Smash journals are so popular right now that it’s hard for me to believe that I had no idea what they were last month.
Specifically Smash journals are a specific brand of scrapbooking journal which is used for “smashing” little momentos and photos. They are the place you keep the card that reminds you of your best friend or the picture you took at the zoo-even the receipt from a bus ride or restaurant that you want to remember.
I love the idea of them because although they definately have pretty items to go with the sets, the actual smashbook when it’s finished isn’t necessarily pretty but will be a modpodge of memories. And I’m going on and on so you’ll have to excuse me, but I guess what I’m trying to say is that smashbooks are fun no matter how old you are……….or how young you are.
I’m currently putting together my own smash,art,write journal as I mentioned a couple of posts ago. It’s been a lot of fun. 
I chose to make up my own book instead of buying a kit this time around but I do think I’d like to try a kit in the future.
I’m not the only one who has been smashing though.
As soon as they learned about what I was doing the girls wanted books of their own to smash,create art or write in. We made their books with a couple of binders that I had around the house and they work fine so far.
The kid is much more into smashing while Gizmo prefers drawing in most of her pages but they’ve been working on their books whenever they see me working on mine. I don’t initiate it but their books and supplies are where they can reach them and they usually pull out what they need without any fuss. It’s something that I’d recommend you try with any little but maybe not too little ones that you have or try making one for yourself. Summer seems like a really good time to start one as you might be more likely to go fun places where you can pick up pieces for your book or at least have enough time to sit and look through magizines for images that interest.
What we are using for our smash books right now:
Magazines
Pamphlets
take out menus
scissors
glitter glue
glue sticks
charms
yarn
stickers-we buy them or make our own via this easy method here
paint
card stock, both plain and colored
cards
images can also be found on cereal boxes, fruit snack boxes,napkins or even band aid boxes
*Cereal boxes make good backing for more fragile paper too
the kid's self portrait
plain paper we collage on top of or use to draw on
old envelopes
old book pages
What we hope to use soon:
washi tape-we found a great tutorial for making our own here.
shaped hole punchers
stencils (I’m hoping to make our own)
more photos(are we the only people who don’t develop our photos as often as we should do?)
Honestly you don’t need a lot of stuff-paint., magazines and colors kept us pretty busy at first. We’ve added to our stash as time has gone by. Because our books are a combo of an art journal and a smash-type book we like having a lot of different things to work with.
I’ve been sharing a few photos of it but the kid also has a video of her smash,art,write book:
I’m fairly certain Gizmo will have one up soon as she was very keen on sharing her book before she went to bed tonight.
Have you been introduced or introduced your kids to smashing?
