By Cherry 2026
There are times when you want to feel whimsical, but you’re also on the go. If that sounds like you, I recommend bringing a travel journal and a small kit. I can assure you — everything can fit into a simple backpack, or even a smaller one.
1. The Type of Book
I’ve mentioned book covers and page preferences in a previous blog, so I won’t go too deep into that again. However, what I didn’t mention before is the size of a travel journal.
Your preferred size can vary. Personally, I like mine pocket-sized because it’s easy to carry. But some people prefer a larger journal so they have more space to write or collage.
Most journals come in:
- Blank
- Dotted
- Lined
You can also find these in both standard hardcover and leather-bound options, especially if you prefer a fairy core or dark academia aesthetic.
Page Type
This depends entirely on your style:
- Blank → best for scrapbooking and layering
- Dotted → a mix of structure and freedom
- Lined → if you like writing more than decorating
- Grid → useful if you like organizing things
When I first started, I used lined paper. I didn’t love it for scrapbooking, but some people do — so it really comes down to preference. After a while, I went on using blank, cause I find it more fun to doodle and paste than to write my heart out.
With all of this information, I would recommend using the one that I love using the most, which is a blank A5 spiral book (ShopeeMY).
2. Scissors
According to airport violations in the US, you can only bring scissors that are no longer than 4 inches, while in the UK, 6cm is the longest you can bring to the airport (Transportation Security Administration, n.d.). So with this knowledge in mind, I found the perfect travelling tool for us scrapbookers and junk journalers on the go. Not only is it functional, convenient, and travel-friendly, this small travelling pair of scissors (ShopeeMY) is really cute and looks like a cute pen.
2. Stamps and Ink / Frottage
I’ll admit, I got this idea from TikTok. But creativity is meant to be shared.
There are many textures in the world that we can’t bring home, like building walls, door handles, or engraved surfaces. Instead of collecting objects, you can collect their textures.
One method is using small Play-Doh (ShopeeMY) and an ink pad (ShopeeMY). Play-Doh is moldable and relatively clean, so you can press it onto textured surfaces, then transfer the imprint into your journal using ink. It almost feels like being a researcher documenting your surroundings.
If that feels like too much, you can simply use frottage, which is just an art technique where you rub a pencil or crayon on a piece of paper placed over a pattern or a texture to copy the pattern.
3. Glue Tape
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: glue tape (ShopeeMY) is what’s holding my life and my books together.
It’s very convenient to keep in your bag when you want to paste something immediately. Unlike liquid glue, it doesn’t leak or require drying time, which makes it perfect for scrapbooking on the go.
These are my Go-To items when traveling, since they are pretty small and could capture so many memories. These tools are super fast to set up, and don’t need any table or 1 minute to think about a creative process, since that’s my usual struggle when going out with my book. I often feel like I wanna take something physical from the place, but I’d have to put it in my bag, and I don’t have much space in my small pouch when I travel, especially alone.