Hello, Wise Owls, Mrs. Francke here, wishing you a happy Wellness Wednesday! I wanted to share an idea I had to help you find ways to show how you are feeling, what you might be thinking about and a project to keep those hands, hearts and brains busy with an artsy/craftsy twist.
Ask a grownup before using any materials and for help with tools like scissors and special tapes or glue. This project could be done with any age, just change the materials or make it super simple depending on how much help grownups can give. The good news is once you make it you will have a place to go to each day to write, draw, glue or create.
Step 1: Materials = Anything recycled or reusable
8 1/2" x 11" sheets of copy paper, drawing paper or notebook paper
Sheet music, dictionary pages, artwork, sketch pages
Any size paper that you want, you will choose a cover to fit the papers inside
Packing tape, duct tape, washi tape or masking tape
Step 2: Building the Journal: Fold and Prep the Paper
Think about how many pages you want your journal to have. Fold any papers you need to in half and begin putting pages inside pages to make your book. Play around with the order until you like what you have.
Step 3: Making the Cover
I chose to use a manila envelope that I saved from the mail and some artwork a friend had sent me. I added washi tape around the edges but you could collage(glue pictures from a magazine or your artwork) or paint it if you wish. The pockets in the envelopes in my journal can be used to hold pictures, drawing supplies, mementos, etc.
Step 4: Putting it all together
Once your cover is ready, tuck your pages inside and begin taping in between each page starting with your front cover. You can use the more colorful pages to add photos to or tape small drawings on top of them.
Step 5: Write, draw, collect, take photos
Make a Calm Collage like Adim, Grade 2
You can find ideas for what to draw or write about in your journal here. Grownups could do a Google search for even more ideas or maybe you will think of things to write on your own.
I hope you enjoyed making your very own journal. I would love to see some photos of you and your journal and how you are spending time using it. They can be emailed to me at suzannef@mpsvt.org. Looking forward to seeing your amazing creative journals very soon!
