Soul Writing and Scrapbooking Journal
Create a personal "soul writing" and scrapbooking journal by decorating pages, writing feelings, adding photos, and assembling keepsakes creatively and safely.
Step-by-step guide to create a Soul Writing and Scrapbooking Journal
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Step 1
Gather all your materials and place them on a clear table so everything is easy to reach.
Step 2
Pick a notebook or a stack of pages and lay it flat to make your journal.
Step 3
Decorate the cover with drawings stickers or tape to show your personality.
Step 4
Write your name on the inside cover so everyone knows this journal is yours.
Step 5
Write today’s date at the top of the first page to mark when you began.
Step 6
Write a short soul writing paragraph about how you feel right now for about five minutes.
Step 7
Pick one word that best describes your feelings right now and write it in big letters.
Step 8
Choose a photo or a flat keepsake that matches that feeling.
Step 9
Attach the photo or keepsake to the page using glue or tape.
Step 10
Write a one sentence caption that explains why this photo or keepsake matters to you.
Step 11
Glue a small envelope to the page to make a pocket for extra keepsakes.
Step 12
Decorate the page with stickers or drawings around the photo and pocket to make it bright and fun.
Step 13
Write one short promise or hope to your future self at the bottom of the page.
Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have glue, photos, or stickers?
If you don't have glue, photos, or stickers, use clear tape or a glue stick to attach magazine cutouts or printed phone pictures for the "Attach the photo or keepsake" step, and decorate the cover with colored paper or fabric scraps instead of stickers.
My photo or envelope won't stick well—what should I do?
If your photo or the small envelope won't stick when you "Attach the photo or keepsake" or "Glue a small envelope to the page," press glue around all edges, reinforce corners with clear tape, and weigh the page under a heavy book until it dries to keep everything flat.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For preschoolers, replace the five-minute "soul writing paragraph" with a two-minute drawing and have an adult write the name/date/caption, while older kids can write for ten minutes, choose more meaningful keepsakes, and try layered scrapbooking techniques when decorating the cover and page.
How can we make the journal more special or keep it growing over time?
To enhance the journal, add numbered pages, attach extra pockets or the glued envelope for future keepsakes, include a sealed "future self" note under the one-sentence promise, and personalize the cover with photo collages, washi tape, or sequins to create an evolving memory book.
Watch videos on how to create a Soul Writing and Scrapbooking Journal
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HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN Journal EASY start to finish scrapbook papers junk mixed media
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Facts about journaling and scrapbooking for kids
✍️ Spending 10–20 minutes writing about your feelings can help you feel calmer and think more clearly — journaling is a powerful emotional tool.
📖 Famous personal writings like Anne Frank's diary and Marcus Aurelius's Meditations started as private reflections that later became important books.
🌸 In the Victorian era, scrapbooks often included pressed flowers, calling cards, and handwritten notes — they were little memory museums.
📔 People have kept private journals and "commonplace books" since the 15th century — they're the ancestors of modern scrapbooks and diaries.
📸 To keep photos and keepsakes safe for years, use acid-free paper, photo corners, and archival tape instead of ordinary glue.
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