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Anastasiia Tysevych – Czech Republic
Tamara Morton – United Kingdom
Hello, G45ers!
Let's get organized in style with Jim Hankins The Gentleman Crafter! Today on the blog, Jim shares a Travel Journal step by step tutorial complete with printable templates. Travel Journals can be used as planners, mini albums, and notebooks, and are great for gifts. To create this pastel steampunk magic Jim has used our Imagine paper collection but feel free to use any G45 paper collection, or keep it simple and use our ready-made Travel Journal with Notebook Set, either way, it is a win!
Travel Journal and Organizer
Copyright 2019
Things Needed:
Jim's PDF Travel Journal Templates
Printable PDF Step by Step Tutorial
The Beginning-
Use the templates for each of the sections to help make the book. Simply trace the template onto cardstock and use the pieces to make the different elements or sections. Some templates you will need to tape together to form a larger template to trace onto 12 x 12 cardstock.
Let’s start this travel adventure!
Front Interior Envelope –
From cardstock cut a 6 x 7-inch piece. Score the piece with the 7-inch side at the top and across the width at:
½, 1, 1-1/2, 5-1/2, 6 and 6-1/2-inches. Turn the piece counter clockwise and score at 5-1/2-inches.
On the bottom score lines cut up ½-inch on the fourth score line. Next, cut horizontally (Left/Right) across the three ½-inch Score lines. Repeat these same steps for the right side.
Mountain fold the scored left and right sides going down first, then up, and then down again so that the accordion fold is all in the back of the envelope. Repeat for opposite side.
Apply Scor-tape or similar to the topsides of the accordion folds both sides.
Fold the bottom tab up and onto the back of the envelope and apply Scor-Tape or similar to the tab.
Pull up about 1-inch of the long left and right tapes and adhere the bottom tab to the face of them. Push tape back down on the side tapes to keep them sticky and clean.
Set this aside for the moment and we will make the envelope flap.
Cut a 4 x 4-inch piece of cardstock. Score at 2-1/4 and 2-1/2-inches. Optionally round of the front corners of the 2-1/4-inch side.
Apply Scor-tape to the 2-1/4-inch side and fold on the score marks having the taped area be the back.
Pull the tape backing from the envelope and adhere the accordion envelope to the front interior cover about 1/8-inch up from the bottom.
Pull the tape backing from the flap piece and adhere down into the back of the envelope and onto the front interior cover at the top coming down around 1/8-inch. Cover the envelope and flap with patterned paper.
You can use a magnet to close this if you want. I took (2) 1-inch circles from light chipboard and pierced a hole in the center of each. I then placed the circles centered onto the top flap about ¼-inch in from the bottom of the flap and inserted a brad into the center hole folding back the brad legs on the backside. Again, I placed the circle around 2-3/4-inches up from the bottom of the envelope and centered. I pierced a hole through the circle and then through the envelope paper. Last, I placed a brad to secure. I then took some crochet thread and circled it around the circles to close.
Set the front cover piece aside.
The Journal Envelope-
Use the template marked Journal Envelope and cut out. Place the piece on your scoreboard with the rounded corners to the top. Score at ½-inch and again at ¾-inch. On the right side of the piece, score at 7-1/4 and again at 7-1/2-inches.
Turn the piece counterclockwise and score on the left side at 1-1/2 and again at 1-3/4-inch. Now score at 5-3/4 and again at 6-inch.
Apply Scor-Tape or similar to the left and right tabs. Turn the piece over to the backside (No Tape) and fold everything inward on the score lines. Pull tape backing from the tab and align with left side and adhere. Again, fold the larger section on top of the taped edges and adhere.
Fold the top flap segments down to the front side and set aside.
The Journal-
From cardstock cut a 6-3/8 x 7-3/4-inch piece. Place the width along the top edge of the scoreboard and score at 3-3/4-inch and again at 4-inches. Set aside.
From white or lined paper cut around (depends on paper thickness) 16 sheets to 6-3/8 x 7-1/4-inches. Fold the papers together in booklet form making a 3-5/8 x 6-3/8-inch book.
Take the cardstock cover and measure down 1-inch from each end on the center of the ¼-inch scored area and pierce a small hole.
Pull one of the white paper sheets and as we did above pierce holes 1-inch in from each end in the centerfold. Use this piece as a template to pierce the rest.
