find it every time I do general cleanings which happens only about twice a year. Now I will make one but not as nice as yours. I'll probably get 1 big scrapbook or notebook and put all my travel souvenirs on it. It's just sad that I can't put the seashells and pebbles I bring home from the beach I visit.
ReplyDeleteStarting this project this year and can't wait to insert memorabilia for our Indonesia trip this coming September.
-aMOMymous