10 Ways to Get Started with a Traveler's Notebook

Interested in Traveler's Notebooks but not sure where to start? Look no further, because the teachers at Big Picture Classes have compiled ten ideas of ways to get started with Traveler's Notebooks. Start with the smaller version and see what the passport-sized TN is all about with Nadia Anzi in Discovering the Passport Traveler's Notebook. Use the scrapbooking supplies and designs you know and love with Nathalie DeSousa in Traveler's Notebooks for Scrapbookers. Or get messy and add some mixed media with Leigh Odynski in 5 Easy Art Ideas for Traveler's Notebooks. TNs are so versatile and can be adapted to any project you want to create. Get started documenting, creating, and planning in a TN with BPC teachers today!

Start small. 

Discovering the Passport Traveler's Notebook, Nadia Azni

I’ll be showing you just how versatile and portable this TN size is for your everyday and travel needs. Don’t be fooled by its tiny size because most of what you’re able to do in a regular TN will be translatable to its baby brother. We’ll go through planning your days to the various ways you can scrapbook and document your memories. We’ll see the benefits of using a passport-sized TN for travels and tie it all up with the many uses it has in everyday life.

Add mixed media. 

Mixed Media Traveler's Notebook, Femke Kokke

As time goes by, more people are using Traveler's Notebooks in creative ways. There are people that doodle or paint in their notebooks. I use mine as a smaller version of a scrapbook. I like to use this format for smaller projects, such as a vacation or a topic I might normally record in a mini album—but also just for fun as another format to create small scrapbooking layouts in. This smaller format is also a great place to experiment with mixed media! And that's what this class is all about.

Document on the go. 

Traveler's Notebook | Documenting on the Go, Lisa Andrews

Do you love to travel, but find it difficult to actually document your vacation while traveling? I've struggled with this on vacations in the past, but have come up with a plan that helps me find a balance for documenting and enjoying the moment while on vacation. In this class, I'd love to share my tips, tricks, and ideas for how to create a travel album and work on it while on the go.

Use your scrapbooking supplies and designs. 

Traveler's Notebooks for Scrapbookers, Nathalie DeSousa

Traveler's Notebooks, to me, are collections of small scrapbook pages that tell stories through journaling, art, and pictures. The small format makes it an ideal place that holds my memories, but mostly it simplifies the way and time at which each memory is recorded; this allows me to use them in a chronological order throughout the year. In this class, I want to share a few snippets of my most-used ideas when it comes to documenting in Traveler's Notebooks. Most of them come from my love for scrapbooking and use patterned papers, stamps, mixed media, and lots of embellishments to retell the days of my life.

Record a day in your life. 

Just Another Day, Allison Waken

While I am traditionally a photographer, I chose to create this album using only quick, easy photos I captured with my phone. It's been awhile since I've done a mini album about my day and I wanted to show you how quick and easy creating one really can be! My style is a little graphic and simple with fun layers mixed in. Mini albums can be as simple or as involved as you'd like. I really wanted to create something that would make anyone feel like they could accomplish the finished product in a short amount of time. The traveler's sized notebooks are the perfect size for a mini album and depending on the page number, just the right amount of pages to record a day in your life.

Create your own.

Traveler's Notebook Made Easy, Anna Papaioannou

I'm so excited to share this class with you on the benefits and features of the Traveler’s Notebook. Over that past few years, I've seen more and more people use the Traveler’s Notebook. I first discovered the TN about three years ago, and since then I've used them in many ways, such as a daily diary, an art journal, and a travel journal. If you are like me, a paper and notebook lover, I'm sure the TN will suit most of your needs. Because of the lack of access to Traveler's Notebooks and supplies (such as covers and inserts) in Greece, I decided to start making my own, and I soon realized that it was easier, cheaper, and more creative than ordering them online.

Start simple. 

Simple Techniques for Scrapbooking in a Traveler's Notebook, France Wisniewski

I will be sharing how I’ve taken this charming little book and turned it into my primary scrapbook. Yep, you heard me right! I use these books to document my everyday stories and the fresh yet familiar format has breathed new life into my love of memory keeping. In this class, I will share some of my favorite techniques for scrapbooking in a TN. I will show you that this wonderful little book can be a great way for longtime scrapbookers to be creative and productive with less supplies and less pressure. It is also a simple, straightforward way for those new to this hobby to embrace memory keeping without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. I’ve never known someone that didn’t fall in love with the possibilities of a new notebook. So let’s try scrapbooking in one!

Create art. 

5 Easy Art Ideas for Traveler's Notebooks, Leigh Odynski

You don't have to be a master artist to use these creative ideas to dress up your notebook! You'll learn ideas for creating faux watercolor looks, tips and tricks for working with die-cuts, stickers and paper, and creative ways to use the stamps in your stash.

Think small. 

Scrap Small, Nina Christensen

I'm going to teach you to scrap small and create a "traveler's scrapbook." You can get all the satisfaction of full-sized scrapbooking without it taking up as much space. You can also conquer your mini album fear because this is one you can actually complete!

Start with the basics.

Traveler's Notebook Basics, Marie Lottermoser

So, just what is a traveler’s notebook, you ask? At its most basic, it's a blank notebook set inside an outside cover, held together with an elastic band. Using a variety of refill pages and accessories, you can customize it to fit your lifestyle. Don’t let the name "traveler’s notebook" limit you on just using it for travel. These notebooks are truly a blank slate that can be used for so much more. From a planner to an art journal, the possibilities are endless. I started using a traveler’s notebook in 2014 as a monthly diary, and it now goes everywhere with me… even to the grocery store! These notebooks are more than just a place to store memories; they're an extension of your daily life.

Are you ready to start creating in Traveler's Notebooks? Get started today in these ten fun classes! Remember, as a member of Big Picture Classes, you get access to our entire library of classes. Sign up now and start exploring!

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