DIY Journal Activity Days Craft: The Creative Kids’ Project That Turns Everyday Moments into Magical Memories
One Simple Craft. Endless Creativity. Zero Boredom.
DIY Journal Activity Days Craft! I teach Activity Days for the 8-9-year-old girls in my ward and we made DIY Journals for our last activity. They had a lot of fun getting creative and because it was personal it made them excited about keeping a journal. They each asked me to take a photo of their journal after and send it to their moms!

If you’ve ever heard the words “I’m bored” echo through your house on a Saturday afternoon, during summer break, or even five minutes after a screen gets turned off… then friend, this craft is about to become your new secret parenting superpower.
Because today we’re talking about something magical.
Something creative.
Something productive.
Something that encourages imagination without glitter permanently embedding itself in your carpet.
We’re talking about a DIY Journal Activity Days Craft — the simple, adorable, totally customizable activity journal that gives kids a place to create, explore, draw, plan, and dream.
And the best part?
It’s ridiculously easy to make.
No complicated supplies.
No crafting degree required.
No Pinterest meltdown moments.
Just a little creativity, a few simple materials, and a whole lot of imagination.
And if you’ve been around here at Lou Lou Girls for a while, you already know we love anything that brings together family fun, creativity, and simple DIY projects that actually work in real life.
So grab your markers, gather the kids, and let’s dive into the world of DIY Activity Journals — where creativity runs wild and boredom doesn’t stand a chance.
Why Kids Love Activity Journals (And Parents Do Too)
Let’s be honest for a moment.
Kids today have a lot of entertainment options.
Screens.
Games.
Streaming.
Apps.
More apps.
But there’s something special about putting pen to paper.
Activity journals give kids a creative outlet where they can:
✨ Draw
✨ Write
✨ Plan adventures
✨ Track activities
✨ Express emotions
✨ Create their own stories
And unlike many activities that get tossed aside after a few minutes, journals become treasures.
They hold memories.
Ideas.
Funny doodles.
Dreams.
And sometimes incredibly dramatic drawings of the family dog.
What Is a DIY Journal Activity Days Craft?
A DIY Journal Activity Days Craft is exactly what it sounds like — a handmade journal filled with fun prompts, activities, drawings, and creative ideas that kids can complete whenever they want.
Think of it as a combination of:
• a creativity journal
• a memory book
• an activity planner
• a boredom buster
All wrapped up into one adorable DIY craft.
Kids can decorate it.
Personalize it.
Fill it with ideas.
And make it completely their own.
Why This Craft Is Perfect for Families
This craft checks all the boxes we love around here.
✔ Easy
✔ Affordable
✔ Creative
✔ Educational
✔ Screen-free fun
But the real magic is that it grows with your child.
A younger child might fill their journal with:
• drawings
• stickers
• simple lists
Older kids might use it for:
• goals
• daily activities
• creative writing
• journaling thoughts
And suddenly that simple craft becomes something meaningful.
DIY Journal Activity Days Craft
WHAT YOU NEED:
Notebook
Scrapbook paper, ribbons etc.
Markers, colored pencils, etc.
Scissors
Glue

INSTRUCTIONS:
- Start off your activity by explaining the benefits and importance of keeping a journal. (I also read them an entry from a journal of mine I had from when I was their age.)
- Hand them each a notebook and explain/show an example of what they will be doing.
- Let them go to work!

