Have you heard of Wreck This Journal?  It’s a super awesome book by Keri Smith – on each page, there is a different prompt to “wreck” the page, and by the time you finish all the pages (which could take anywhere from a month to years, depending on how dedicated you are to it), your book will look *nothing* like it did when you bought it fresh from the store!  My friend Amber introduced me to the book – she bought a full sized one and showed it to me over coffee one day… a few days later, I went out and bought myself the pocket sized travel journal (called Wreck This Journal Everywhere) for my trip to Newfoundland.

One day, Amber was upset because she spilled a full cup of tea all over her journal (and even though it’s called “wreck” this journal, I can definitely empathize with not wanting to actually destroy the entire thing).  So,  I decided to make her a personalized journal, to cheer her up.

The first thing I did was go out and buy a plain notebook – I found a set of 3 hardcover, pocket sized notebooks with a plain white cover and plain white paper inside in the dollar section at Target, and they seemed perfect for the task at hand!  I made the cover using coordinating scrapbook paper, and included a little pocket, with a matching bookmark that slid right inside.

The next thing I did was to think up different page ideas and ways for Amber to wreck her new journal.  In the exact middle of the book, I created an “about me” page:

 

I created different instructions for every page.  Some involved interaction with other people (there’s an “autograph” page and a page where she will have a friend write her a letter), some involved interaction with the environment (think leaf rubbings, gluing in random objects found on your journeys, etc) – but I tried to keep most pages focussed around things that really reminded me of Amber.  One of Amber’s favourite things in the world (and one of my favourite things about her) is her love of music… so of course, there were a few music-oriented pages in her personalized Wreck This Journal:

I used some journal prompt cards from my craft stash (these ones came from a K & Company Smash Pad) and taped them in using washi tape in coordinating colours.  Not all the pages had something taped on the opposite side though, because I wanted to leave some space for doodling and answering the prompts.  I also only taped the top down, so that they can be flipped up and doodled under, if desired.

 

Creating your own wreck this journal is a super fun process, because you can make it really specific to yourself (or your friend!).  Are you a foodie?  Create food-inspired prompts, like listing a random set of ingredients and making a recipe out of them.  Are you into sci-fi?  Create a page where you doodle a monster from space.  The possibilities are endless!

I do think it’s way more fun to create a journal for a friend (and have them create one for you!) because then the prompts come from someone else and they’re more unexpected!  It’s also a great idea for a quick gift for a birthday, or any day, present.  Will you create one?  What are some of your ideas?