DIY Traveler’s Notebook Album


I’ve been working on a new mini-album and wanted to share the very economic album I’m using. I cut down a 6″ x 8″ chipboard binder to fit traveler’s notebook-sized pages! I originally got the idea from Jessica Rubio, who cut down the same binder to 3″ x 8″ for her trip to Mexico. I wanted to do the same thing, but slightly wider, to accommodate TN pages.

While I love working in the traveler’s notebook format, I don’t love the limitation on bulky items and odd-sized pages. I also don’t always scrapbook chronologically which means using a traditional notebook can sometimes be a challenge when my mini-album is ordered chronologically. I like being able to jump around and move things if I need to.

Cutting down the binder is pretty straightforward. When you’re finished, you will have an album that will fit standard size TN pages (4.25″W x 8.25″H), or pages of up to 5″W x 8.25″H (this is the width adjusted when the TN paper is in a page protector).

I am using this 6″ x 8″ chipboard binder from Hobby Lobby (but you could probably use another 6″ x 8″ binder). It has a 1.5″ spine, 3-ring configuration, and comes with some page protectors. It retails for $6.99 but the store was having a sale on this entire brand (The Paper Studio) so I got it for $3.50 + tax.

For this project, you will need:

  • a binder
  • a box cutter, x-acto knife, or something similar to cut with
  • a ruler
  • a pencil
  • Fuse tool, for page protectors (optional)

First, I measured 1.5″ from the edge of the binder with my ruler and pencil. I marked the inside of the binder, but it doesn’t really matter since it’s pencil and can be erased later if the line isn’t completely cut away.

Next, using my ruler and box cutter, I cut through the binder along the line. As you can see, I don’t have a proper cutting mat but just layered several layers of newspapers under the album. You will definitely want something underneath your cutting area to avoid damaging your work surface.

The box cutter cut pretty cleanly for me but if your cut wasn’t as clean, you could probably clean it up with some fine sandpaper.

That’s it! Now you have an album that will fit TN-sized pages nicely. You can add them directly into the album by punching holes into the papers!

But, if you don’t want to do that, you can also use page protectors…

Page Protectors

If you’d like to use page protectors in the album, the album does come with 12 page protectors. There are 4 different configurations, 3 of each kind. Hobby Lobby also sells refill packs of these 6″ x 8″ page protectors. They come in a pack of 16 (4 each of the 4 different configurations) for $4.99. Unfortunately, I am only interested in the 1 full page pocket configuration and it doesn’t seem like they sell packs of just this type of configuration. But at $2.50/package (again, there was a 50% sale when I went into the store), it was still pretty cheap. I can also use the 4 pocket configuration as a two 3″ x 4″ pocket configuration in this album by just cutting off the other two pockets.

To make the page protectors fit in the album, I used my Fuse tool to fuse a line down so a TN (4.25″ x 8.25″) paper would fit.

So there you have it! I’m pretty happy with how this turned out will probably do it again. I only know of one company at this time that makes a similar sized album, but it costs a lot more! The cost for this album was about $6 ($3.50 + $2.50).

With 1 refill pack and the page protectors that came in the album, I ended up with seven full page protectors and seven 2-(3″ x 4″) pocket page protectors (but you could easily make more with the leftover 14 page protectors using the Fuse tool). And if you need more than 7 full page protectors, it’s cheap enough to buy more refill packs (what I will probably do).

Now I’ve got an album where I can add TN pages, with or without page protectors, 3″ x 4″ pocket cards, and different-sized odd cards as well:

As you can see, I’ve already started working on my album and will share more about these pages soon! 🙂

I hope this post was helpful!

, ,

20,608 responses to “DIY Traveler’s Notebook Album”

  1. I do not even know how I ended up here but I thought this post was great I do not know who you are but certainly youre going to a famous blogger if you are not already Cheers

  2. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  3. Aw, this was a very good post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a very good article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t manage to get anything done.

  4. Right now it seems like Expression Engine is the best blogging platform out there rightnow. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?

  5. Прошлым месяцем я определился с тем, что нужно сменить входную дверь в квартире. Обратился на сайт [url=https://dvershik.ru]https://dvershik.ru[/url], выбрал модель и заказал установку. Мастера приехали строго по расписанию, компетентно и оперативно смонтировали новую дверь. Очень доволен сервисом и результатом – теперь чувствую себя намного безопаснее!

  6. оборудование диспетчерского пункта [url=https://oborudovanie-dispetcherskih-centrov.ru/]https://oborudovanie-dispetcherskih-centrov.ru/[/url] .

  7. Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.

  8. I highly advise steer clear of this platform. The experience I had with it was purely dismay and doubts about fraudulent activities. Proceed with extreme caution, or better yet, seek out a more reputable platform for your needs.

  9. Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  10. I strongly recommend to avoid this site. My own encounter with it was purely frustration as well as suspicion of fraudulent activities. Exercise extreme caution, or alternatively, seek out a trustworthy service to meet your needs.

  11. I strongly recommend steer clear of this site. My personal experience with it has been only disappointment and suspicion of deceptive behavior. Exercise extreme caution, or alternatively, seek out a more reputable site to fulfill your requirements.

  12. It is truly a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  13. В прошлом месяце я определился с тем, что нужно обновить входную дверь в квартире. Выбрал сайт [url=https://dvershik.ru]https://dvershik.ru[/url], выбрал модель и заказал установку. Мастера приехали строго по расписанию, компетентно и оперативно смонтировали новую дверь. Очень доволен сервисом и результатом – теперь чувствую себя намного безопаснее!

  14. Заказывал входную дверь на [url=https://dvershik.ru]https://dvershik.ru[/url] и остался доволен. Сайт понятный, ассортимент богатый, без труда подобрал модель по необходимым параметрам. Консультанты были внимательны и профессиональны, ассистировали в подборе. Дверь привезли и установили точно в срок, качество работы монтажников на высоте. Цены приемлемые, качество самой двери отличное – чувствую себя в безопасности. Рекомендую!

  15. I highly advise steer clear of this platform. My own encounter with it was nothing but frustration along with concerns regarding scamming practices. Be extremely cautious, or better yet, seek out an honest platform to fulfill your requirements.

  16. I urge you to avoid this platform. The experience I had with it has been only dismay along with concerns regarding fraudulent activities. Be extremely cautious, or alternatively, look for a more reputable service to fulfill your requirements.

  17. I urge you stay away from this platform. My personal experience with it was nothing but dismay as well as concerns regarding scamming practices. Be extremely cautious, or alternatively, seek out an honest platform to fulfill your requirements.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.