Fun Activity Page Ideas
If you want to fill the journal with inspiration, here are some creative prompts.
Creative Drawing Pages
• Draw your dream bedroom
• Invent a new animal
• Design a new ice cream flavor
Adventure Planning
• Places I want to explore
• My dream theme park
• A perfect day with friends
Gratitude Pages
• Three things I’m thankful for
• Something that made me smile today
Imagination Prompts
• If I had a superpower…
• If I lived on the moon…
• My robot invention
Kids LOVE prompts like these.
Turning Journaling into a Daily Habit
One of the hidden benefits of activity journals is routine.
Kids start looking forward to journaling.
It becomes something they choose to do.
Try setting aside:
✨ 10 minutes after school
✨ quiet time before bed
✨ weekend creativity time
Soon journaling becomes part of their rhythm.
The Creativity Benefits of Journaling
Experts have long encouraged journaling for kids because it supports:
• creativity
• emotional expression
• writing skills
• confidence
When kids have a safe place to write or draw their thoughts, they develop stronger communication and self-expression skills.
Plus it’s a great way to unplug.
And honestly?
We could all use more unplugged moments.
The Lou Lou Girls Rule of Crafting
Around here we believe crafting should be:
✔ simple
✔ fun
✔ doable
✔ memory-making
Not stressful.
Not complicated.
Not “Pinterest perfect.”
Just joyful.
Because the real goal isn’t perfection.
It’s connection.
Reader Check-In 💬
Let’s pause for a second.
I want to know:
• Did you keep a journal as a kid?
• Were you a doodler or a writer?
• What would YOUR dream journal look like?
Drop it in the comments — we love hearing from you!
Making Journals for Different Ages
For Preschoolers
Keep it simple.
Use:
• drawing prompts
• stickers
• coloring pages
For Elementary Kids
Add:
• story prompts
• activity planning
• goal pages
For Tweens
They might enjoy:
• habit trackers
• creative writing prompts
• gratitude journaling
The journal evolves as they grow.
Journal Themes Kids Love
Want to make the journal even more exciting?
Try a theme.
Adventure Journal
Track hikes, parks, and fun outings.
Summer Activity Journal
Record everything fun about summer.
Creativity Journal
Drawing prompts and art ideas.
Gratitude Journal
Daily positive reflections.
Turning This into a Family Activity
Here’s a fun twist.
Make journals for the whole family.
Everyone gets one.
Then set aside time each week for creativity.
Parents journal.
Kids journal.
Maybe even the family dog supervises.
Suddenly it becomes a bonding activity.
Making Journals Extra Special
Here are a few fun upgrades.
Add Pockets
Glue envelopes inside pages for notes.
Add Photos
Print photos from family adventures.
Add Stickers
Because stickers make everything better.
Add Washi Tape
Instant decoration.
Boredom Buster Gold
The next time someone says:
“I’m bored.”
Hand them their journal.
Problem solved.
Memory-Keeping Magic
Years from now, those journals become keepsakes.
You’ll flip through pages and see:
• childhood handwriting
• funny drawings
• sweet thoughts
And suddenly you realize something beautiful.
Those little journals captured moments that might have been forgotten.
The Power of Simple Creativity
Kids don’t need complicated crafts to create something meaningful.
Sometimes all they need is:
a notebook
a pen
a little imagination
And suddenly they’re building worlds on paper.
Final Thoughts: A Craft That Becomes a Treasure
Some crafts are fun for an afternoon.
Others become something more.
This DIY Journal Activity Days Craft is one of those projects that starts simple but grows into something meaningful.
It encourages creativity.
It builds confidence.
It gives kids a place to explore their thoughts, ideas, and dreams.
And most importantly, it turns ordinary days into memories worth keeping.
So grab a notebook, gather some markers, and let the creativity begin.
Because sometimes the best crafts aren’t just about what you make…
They’re about the stories you write along the way.
Your Closest CHEERLEADERS!
We are your big sisters , cheerleaders , and confidence boosters in building a happy home. We are the Lou Lou Girls!



We homeschool our six children and our oldest (a daughter) is 9. I bet she’d really enjoy this.
How wonderful! My daughter would like this.
So cute! I know i would have loved this as a young girl! perfect for saving money on cute notebooks for the kids, having them make their own over the summer
Lookes great. i did modgepodge journals and it was fun! I love getting crafty with journals. i did them with my prayer journals.
Yes, this looks like a fun activity to do with my child. Always good to be creative.
That’s a cute notebook. Perfect way to update a plan notebook. Simple and easy.
Seems like she had a fun time! But it seems like a good project
This looks like a fun DIY project! It so nice to be creative and having fun making sometime out. Nice post!
How fun! I’ve been thinking of making a bullet journal so it’ll be so fun to customize my own cover!
Great idea! I love encouraging journal use in young kids, it can be such a powerful tool!
This is a great DIY about making your own journals 🙂 Yours turned out so cute
What a cute and personalized activity! My child would love this! She loves writing and she would love to make her own book!
My daughter would love a journal like this!! What a great way for them to write out their thoughts and record their days.
When I was studying, I would always cover my books and notebooks in different designs! This DIY makes me nostalgic! I love the idea!
What an adorable idea! My twins and I used to do this to their notebooks before school starts. It helps them keep track of their books and notebooks while at school.