How to Use a Traveler’s Notebook

Have you ever used a traveler’s notebook as part of your creative practice? Today we will be discussing how to use a traveler’s notebook to elevate your creative practice.

What is a Traveler’s Notebook?

The Midori style traveler notebook that kicked off the craze started in 2005, but the concept of a traveler’s notebook or journal has been around for a long time. They were used for taking notes and observations when people were traveling.

A traveler’s journal includes a notebook cover that has an elastic strung through the middle to hold a notebook, or notebooks in place. The covers can be made of a variety of materials, including leather, canvas, or cloth. With these elastics, a variety of notebooks can be inserted into the notebook cover and can be easily removed or replaced.

Notebook Inserts

Traveler's Notebook Adding Signature to Notebook

The notebook inserts can have much variation from brand to brand. These notebooks (also known as signatures) are made by cutting, folding, and trimming paper. A coversheet can be added, and the signature is then stapled or sewn to create an insert for a traveler’s journal.

These signatures come in a large range of options and sizes. These include a range of plain paper, ruled paper and specialty paper. There are also options for calendar inserts, pockets and other things that can be added to a traveler’s notebook.

Traveler’s Notebook Closure

Traveler’s notebooks often comes with an elastic that wraps around the book to secure it shut. This is a preferred option as over time the notebook can get bulky. This keeps the book tidy and loose papers within the journal from slipping out.

Traveler’s Notebook Sizes

Different Sizes of Traveler's Journals Available through Hop-A-Long Studio

Traveler’s notebooks come in many shapes and sizes. It is important to be aware of this when buying signatures for your book. Depending on the brand, many books can have similar sizing, but the sizing is not universal. My favorite sizes for these books are 7.75” by 5”, 6” by 4.75” and 8” by 6.”

How to Use these In Your Creative Practice

Traveler's Notebook with Gelli Printing and Scrapbooking

So how can you use a traveler’s notebook in your creative practice? There are a variety of ways that I use these notebooks to create art and record my daily thoughts.

Small Scrapbook

Try using your traveler’s notebook as a small scrapbook. You can add photos, stamps, ephemera, and other items that you find in your travels and daily life. What makes the traveler’s journal so useful for scrapbooking is that the format is smaller than an average journal or scrapbooking layout. This makes it quicker, easier and a little less formal. The traveler’s notebook is perfect for sharing the stories and thoughts that we experience throughout our day.

Art Journal

Your traveler’s notebook can be a great option for an art journal. Be aware of the thickness of the paper in your notebook. Depending on the weight of the paper, this will affect what materials you can use in your art journal. I use a 32lb smooth writing paper in my journal, which takes paint well. I generally use heavy body paints when working in my notebooks to ensure that it does not buckle or warp the paper.

Another option is gluing Gelli prints or other art prints into your journal. This will make the pages and the notebook thicker but will also allow you to use heavier mediums in your notebook on top of the prints.

Journal or General Notebook

The traveler’s notebook is a great option for use as a journal or general notebook. These individual signatures can be used as separate notebooks, which allows you to have several notebooks of different topics in the same traveler’s journal.

Sketching/ Calligraphy

Using Traveler's Notebooks for Sketching and Calligraphy

By using a traveler’s notebook as a sketchbook or a place to practice calligraphy this is a great way to always have a sketchbook with you. Be sure to use a high quality, smooth paper in your notebook for sketching. Choosing a paper that will take a variety of inks, and that will not bleed through or damage your pens is important to consider when choosing a signature or notebook insert.

Where to Purchase Your Traveler’s Notebook

There are a variety of traveler’s notebooks available on the market. If you search for traveler’s journals online, there are a variety of sizes and brands. Pay attention to the covers and sizes of the signatures to make sure that the signatures will fit the notebook. I love making my own traveler’s journals and have some available for purchase at my hopalongstudio store on Etsy.

The traveler’s notebooks that I create are made from high quality cotton and durable interfacing. These are handmade in my studio, sewn by hand and scotch guarded for durability. Each book comes with 4 signatures with 40 pages each. The signatures are also handmade and sewn instead of stapled. I have included my favorite 32 lb, super smooth, white writing paper in these books. This paper works well with brush pens, fountain pens and light applications of paint.

What Do You Think?

Have you used a traveler’s notebook before? If not, do you think you might give one a try? These notebooks can be a great tool for aiding your creative self-care practice. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write them below or contact me directly. I hope that you find some time for creative self-care this week!