DIY Lenten Journal

A place to record your journey to the Cross and Easter

My church is participating in Rick Warren's updated The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? As part of that study, readers are encouraged to keep a journal of their prayers, progress, and thoughts. Additionally, there is scripture memorization that is meant to enhance each day's reading. Therefore, I need a journal. Now some folks might just go out and buy one, but dear readers, you know that is B-O-R-I-N-G, otherwise you wouldn't give this post your time of day.

Browsing Pinterest recently, I was inspired by this Valentine Paper Bag Book tutorial at Rosy-Posy. A lightbulb moment occurred and viola! A Lenten journal was born. I hope you enjoy making one of your own. Let me know if you have any questions.

Jannine

DIY Lenten Journal

Gather your materials

• 3 lunch-sized paper bags 
• 8 sheets of paper (lined or unlined)
• scrapbook/decorative paper
• notecards or lined cardstock
• vellum (optional)
• tape
• embroidery floss or string
• glue or double-sided adhesive tape

Gather your tools

• paper cutter and/or scissors
• pencil/pen
• awl (I actually used an old ice pick)
• large tapestry needle
• ruler
• cutting board

Directions

Begin by cutting the bottoms off the paper bags. Mine measured 10 1/4" after doing this.

Cut your paper the same size as your bag. Mine came out to be 10 1/4" x 6 1/8".

Lay out one bag and place 2 sheets of paper on top. Fold it in half like a hamburger (this is teacher lingo. If you don't understand, ask a school-aged child). Do the same with the other bags and paper.

Open up one bag and paper booklet. On the center crease, mark a dot at every inch. 

Place your booklet on a cutting board. Using your awl or ice pick, push through at each dot. You may want to use binder clips to hold the booklet together to prevent it from slipping while you are using the awl. Repeat with the other booklets.

Using about 20"of embroidery floss or string and needle, insert the needle from the back at the top of the booklet. Leave a loose piece a few inches long where you began. Then stitch your paper down the crease to the bottom and back up to the top. Turn the booklet over and tie off the loose threads. Repeat with the other booklets.

Place the booklets one on top of the other, lining up the stitches. Thread a piece of floss or string through each outside stitch and tie them together. This will help hold your journal together.

Next, add tape every 1/2" or so to reinforce the binding. It's kinda cute like this! You could stop here or cut a piece of decorative paper to 10 1/4" x 6 1/8" and adhere it to the outside of your journal with glue or double-sided adhesive tape.

Your journal is complete! You have pockets to hold any notes or notecards AND you have paper for journaling. 

You can decorate the outside of your journal with your favorite scripture or leave it blank. 

I printed my favorite scripture onto vellum and glued that to the front. 

It's your journal, do whatever you like!

Enjoy!