How to Make an Art Journal for $ane

Learn how to make an art journal for about $one, with this classroom tested organisation. All yous demand are book rings (25¢), drawing newspaper (75¢) and some recycled cardboard.

At that place'southward a reason why artists have nerveless their art in journals for hundreds of years. Who wouldn't opt to have all their personal work in i spot? To be able to flip back to meet what they did before, and possibly continue things they are still working on?

As a teacher to an elementary schoolhouse of 800 students, I struggled with this wish for years. Every option I found was either too expensive or too inflexible or also time consuming to put together. That is, until I discovered a ii-pigsty punch at my local Staples store.

Some experimenting led to this 6″ x 9″ art journal arrangement that worked so well, I adopted information technology for all my 2d through 5th graders for quite a few years. A few benefits of the system include:

  • Saving money. You only need ii book rings per educatee, and ix″ x 12″ art paper cut in half. The covers are free if you recycle past having students bring in old boxes.
  • Save time. No more than sorting of artwork. Each student is at present responsible for finding their periodical and putting away their own art at the finish of each class. Third graders on up tin easily practice this, whatever younger and they tin can practice this with some aid.
  • Cut downward on unfinished work. The 6″ 10 9″ newspaper is much easier to terminate than the usual 9″ x 12″ size, specially if your art class is brusque on time. Early finishers? Easily flip back to old work and complete unfinished projects.
  • Get fine art home safely. Unmarried projects that go abode in backpacks often get folded and beat upwards in the process. This guarantees some protection until the end of the year. Making art at home? At present you tin can keep sibling art separate.
  • Parents dearest it. They have an easy way to relieve all their child'due south work in ane place too. This is specially truthful for those with siblings, when it's hard to keep things separate.
  • Periodical growth instills a sense of pride. Students first to appreciate the idea that some things take time, that a collection of their piece of work tin can be pretty amazing if they just keep at it. A few pages at the starting time of the year turns into something pretty substantial by the stop.
art journal for kids
Journals organized by classroom

MATERIALS

  • Drawing Newspaper, 9″ x 12″
  • Paper cutter (optional, but saves time)*
  • Two Hole Newspaper Dial*
  • Book Rings, 1.5″ size recommended*
  • Paper-thin, (old cereal boxes work dandy!)

*The above product links are a referral. If y'all click through and take action, I'll be compensated a small-scale corporeality, at no actress expense to you.

DIRECTIONS

Time needed:30 minutes.

How to Make an Art Journal

  1. Cut 9×12 drawing newspaper in half (to nine″ 10 vi″) with a paper cutter.

  2. Use newspaper punch to middle two holes at the top of one end.
  3. Cut paper-thin to 9″ ten 6″ with a paper cutter.
  4. Get together comprehend and newspaper with book rings and clench shut.