Thursday, October 18, 2018

Teresa Collins Travel Journal & Organizer Plus Giveaway


Today's project is a collaboration between Xyron and Teresa Collins. Teresa Collins sent each of the Xyron design team members a whole package of goodies, including papers, ephemera, brads, and paper clips. My package included some travel and photography themed items plus a 6x8 inch journal. I decided to make a travel organizer. Note: if you would like to see exactly what I received, I posted a photo on Instagram.

My husband and I love to travel. We try to take one long vacation out of the country at least every couple years. I do all the planning myself and usually accumulate a stack of papers that includes a calendar itinerary, hotel & airline confirmations, possibly a few trail maps, and other bits of information. I always keep physical copies in addition to copies on my phone and iPad or computer - it has been vital in a few situations (such as on the way back from Germany when they lost our airline reservations; having the printed copies helped us get seats on the flight back home). This organizer also includes a journal for writing down the events and adventures during the trip. I've kept travel journals since my first trip to Australia in 1987. It's so much fun to read them later, bringing back all the memories, plus few lessons learned along the way.


The base of this project is a Smead Slash-style File Jacket. Alternatively, you could use a manila file folder with some modifications. The above photo shows the file jacket and some of my actual trip papers from an Ireland trip in 2012; the below photo shows the finished project.


Giveaway - CLOSED You have until Sunday evening (21OCT18) to leave a comment below. One winner will be chosen at random from these comments. The winner will receive a brand new Teresa Collins Mega Runner, like the one featured in this post. I will announce the winner Monday morning (22OCT18) here on the blog. Note: although I will try to contact the winner through Blogger, if you do not have a public email address, I will not be able to do so, thus I highly recommend checking back here on Monday to see if you have won.

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Creating the Organizer and Journal

1. Cut the following cardstock to the sizes indicated, using the 1/4 or 1/2 inch Corner Chomper where noted.

Black cardstock: 9 1/2 x 11 3/8 inches, round top two corners at 1/2 inch; 9
1/2 inches wide - place inside slash pocket, center it, trace angle with pencil, cut along line, trim 1/4 inch off bottom; 4 1/2 x 7 inches; 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches; 1 1/2 x 7 inches*; 2 pieces 1 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches*
Thin stripe cardstock (Teresa Collins Item SS1003): 9 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches, round top two corners at 1/2 inch
Dots (Teresa Collins Item SS1006): two strips 1 1/4 x 7 3/4 inches - round one on left side top and bottom with 1/4 inch and right side top and bottom on other, leaving other sides squared; 9 1/4 inch wide - line up with black angled piece on bottom, center it, trace angle, cut along line, trim 1/4 inch off bottom
Inspiration Quotes (beige backside, Teresa Collins Item SS1001): 4 1/4 x 6 3/4 inches; 4 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches - trim a small amount off one side so it's a tiny bit smaller than 4 1/4 inches wide; 5x7 inches - trim a small amount off so it's just a bit smaller than 7 inches wide
Kraft grid 4x4 inch paper (Photo Paper Pad SGJ216): cut off 1/2 inch from bottom so it will be 3 1/2 x 4 inches


2. Score the indicated* black cardstock pieces from step 1 at 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch using a teflon bone folder and score board. Fold mountain, valley, mountain (it will look like an M on the short side). These will be the gussets for the journal pocket. Score the 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inch piece of black cardstock on the sides and bottom (looking at it horizontally) at 1/2 inch each; trim corners at an angle where the score marks meet at the bottom and trim the top sides angled down a bit, see photo above.

3. Use a 1 3/4 inch circle punch, die, or die cutting machine to cut two black cardstock circles as mats for the two globe ephemera pieces.


4. Run pieces the following through the 9" Creative Station (see photos above and below - not all pieces are pictured though): stripe, dot (two strips and angled pieces), beige (all 3), grid, black circles; from Ephemera (WAN116): both globes, gold foil star, gold foil circle with crosses, gold foil striped strip, black compass rose, gold foil camera, black destination arrow, both airplanes, post card/carte postale, and finally "WANDER", "adventure" and "travel" words.

Note: the stripe and dot papers may not get completely covered - just use the Mega Runner down the sides that may be missing adhesive. You will also use the Mega Runner on the largest black and angled black pieces - although the largest liner for the folder will have less on the bottom to make it easier to place, see below before adding adhesive to these.


5. Adhere striped piece to largest black. To do this, rub front around edges with finger, peel away clear cellophane, flip over, then peel away backing sheet - this makes it less likely to warp the paper. Keep the backing sheets. Trim a small amount off bottom edge, like 1/16 inch, to account for folder thickness. Hint: use adhesive remover to remove any excess adhesive whenever attaching items. Use Mega Runner to put adhesive mostly at the top and a *little* on the bottom, leaving most of the bottom half without adhesive (you don't want much on the bottom or it will be difficult to get into folder). Slide into folder keeping paper against the inside front of the folder, lining up sides and top - it should go all the way to the bottom. Once placed, rub firmly to stick down. Adhere dot piece to angled black. Use Mega Runner to add adhesive to back; stick to front of file folder, lining up all edges.


