Scrapbooking on the Go: TN-tastic Creations

Lindsy Cummings

Earlier this summer, Team Member Alison wrote a few blog posts about taking your scrapbooking beyond the craft room. First she addressed the sometimes-dreaded “P” word (packing!), and then segued into exploring the actual process of documenting from the road using notebooks. In Scrapbooking On The Go – Ideas For Documenting From The Road Alison gave a brief overview of Traveller’s Notebooks (TNs), offered insight as to how she has used them in the past, and shared a few anecdotes from both myself and Misty.

Today, I’m going to expand on the topic of TNs in hopes of inspiring you to think about our craft in a whole new light. Whether you are newbie when it comes to using this form of ‘album’, or a veteran of the craft who has been using notebooks for years, it is always a good reminder that documenting our memories can come in many forms…and sizes. After all, good things come is small packages (speaking from every 4 foot 9 inches of me)!

Small But Mighty

If you’re adventuring, Travellers Notebooks can be your best friend. You can fall into a rabbit hole of sizes and styles available, but there’s really no right or wrong. I’ve tried a lot of varying types over the years and honestly, for me, my choices have often come down to aesthetics or my mood! I used to get a TN subscription that came with the cutest notebooks, I’ve bought handmade TN covers at markets, and sometimes I’ve simply found unique stationery pads in a book shop. One year, I even created digital pages of my adventures using a phone app and ended up using an online site to order a coffee-table style book.

The goal for me has always been to simply document my adventures – usually during the summer or while on Easter Vacay trips with my dad – in a fun & interactive way. Before heading out on my trip I’d grab my latest (and cutest) TN. Then, I’d pack a small coordinating kit with pens, a ruler, stickers, and sometimes stamps. I went through a date-stamp phase (like the ones used to stamp library cards) and would simply use brush markers to “ink” the dates…no ink pads necessary. The key was to pack light, taking only what I’d need. Scrapbooking on the go isn’t meant to be as elaborate as your albums at home. That’s why I think I love the vibe — they are something different.

At the height of my TN creation phase (because I admit, I don’t use them as much anymore) I would make a point of documenting each night before bed. I’m a night owl, so this tended to work for me. There were many-a-night where my parent(s) would already be snoozing and I’d be set up at the hotel room desk – even sometimes the lobby – or our RV kitchen table creating to my heart’s content.

My TNs have served as a sort of travelogue for me, allowing me to share about each day’s cool happenings. I love looking through them to reminisce about past trips. And, my notebooks have saved me SO many times when I’ve gone to journal in my full 12×12 scrapbook albums because I tended to write so much down while the trip was happening. At the end of the day, TNs are another unique way to chronicle our stories…it doesn’t get much better than that!

A few other awesome things I LOVE about TNs are:

1. You can generally fit more than one TN inside a cover (they attach with elastics).

2. You can add cute dangles!

3. There is a lot of space to write/journal.

4. There is photo versatility. You can add photos during your trip with portable printers or leave spaces to add photos once you get home. I’ve done both!

5. It’s easy to add memorabilia such as tickets, maps, coins, postcards, etc.

That Photo Finish

I’ve dabbled with photo techniques throughout the years. Some trips I wouldn’t add photos at all. For a while I was really into using my Instax printer, sending photos directly from my phone to this polaroid-style printer. If we were in the RV I might even take the Selphy (one year my mom and I were both using the device to print on-the-go travel album photos). For a few trips I planned out my photo spots and printed them later, although this takes a level of commitment because you actually have to remember to go back and finish.

Another awesome thing is it’s easy to add flips & flaps to your notebooks. The most common item for me to add is vintage postcards. I love seeking them out from antique shops we visit while on our trip, and it feels like hitting the jackpot if you find one for a location/monument/historic site you’ve actually stopped at! Sometimes I will also glue fold-outs of wine/beer flights to my pages, or attach envelopes where I can tuck in tour tickets or maps.

"Note"able Formatting

When it comes to TNs, there are so many different format styles you can find. There are plain notebooks, ones with grids/dots, and even some with weekly/monthly calendar layouts. I’ve experimented with them all, and wouldn’t say I have a favourite. I tend to adapt the way I document a trip based on the style of format I’ve chosen. With the grid/dot format I tend to mix my storytelling more seamlessly with photos, stickers, and memorabilia items.

For the calendar formats I might have a few more pages of writing (with some sticker adornments) and then follow those pages up with a layout including photos.

Depending on the trip, I have also highlighted somewhat more random things. Often, the format of my notebook has created the inspiration for what I’ve chosen to track or make note of.

Over the years noteables have included:

* Breweries visited, along with fave beers tasted or what I filled my growler with.

* Meals/restaurants

* Golf info (such as the name of the course, tee time, cost, and score)

* Latte flavours tried at fave coffee shops

* Daily weather conditions

* Water tracking

* Daily step counts

* The best thing about the week

* Notable quotes

* Wish/bucket lists

* Unique doughnut flavours bought

Calling All Bookworms

As we head into September – and a new school year for many – the idea of a “fresh start” often takes the wheel. So this month the ScrapHappy Team plans to share with you our takes, tips, tricks, and reflections on new beginnings and evaluating goals. Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Do you participate in One Little Word? Are there other annual projects you think about, or still things you hope to accomplish? Have you had to pivot or set new expectations? How is it all going?

Traveller’s Notebooks lend themselves perfectly to this type of reflective practice. For me, this time of year often means seeking life-work balance (I’m a teacher starting a new school year, myself). I’m also a self-proclaimed book nerd. Therefore, I decided to end today’s post with some reading journal inspiration.

For the past few years I have used a TN to track and document various aspects of my reading. Sometimes this has included reading goals (such as documenting how many books I’ve read during the year) or completing book challenges. Other times it has included invented star-rating systems and book brackets (probably the closest thing to a sports bracket I’ll ever get). My book journaling is a completely for-fun endeavour because, let’s be honest, if any form of crafting is a chore it’s not worth doing.

If you’re looking to dabble in book journaling, consider:

Setting and tracking a yearly “books read” total
Colouring bookshelf printables to showcase each book you’ve read
Building your own star rating system
Designing a TBR (to be read) list
Tracking books read by month
Creating reading goals
Drafting a book bracket
Completing book challenges
Drawing genre charts/graphs
Listing books by series, and then tracking progress you make with each one
Noting fun facts about books or reading trends
Incorporating bookish quotes
Participating in a read-a-thon with book buddies
Showcasing book covers (put in rainbow order for maximum effect)

Pocket-Sized Possibilities

Whether you’re jotting down coffee orders, celebrating bookish milestones, or turning ticket stubs into tiny works of art, consider your TN to be the perfect sidekick for capturing life as it happens. Think of it as a portable playground that’s small enough to toss in your bag, but big enough to hold your wild ideas and bursts of inspiration. Don’t worry about finding that “perfect moment” to document. Just pick up a cute notebook (any size, any style!), flip it open, and jump into a world of storytelling possibilities. After all, creativity doesn’t take vacations…but your TN sure loves to travel.

Until next time…stay fun & fantabulous, scrappers!