We will bind the pages to the cover using a needle and thread. Don’t panic just a simple knot. There are some wonderful book binding tools out there with amazing threads and cool bookbinding needles. If you don’t own any of those like me, use some stronger thread like crochet thread or even dental floss and an embroidery needle.
Thread the needle and insert the needle through the bottom hole in the cover and then through the bottom holes in the pages. Come out through the center of the book and then go back out through the top hole through all the layers. Pull the needle out and off. Tie a strong knot. Trim off the excess.
The Photo Fold Out-
Use the template marked Photo Fold Out and cut. With the rounded tab at the top left score the piece at 4-inches. Turn the piece to the right or clockwise and score at 6-1/2-inches.
Find the remaining 3-3/4 x 4-inch rectangular piece. Place the top edge on the scoreboard where it covers 4-inches. Score the piece at 3-1/8-inches.
Apply Scor-Tape or similar to the ½-inch section. Pull the tape backing and adhere to the left bottom where the score line is right at the bottom left edge.
Fold the bottom up to the middle. Fold the tabbed top down onto the bottom. Fold the large right side over on top of the top/bottom pieces.
Find the magnetic tab template and cut. Score the piece in half at 2-inches. On the non-rounded side add Scor-Tape or similar and adhere to middle section on the left side of the Photo Fold Out assembly. Apply a magnet to the inside of the tab to close assembly. Set Aside.
The Sketch Paper Envelope-
Use the template marked Sketch Paper Envelope and cut out. Place the piece on your scoreboard with the rounded flap to the right top and score at 7-1/2 and again at 7-3/4-inch.
Turn the piece counterclockwise where the flap is now in the left top corner of the scoreboard. Score down at 4-inches and again at 4-1/4-inches. Now score the right hand side at 8-1/4 and again at 8-1/2-inches.
Turn the piece Counterclockwise again and score at 8-1/4 and again at 8-1/2-inches.
Apply Scor-Tape or similar to the bottom tab and the right long tab.
Turn the piece over where the rounded corner is on the right side. Fold on all the score lines up and onto the side exposed.
Pull up a corner of the tape backing and adhere the bottom tab to the left tab.
Now, pull all the tape backings, bring the right side over to taped edges gently and align. Set Aside.
The Sketch Paper Holder-
Find the template marked Sketch Paper Holder Bottom and cut out.
Next, cut a strip of cardstock to 3-7/8 x 12-inches. Score the piece with the 12-inch side up against the guard at 5-1/2 and again at 5-3/4-inches. Fold on the score lines.
Set aside.
Using the template piece, score the piece at ½, ¾, 4-5/8 and last at 4-7/8-inch. Turn the piece counterclockwise and score at 3-inches and again at 3-1/4-inches.
Apply Scor-Tape or similar to the three ½-inch scored sections.
Turn the piece over (no tape) and fold on all the score lines in to the center.
As we’ve done before pull up the two left/right corner tapes and pull the bottom tab up and on the left right ends.
Open up the 3-7/8 x 12-inch cover piece with the larger 6-1/4-inch section toward you (bottom). Pull the tape backing on the holder assembly and adhere the holder to the bottom of the strip aligned with the left and right.
The Passport and Card Holder-
From the template marked Passport Holder cut these pieces out.
We will start with the bottom passport pocket first. Place the piece on the scoreboard long side horizontal (left-right) and score at:
½, ¾, 4-1/4 and last at 4-1/2-inches. Turn the piece counterclockwise and score at 3-3/4 and again at 4-inches.
Apply Scor-Tape to the left, right and bottom ½-inch sections.
Turn the piece over to the blank side and fold on all the score lines into the center. As we’ve done previously, adhere the bottom corner to the bottom left and right sides. Set Aside.
Making the magnetic closure…
Cut a 2-1/2 x 5-1/2-inch piece of cardstock. Score down the length at ¾ and again at 1-3/4-inches. Fold on the score lines.
Apply Scor-Tape or similar to the left and right sides. Pull the tape backing and adhere the left and right sides toward the center. Round off the corners on one end.
Next, score the strap at 2-1/2 and again at 2-3/4-inches. On the 2-5/8-inch side apply score tape to the backside. Set Aside.
For the cardholder, we will be making a kind of sandwich of pockets. You will see that you have two pieces of cardstock that look similar. One is 3-3/4 x 4-1/4-inches. This is the first lower piece we will be using. The second has a rounded top right corner and is the same size as the previous piece. This will be the last of the sandwich.
