In less than a week I’m leaving on a jet plane for the wonderful state of Washington. Seriously, I can’t believe this trip is here. Already! We’ve been planning it for over a year and yet it’s catching me by surprise that it’s here! Already! Yippee!!!
My brother, sister and I are each taking my Mom on a leg of this once-in-a-lifetime-dream-vacation. This trip was her 70th birthday present (and Christmas present, and Mother’s day, and every other holiday since she turned 70. I think this was even her 71st birthday gift, too!) So it’s a big deal vacation.
Anyway, my Mom and my brother (and his family) are in California right now and then on Sunday Mom flies to Seattle to meet up with me. Later in the week we’ll spend some time touring Washington with my sister and her husband. (I hope to check out some of the sights you all posted about! Thanks again for that, BTW.)
This is truly a once in a lifetime vacation. Not just for my Mom. But for me, too. So I want to be sure to capture all my memories of being together and traveling in a state I’ve never been to before. So I put together this little binder. It will serve as a planner and a journal during the trip, and then a scrapbook when I get back home.
I used one of my favorite organizing friends the Russell & Hazel mini binder. Then, as luck would have it … I happened upon Making Memories new travel line on a recent trip to Archivers. Have you seen it? It’s totally darling. I was seriously giddy when I saw these products. The ribbon says “together” and that is exactly what this trip is all about: being together … my Mom and me together for a whole week. Ah yes …something you scrapbookers out there can all relate to: finding perfectly appropriate ribbon and getting giddy. My sister on the other hand was completely confused by me and my overly excited reaction to these products … but THAT’s another story.
Back to the binder. On the outside I used some of the MM super cute chipboard letters. I sanded the edges a bit … just because I love a good excuse to use these tools from Basic Grey … and, well, I thought it would look cool.
On the inside I added some Avery sheet protectors and slipped each day’s agenda inside. The agenda is printed on scrapbook paper and embellished with rub-ons from the MM travel line. This agenda will serve as a useful tool while on the trip…housing essential info like hotel confirmation numbers, phone numbers, and so on.
But I’ve also left space to jot down things I want to remember each day. I’m going to add a map of the area of the state we’ll be in (cut to fit inside the protectors) as well as a few MapQuest travel directions. I’ve left a blank page opposite each agenda where I’ve tucked in a tag … again from the MM travel line. I plan to add photos or more journaling or even some ticket stubs from our whale watch or other interesting memorabilia I collect along the way. And because it’s a three ring binder, I can rearrange things when I get back to accommodate the photos I want to add.
I’m sure I’ll make some full page layouts about this once-in-a-lifetime vacation, too … but I know the rest of my life will kick into high gear as soon as I get back. (CHA anyone?) So I’m super excited to know I’ll have a place to capture my reflections while they’re happening on the trip and a great reason to print some of my photos as soon as I get back home!
Thanks for letting me share … I hope you enjoyed the tour of my travel planner and can adapt some of these ideas for your own summer travels.
i just love this idea
That is such a great idea! It not only helps you on your trip to have your agenda and anything you need in one place, but it will make it easy to put the pictures in when you get back and you’ll already have some things that happened written down. The next time I go on a big trip I am definitely going to do this, unless I’m too old by then and can’t remember.
I love it!! Let me see if I can get one together before my trip tomorrow…
Great idea! I kept journals when we went on vacation and then the last one I ended up stopping writing about halfway through…if I thought about it I know I could finish it up…but that was so long ago! I love the inside sheets too.
That’s a wonderful idea, Aby!!! I wish I had put something together before my trip to Niagara Falls a couple weeks ago. But I do have everything from the trip and I’m working on the album now. Just easier to already have it done ahead of time. I hope you have a fabulous time on your trip!!!
By the way, I just finished reading your article “Design an Inspiring Space”. Great work!!! I plan to hit some yard sales this weekend and hopefully find some goodies I can use in my scrap space.
that’s a great idea. my family and i are making a trip out to Washington in August…..our first time too. I’m so excited. I would love to see the finished product of your travel book. Will you be posting that when you’re done with it?
I LOVE THAT!!!!! I think I’ll make one for our vacation this year, if we ever get to plan it! DH is overseas with the military and we don’t know when he’ll be home, or where we’re going!!!
Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to see it with some pics and stuff in it!
Ramie
Great idea Aby…you’re one very creative and organized chica…I love that! I bought that same line of MM products at my Archiver’s to use in our Colorado vacation album…perfect colors for a non-beach related vacation…and that’s hard to find! Have a great trip…Check out foodnetwork.com to see some great local places to eat on your trip…I always do that…I’ve never been disappointed with a Rachael Ray find! Happy travels!
Love that journal! I just ordered my Russell and Hazel mini binder to make one for our trip this summer. One question though-is the Making Memories travel line out yet? I can’t seem to find it.
thanks!
Aby
This planner is wonderful – I’d like to do something similar for our next family trip. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to Washington. Here’s my question: Where did you find sheet protectors to fit in a mini-binder? Or did mini refer to the width of a standard size 3 ring binder? Thanks a lot.