Make A Summer Friends Journal

School is out, and your daughter is already talking about all the fun she's going to have with her friends. Help her keep track of those memories forever by helping her to make this creative Summer Friends Journal! With a tab for each one of her friends, your daughter will be able to easily record activities, fun trips, sleepovers -- and, of course, snapshots -- all in one memorable book.

• 2” three-ring binder
• White tabs
• Sharpie markers, assorted colors (fine tip)
• One package of wide ruled lined paper
• Colorful card stock or construction paper
• Various stickers according to interests and hobbies
• Foam alphabet sticker
• Conversation stickers
• Photo corners
• Photographs
• Glue stick
• Decorative edged scissors
• Scissors or cutting board
• hole punch

How to Do It
Not a scrapbooker, you say? Don’t worry! Anyone can make this fun journal.

Begin by helping your daughter remove the labels from the binder while she uses colorful Sharpie markers to write the first name of each of her friends on the tabs, so that each friend has her (or his) own section of the book. As she finishes each tab, you can insert the tabs into the binder. Next, put a few sheets of lined paper after each tab.

She can next adorn the cover of her binder using foam alphabet stickers, writing out the words "My summer friends" (or something similar -- whatever she likes). Decorate with more stickers -- you can find beautiful ones in a large variety of themes and colors in the scrapbooking aisle of any craft supply store.

What goes inside the binder and within each tab is truly up to your daughter. She might use the binder to keep track of her summer adventures with each of her friends. For example, she can write down the date and what she did on the lined paper, and if she likes, decorate the pages with themed and conversation stickers. Decals that fit the theme can be a lot of fun: If she goes to a barbecue at Lisa’s house, use a hot dog sticker to decorate that part of the page.

About My Friend Page
She can really get creative and make a special "about" page for each of her friends to be placed in front of the journal pages. Pick a colorful piece of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock.

Starting with a photograph of one friend, attach the picture to the cardstock using photo corners (also available at craft supply stores). You can show her how to use the photo corners, explaining that they'll allow her to later remove or change the photograph without causing any glue damage to the picture. If you like, suggest using a piece of decorative or patterned paper - trimmed on all sides about a quarter inch larger that the photograph - to center the image on. This makes a pretty decorative border.

Help your child gather fun information about your friend, such as her favorite color, food and hobbies. (You might be able to think of more categories to suggest.) Highlight these entries on this page using this layout.

Jessica
Birthday: October 29th
Born in: Colorado

FAVORITE STUFF
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Color: blue
Food: mashed potatoes
Sport: soccer
Clothes: Hollister
Animal: Elephant
Junk food: Cheetos, Doritos & chocolate chip cookies
Hang out: Bowling alley

OTHER STUFF
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Hobbies: Swimming
Pets: 2 turtles

Likes her pizza with cheese and pineapple

Vacations in Utah, New Mexico and Disneyland

Tab Cover Page
On the front and at the top of each tab page, get her some small foam alphabet stickers to write out her friend’s name. If she, you or a friend enjoys writing poems, jot down some distinguishing features about her friend and create a poem from the information.