First, apply Scor-tape or similar to the borders (edges) of the straight sided 3-3/4 x 4-1/4-inch piece and the similar sized one-corner rounded piece.
Take the larger 4-1/4 x 6-3/4-inch back sheet (It will have two slits cut from the top and the rounded corner will go to the right top.) and turn it over where the rounded corner is to the top left.
Pull the tape backing from the straight-sided 3-3/4 x 4-1/4-inch piece and adhere the piece just under the first slit on the main sheet.
Again, pull the tape backing on the rounded corner piece and adhere to the very top of the main sheet matching the rounded corner on the left side overlapping the first piece.
Next, apply Scor-Tape or similar to the whole backside of the main page.
Pull the tape backing and adhere the page to the interior back cover of the book.
Perfect!
Cover the front of the main page with it’s matching patterned paper. (Use the same template to cut.) Special Note: In the pictures below I did not do the step above and wished I had! So please follow the above directives. It will make your life so much easier. HA!
Pull the tape backing to the passport pocket we made earlier and adhere to front side of the patterned paper covered page to the bottom. Coming up around a 1/8-inch from the bottom.
To make it easy, place your passport into the passport holder pocket. Pull the tape backing and adhere to the end of the magnetic closure to the main passport page behind the top center of the passport (around 1-3/4-inch from the top center).
Putting the Book Together-
Start by cutting two strips of cardstock to 1 x 6-3/4-inches. Score the piece down it’s length at ½-inch and apply Scor-Tape or similar to each side of the score line.
Pull the one tape backing from the strip and adhere the strip to the front straight side of the front cover. Again, pull the tape backing and place the 1-1/2-inch spine piece on top of the front cover straight side and pull up the strip adhering it to the spine.
Repeat the same steps above for the back cover.
Cover the spine with patterned paper.
Making the Interior Book Hinges-
From cardstock, cut one strip to 1-3/4 x 6-1/2-inches and another to 7/8 x 6-1/2-inches. Score the larger piece ½-inch on each long side. On the narrower 7/8 x 6-1/2-inch piece score at ½-inch.
For the 1-3/4 x6-1/2-inch piece apply Scor-Tape or similar to the two front ½-inch scored sections.
Turn the piece to the backside and apply score tape to the interior ¾-inch section.
For the 7/8 x 6-1/2-inch piece apply Scor-tape to the 3/8-inch section. Turn the piece over and apply score tape to the ½-inch section.
To make this easier, bend the left long side of the larger piece up. Next, bend the narrower piece on it’s score line. Pull the tape backing from the 3/8-inch side and adhere butted up next to the long left side.
Last, bring the right side up forming three upright fins.
Pull the tape backing from the backside of the fin piece assembly and adhere onto top of interior spine centered.
Now let’s cover the different elements with patterned paper. Using a ruler, measure and cut the various different papers for each of the elements we will insert into the book.
For some reason, I started at the back of the book and went to the front. I covered the front of the Sketchbook element and added a magnet closure. I then pulled the tape backing from the right fin and adhered the element onto the fin. Last, I then covered the back of the sketchbook with patterned paper to hide the fin.
I then covered the Sketch Book Paper Holder with patterned paper and inserted into the Sketchbook Holder.
Next up was the Photo Holder. I pulled the tape backing from the middle fin and adhered this element onto the tape front side. I cut several pieces of patterned paper and adhered them to the front and back as well as the magnetic closure.
The last element was the travel journal assembly. I pulled the remaining tape backing from the backside of the front fin and adhered the journal holder to it. I then covered the front, back and flaps with patterned paper. I added a magnetic closure to the front and covered it with one of the stickers from the sticker sheet.
For the travel journal, I cut my favorite image from the collection and adhered it to the front cover. I used the blue butterfly paper for the back.
Finale-
Using the template for the book, cover the front, and spine with patterned paper. Cut a 30-inch length of coordinating ribbon. Adhere the ribbon to the back center of the book with Scor-Tape. Last, cover the backside of the book with it’s patterned paper.
Decorate and embellish the front of the book as you wish. Please keep in mind when adding goodies to the front that when traveling more than likely the book will be tossed into a purse, luggage or satchel so keep the front fairly simple and flat.
Happy Papercrafting!
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