Road Scholar: Travel Journal

Make sure that the binding of the book is secure. If not, drizzle some glue down the spine and press binding firmly against a table to set.

Using a book page as a guide, measure to get your pocket size: ½ inch from each of the sides and half the page length. Cut out 25 from the vellum and set aside. For the text boxes, measure your book page less ½ inch all the way around. Cut out 25 and set aside.

On the inside cover of the book, write the title of your grand adventure.

On the following page, write out your itinerary. If you’re being spontaneous, add to it as you go along.

Now to make the pocket pages. On the next right-hand page, tack on one of the small vellum pieces. Spread three edges of the back of the piece with glue, leaving the top open and pocket-like; stick it onto the bottom half of the page. Then, using four brads, clasp the four corners of the pocket and secure. (If your book pages are thin, stick two pages together using the brads.) Repeat step for pockets 2-25, spacing them throughout the rest of the book as desired. 

Make text boxes with the large vellum pieces. On each left-hand page that faces a pocket, center a piece of vellum and glue it to the page. The metallic color will obscure the book text just enough that you will be able to legibly write notes.

Tie the book closed with leather lace or ribbon, and hit the road. Just make sure you have a pen.

*If your book has more pages than you’re going to need, discard a few pages using your X-Acto knife and a straightedge. (I know, I feel weird about it too.) Remove pages sporadically, as opposed to one big chunk. Or leave them in there and consider them part of your journey.