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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
1h00

Make You Own Smash Style Notebook
I love the idea of Smash Books, but can't ever commit to buy one of their expensive starter books.
If you haven't seen Smash Books yet, here is the link to their site
http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/kandcompany/productlist.htm?bid=1696
They are a more interactive journal/scrapbook. You can write in them, glue in bit of found objects, or store post cards in the envelopes, even cut out pictures from you favorite magazines to remember a great idea.
They always have fun embellishments and pens, so this is my homemade version with things I already had on hand. You can make one to and start SMASHING!

Posted by Princess Pam-attitude from Pocatello, Idaho, United States • Published See Princess Pam-attitude 's 322 projects »
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  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 1
    Step 1

    Start with you cover first of course.
    I decided to cover mine with purple scrapbook paper, then wrap some washi paper around the corners, both to help keep the thick paper on the cover and to just look cool.
    If you don't have washi tape, you can glue on some strips of fun scrapbook paper, or even colored tissue paper. Maybe personalize the front with some stamps, stickers, or your name.
    I also choose this lime green pen to go with it, because I just really like the color :)

  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 2
    Step 2

    Now on to your first actual page-
    The idea here is to just get some fun paper and cover every few pages with something different. You dont need to have it all matchy or perfect. Just go with what you feel from page to page.

    On the left you can see where the washi tape from the front wraps around to the inside, and clipped to the cover using a binder clip is a bunch of post-it notes, I trimmed with scrap-booking scissors to be little page markers and such.

    On the right I cover the whole first page with black paper, then added a scrap or purple attached with a fun star paperclip.

  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 3
    Step 3

    Here is what I did for some of the other pages-

    I just wrapped along the spine with some washi tape on one, then cut out some big tag shapes from scrapbook paper and glued them in on some pages, other pages I didn't glue them.

  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 4
    Step 4

    Here is another page i just covered with blue scrapbook paper, but I trimmed the right side of the paper with a cool scissor design. Then added another star paperclip.

  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 5
    Step 5

    This one is the same as before, just a big purple tag cut out. But I also made my own cute paper clip here. I took a regular paper clip, and cut a skinny piece of washi tape to fold over the top of the clip, then I trimmed the tail to look cute.

    You could make your own like this paper clip with washi tape, ribbon, embroidery thread, or yarn!

  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 6
    Step 6

    On the inside of the back cover I made a little pocket with some more purple paper, added a few little bits of trimmed washi tape, and then I bought some Smash Book stickers on sale at the craft store, they say things like I NEED, I WANT, BUY, MAKE, BAKE.
    Of course you could easily make your own with whatever words you wanted on them too.

  • How to decorate an altered journal. Mini Smash Book - Step 7
    Step 7

    Lastly, here are some great Pinterest Boards to help get you inspired :)

    http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=smash%20book

    http://pinterest.com/m24gm28/smash-book/

    http://pinterest.com/a2boymom/smash-books/

    http://pinterest.com/diamondlil2012/smash-books/

    ENJOY!

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Comments

Kin Dragon
Kin Dragon · Denton, Texas, US · 745 projects
I love the star paper clips! Where did you get them? And if you made them; how? I want some now! LolLove
Reply
Daisy Setzer
Daisy Setzer · Lisse, Zuid-Holland, NL
This is so awesome. I made 2 Travel Journals. I write everything in it. Thank you for the tip!
Reply
Cupcake_Warrior =)
Cupcake_Warrior =) · 82 projects
This is such a cute idea! ^-^
Reply

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