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    Home » Crafts

    DIY Kids Summer Journal & Free Printable

    Updated: Jun 6, 2021 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 9 Comments

    kids composition notebook with map cover on wood table

    Journaling is a great way for kids to keep their writing skills up over summer break or on a vacation. Help encourage them to write daily by DIY’ing a cute journal using a simple composition notebook!

    kids composition notebook with map cover on wood table

    I find it very very easy to slip into a lazy routine during the summer. It seems like we always start out the summer  with good intentions with schedules, and reading times and chores, but by August we’re just laying around the house all day.

    Table of Contents
    • Why A Summer Journal?
    • About the Journal
    • Supplies
    • Directions

    Why A Summer Journal?

    One thing that I devised to help avoid this is to have my kids keep summer journals.  We designate a time every day to sit down and write about what’s going on. If we’ve been somewhere fun (like to the movies)

    I have my kids glue their ticket stubs into the journal too. That way, at the end of the summer, they have a fun memory of all the things we did, and it also helps them keep up their writing skills over the summer. I also love to do the same thing with my kids when we go on family vacations.

    DIY Summer Journal and Free "Adventure is Out There" Printable on polkadotchair.com

    About the Journal

    Being a big fan of the movie UP, I decided to borrow a little bit of inspiration from Disney this year for our annual summer journals. I made an “Adventure is Out There” printable for the journal’s front (You can download it for free on my blog, click here).  

    Keeping with that same theme, I also covered the front of the journal with an old map!  If you’re headed somewhere fun for a summer vacation, you could use the map from the place you will visit.

    Cute ideas for summer journals for kids. Would be great for road trips!

    Supplies

    Want to make one? Here’s what you’ll need:

    DIY Summer Journal and Free "Adventure is Out There" Printable on polkadotchair.com
    • Composition Notebook
    • Glue Stick
    • A map at least as big as your notebook
    • an Exacto knife
    • Washi Tape
    • Free Printable Title (download here)
    DIY Summer Journal and Free "Adventure is Out There" Printable on polkadotchair.com

    Directions

    Print and cut out the title for the notebook. I put two on a page for you.

    Next, loosely cut your map about 2″ bigger than the front of your notebook. On the left side of the map, use a straight edge to get a straight, clean cut.

    DIY Summer Journal and Free "Adventure is Out There" Printable on polkadotchair.com

    With your glue stick, apply glue to the back of the map generously.  Glue the map to the front of the notebook with the straight edge you cut on the map flush with the notebook’s spine. Rub the map well to distribute the glue.

    DIY Summer Journal and Free "Adventure is Out There" Printable on polkadotchair.com

    Flip the notebook over and, using an Exacto knife and a cutting mat, cut the map flush with the edge of the notebook. Depending on the age of your kids, you may want to do this step for them. My 12-year-olds can be trusted with an Exacto knife, but double-check before letting your kids use one.

    DIY Summer Journal and Free "Adventure is Out There" Printable on polkadotchair.com

    Use a bit of washi tape to cover the edge of the map next to the spine of the notebook.

    Repeat for the back cover of the notebook. The last step is to glue the title to the front of the book.

    That’s it! Now all you’ve got to do is convince your kids to write in it!

    This post first appeared on Skip to My Lou as a part of their Fun Crafts for Kids Series.

    kids composition notebook with map cover on wood table

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heather says

      June 22, 2014 at 5:50 pm

      Thanks for the post. I need to make one of these for me. I think I have all the supplies even.

      Reply
    2. cherie says

      June 24, 2014 at 4:22 am

      These are absolutely adorable!!! The perfect gift idea that I have been dreaming to give my nieces that graduated from high school and about to start college:) Would it be possible to print them without the “summer 2014” written on them? Sure love all of your amazing talent!!
      Thanks so much for sharing!
      Cherie

      Reply
    3. Stephanie says

      July 05, 2014 at 10:36 pm

      Hello, I think that I would use modge podge or even clear contact paper to apply the cover to the book. Just a thought 🙂

      Reply
    4. Tara Harrison says

      March 27, 2015 at 2:28 pm

      Are you planning on making a new “Adventure is out there” for 2015? I would love to use this with my kiddos!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        April 06, 2015 at 12:22 pm

        Yes!!
        It’s on my “to do” list!

        Reply
    5. Jenn says

      April 05, 2016 at 4:33 pm

      Super cute idea! I have to make one.

      Reply

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    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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