by Lauren Rogoff

A wonderful way to inspire anyone to write in a notebook or journal is to make the book itself inspirational. When looking at your notebook makes you smile, you’re more likely to keep it close at hand. What better way to encourage your niece or nephew to keep a journal than to spend a fun afternoon decorating one together?  The materials needed to decorate an individualized book are simple: plain notebooks (you should make one as well to join in on the fun!), glue, stickers, photos, construction paper, and markers.  Glitter is optional, but encouraged! You could also take a journey to a craft store to get your niece or nephew in on the fun of choosing supplies.

Some ideas for decorating your notebooks:

1.  If you have scraps of different types of colorful or patterned paper, shape it into squares of varying sizes and glue them onto the notebook in overlapping layers with thin layers of Elmer’s glue.  This cover looks fun and sophisticated.

2.  If you have magazines on hand, let your niece or nephew cut out fun or inspiring images to make the cover of their journal a ‘mood board’ of sorts.  You could also print pictures of their favorite characters, or use stickers.  This type of cover would be great with plenty of glitter, and will make for a colorful, inspirational journal.

3.  You can use marble notebooks and have your niece or nephew decorate them to use for various school subjects. A science book can use nature-themed stickers, one for English class might have the alphabet exploding in a rainbow of colors, social studies could be decorated with maps – there are endless possibilities.

4.  If you have a family photograph you’re willing to sacrifice, or that you have gotten copied for the occasion, you could teach your niece or nephew how to cut an old-fashioned ‘frame’ out of construction paper.  This might inspire your niece or nephew to turn the notebook into a scrapbook, and you can even begin it with him or her, filling the first few pages with memories.

If you have used glue on your notebook, make sure to stack some books or another flat, heavy object on it as it dries, so the cover doesn’t curl up.  This relatively simple and easy project is not only a fun bonding experience, but will hopefully encourage your niece or nephew to do more writing the old fashioned way - without using a keyboard!

Photo: Phaitoon
Published: March 18, 2012