Hellobee

I came across this art journal years ago on Alphamom, and filed the idea away in the back of my mind. A mom of 5-year-old twins spent a couple minutes every night drawing what their family did that day. The journal was meant for her kids to preserve and talk about memories together, and even read as bedtime stories.

It was so simple and beautiful and the idea immediately resonated with me. When Charlie first started getting into art at 2 years old, he didn’t have the fine motor skills to draw well, so he always asked me to draw for him. I knew that I’d never be able to keep up with nightly illustrations like this, but it was something I wanted to revisit when Charlie was old enough to maintain his own journal. Now that he can read and write now and loves drawing, I thought this trip to the Philippines was the perfect year to start a travel journal.

This is the kit I’ve pulled together for him:

1) sketchbook – These sketchbooks are inexpensive and easy to keep open to specific pages since they’re spiral bound. Olive is too young to keep a travel journal, but I think she is a talented artist (maybe moreso than Charlie… shhh don’t tell him!), and I got her a book of her own.

2) Papermate Flair Pens – These are the pens that Charlie uses in his elementary school, so we have this colorful set that’s perfect for journaling.

3) scissors  |  4) erasable color pencils  |  5) pencil sharpener  |  6) Staedtler Mars eraser

7)  pencil box – Any pencil box or pouch will do. I also like these 3-ring pencil pouches because they’re affordable and the kids can easily see what’s inside them.

8) travel stickers – I used to scrapbook in a former lifetime and these little flourishes make pages extra fun.

9) map – Before our trip I’ll print out a map of where we’ll be going.

10) washi tape – You can also use glue dots which are easier to use, but washi tape is prettier to attach things like maps, tickets, etc.

11) waterproof digital camera – I bought Charlie a kids’ digital camera 2 years ago, but I was so disappointed in the picture quality that we never used it much. This year I bought a drop-resistant, waterproof digital camera so I could take pictures and video underwater, and I don’t have to worry about Charlie using it too.

12) Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer – This is a total nice to have, but printing instant pictures and being able to put it in your travel journal is going to be so much fun! This little printer prints 2×3 color pictures using Bluetooth. You don’t have to buy ink because it uses special paper with color crystals embedded in it.

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There are travel journals that you can buy with specific writing prompts, but I like allowing the kids to let their creativity take control. As a former scrapbooker, I’m really looking forward to working on this together!