Scrapbook on the Road

I seriously can't believe I've been home for almost two weeks. Two very busy and crazy weeks! I came back and jumped right into work and school as if we'd never been gone, and it was overwhelming. Tons of homework as we finished up our last two classes and then catching up on stuff from work has been keeping me totally busy. But yes, classes are done... all that's left is our Capstone project (three weeks and a TON of work) and then our banquet and I'm finished with the program. I can't even believe it's so close. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself... but I'm sure I'll find something. At this point I'm not going to miss all the projects, presentations, case studies and homework, but I'm going to miss seeing my friends all the time. I think we'll have to make some plans to do something about that :)

In the meantime, I wanted to post a few shots from my completed scrapbook on the road / travel journal. I'm SO glad that I did this. I'll admit that I was laughed at a little (my insistance on gathering all of my ticket stubs was laughingly accomodated), but everyone seemed to think it was actually pretty cool. I tried to keep up daily, but there were a few times when I just pasted in pictures, business cards, etc... and then waited to do the journaling in the airport and on plane rides. It worked really well, actually, and by the time we landed in Atlanta at the end of the trip, the whole thing was basically done. I just ended up printing up a bunch of 5x7s (the way Ali did in her example) and adding them later to completely finish it. I love it. I need bigger rings, but I'm definitely going to do this again for Peru this fall.

Here's the outside now that's it's packed full of memories and trip goodness :) A little worse for the wear, but it adds character, right?

And another view:

And a selection of the types of things I did on the inside. I gathered ticket stubs, pamphlets, business cards, maps and receipts everywhere. I took lots of Instax pictures and also bought postcards wherever I could for places where we couldn't take indoor pictures - that ended up working really well.

As you can see, I even threw in some pressed flowers in a few places. I also used hotel stationary from each of the four hotels we stayed in... it was a fun addition, and I definitely needed the extra writing space.

It's been so much fun for me to flip through this - and we did so much and were gone so long, I couldn't believe how even when I was still on the trip, looking back at the beginning seemed like so long ago. I don't know how I could have recapped everything if I hadn't done it as we went. This is going to be an awesome treasure and a great help as I document individual things more closely.

Finally, one more photo from Dubai - me riding a camel. So fun.

Now I just need to go through my pictures and start editing and pulling out the ones I need to share with the group. No small task since I took about 1500 or so. Sigh. I'll get there eventually :)

Comments

[Carlene]

That journal is great! You did a wonderful job, I just wish I was that committed myself on trips to take the time out to stick things in the journal, it usually doesn't end up happening until I get home, and then sometimes not even then.

[atanila]

What a great journal! And what an awesome trip!!!

[Holly]

How did you make the cover? I really want to make a scrapbook like this one but I am not sure what to use for the front and back.

[Gwen Lafleur]

Hi Holly, I think you can use whatever you want! I've done these in binders, I've used bound books, and I've done several this way. I used book board just cut down to size (you can get it on Amazon or in art supply stores - not craft stores like Michael's, though,) but you can also use a really heavy chipboard, even cardboard if you're not concerned about the acid (although if you're going to travel with it, it won't hold up as well.) I have a heavy-duty Carl trimmer that I use to cut it to size, but you can just use a ruler and a sturdy x-acto knife. I have a 1/4" Crop-a-Dile hole punch that I use for the holes, then just binder rings from the office supply store.

Hope that helps!

[Holly]

That was very helpful. Thank you!!

[Gwendy]

Sorry if I missed this somewhere - but what supplies did you take on the road with you? Could you maybe post a picture? I'd love to try something like this but worry I would over pack. I'm bad about that. :-/

[Gwen Lafleur]

Hi Gwendy,
This was actually almost 6 years ago and I never took a before picture of the supplies, unfortunately. I had done the Scrapbook on the Road online class with Ali Edwards and bought the kit that went with it and then supplemented it with papers, stamps, and embellishments from my stash that matched where I was going. I made the book ahead of time and had all of the pages in it, and then when I went I just took that along with a small box of supplies - scissors and adhesive, some clips, mini stapler and extra staples, and a cheap 1/4" hole punch from the office supply store (although that thing will get caught at security every time if you carry on your supplies - I did so I could work on the pages in airports and on the planes. No one can ever figure out what it is through the x-ray photos!) I also took mini alphabet stickers, some rubons, and washi tape. Most all of the embellishment was done before I left so that I didn't have to take it with me. Then I just added the 5x7 photos after I got back. If you look under the tag for Scrapbook on the Road, you'll see other posts from other books I made - some of them have before posts with pictures or descriptions of what I take with me. I've streamlined it even more for recent trips. Hope that helps!
Gwen

[Frances]

Great book!!! I did one on my Denver trip, and my daughter and grand daughter gave me their water bottles. they leaked!! I thought some thing was wrong with me ha ha...my bag was gushing. so glad it was water. but it gave the travel journal a worn look character as you call it. Just love it! and wouldn't change a thing! but maybe a plastic bag next time.
enjoy future travels &
Good Journey
Frances