6. See photo above. To create gusseted pocket, remove cellophane from front of 5x7 inch beige piece. Without removing backing, trim one of the long side's backing to be flush with paper - use a decorative edge punch along what will now be the top. Flip to back side. Starting with side edges, peel backing away about 3/4 inch. Take one of the side gussets (shorter black scored pieces) and, lining up bottom edges with the middle fold downward (two mountain folds up), adhere piece up to and lining up with first fold. After doing the two sides, repeat with the longer bottom gusset. Flip over. Optional: reenforce with staples along bottom and sides - flat part of staple inside pocket, beige side. Fold bottom piece up flat to apply adhesive on back; flip side pieces out. Use one of the waste liner sheets under the bottom flap; use Mega Runner to add adhesive along the outside black strip up to the outer fold (do not get any beyond the fold line). Temporarily flip the bottom piece back out (I recommend doing this on a craft sheet or putting another liner under it) and repeat on side flaps.

Now to add the front of the pocket... add 4 1/4 x 6 3/4 inch beige piece to 4 1/2 x 7 inch black rectangle - the black will be the inside of the pocket, the beige will be the front. Flip over and add this rectangle under bottom adhesive on long gusset piece, aligning on long side up to the first fold (black side of rectangle gets adhered). Trim a very small amount off bottom of adhesive side gussets, up to fold line, where rectangle will meet when flipped up to give it room to come up; fold bottom gusset in, keeping rectangle out flat for a moment, fold side flaps in along gussets then carefully adhere sides of black rectangle starting at bottom and working up one side, then the other. Once pocket has been assembled, peel off backing, add adhesive with Mega Runner to black edges, and stick pocket to front of folder as shown.

7. Adhere globes to black circles. Adhere compass rose to gold foil star. Adhere grid paper to front of black pocket front piece (4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inch) - the one that has flaps and corners cut at angles. On 4 1/4 x 4 1/2 inch beige piece, cut backing paper flush with top side (this will be portrait orientation so short edges at top and bottom). Use decorative edge punch across top. Flip and peel away about 3/4 inch from bottom. Adhere bottom flap of black pocket (grid facing up), lining up with fold along bottom edge of beige piece (before pressing down, fold up pocket and be sure sides line up along edges as well). Peel away side backing papers and adhere side flaps. Use Mega Runner to add adhesive along back flaps before adhering to front of striped journal as shown.

8. Punch hole in front journal cover for brad closure (see top right of pocket); insert postage registration brad as shown, spreading tines behind cover. Adhere dot strip with left rounded corners to inside cover over brad, lining up with edge of journal. Cut about 5 inches of black/white twine. Use liquid glue to adhere one end inside back cover of journal near edge, where center of brad on front is located (may want to mark with pencil first). While it dries, add a small strip of black ribbon to top of white paperclip using liquid glue to hold it in place. Set aside to dry. Add dot strip with right rounded corners to back cover, over glued twine end, lining up with edge, leaving most of the twine hanging loose.


9. To create the journal bookmark, find the post card/carte postale and graphic travel words in black from ephemera pack. Cut about 4 inches of black ribbon, fold in half, and glue to back top center of graphic travel words ephemera. Peel off backing on post card/carte postale; line up and adhere to back of graphic travel words ephemera, i.e. they will be back to back sandwiching ribbon. Add bookmark to journal. Take loose end of twine around to front of journal and wrap around brad as a closure.

10. As shown in photo above, adhere "WANDER", gold foil globe, and black plane to top right of striped folder area. As shown in photo below, adhere black destination arrow, "adventure" word, black globe, foil plane, and camera to front gusseted pocket. (Note: see first photo, at top of this post, of everything laid out.) Adhere compass rose to top right of journal cover; adhere gold foil circle with crosses, gold/white striped strip, and "travel" word to front journal pocket. In 4x4 paper pad, find black striped paper and graph paper (2 of each) - tear out and line up. Add ephemera "FIELD NOTES" to front and paper clip together - insert in journal pocket. Insert journal in gusseted pocket. Add travel papers to slanted pocket. Enjoy!


Supplies
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7 comments:

  1. Wonderful planner, thanks for sharing. I keep seeing the fun things the Xyron runner does but haven't got one yet. Hopefully I will win one.

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  2. Oh my goodness I thought more people would have left comments! Your planner is so cute! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Oh my I love this!! Such a great idea!!

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  4. Nice products - will have to try soon.

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  5. I love this project, I try to stay organized when I travel but something always ends up in another pocket. I have the Xyron station but I do need the runner and the adhesive remover. I can't wait to tackle this project!

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  6. Awesome way to keep track of your travel plans (or almost any paper). I really like how you put this together with the links and all too.

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