Quick & Easy DIY Journal Gift Basket (Ideas & Tutorial)
If you have a friend or loved one who enjoys journaling or writing in a notebook, have you considered making them a simple yet thoughtful gift? One idea I have for you is a quick and easy DIY journal gift basket – just like the ones I sent to some of my Clubhouse Members for Christmas last year.
Although this was a one-off gift for my founding members, I still wanted to share the project as they make fabulous gifts!
All you need to do is bundle together some journal-related gifts inside a basket or pretty gift box. Once you’ve finished this off with a sheet of cellophane/plastic and a pretty bow, you’ll have made a fabulous hamper perfect for your journal-loving friend or family member. You could even sell them in your Etsy shop!
Sound good? Here’s how to do it…
Quick & Easy DIY Journal Gift Basket
What to include:
- Journal or notebook (either storebought or handmade)
- Pretty pen (I bought these ones)
- Bookmark (you could even make your own!)
- Small candle
- A couple of individually wrapped teabags
- Chocolate, biscuits or homemade cookie dough
- Fluffy socks or a soft blanket
- Journaling accessories (e.g. washi tape, stickers, cling stamps, stencils, laces, trims, etc)
- Bookbinding cradle (if they make their own journals)
- Bundles of vintage ephemera (e.g. book pages, music sheets and wallpaper scraps)
- Handmade ephemera (for that extra special touch)
- A letter, handwritten note or handmade greeting card (e.g. a Christmas card)
Other supplies you’ll need:
- Basket
- Large sheet of cellophane/plastic
- Ribbon or lace trim
- Gift tag
- Scissors
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare your basket.
Once you’ve chosen what to include in your hamper, you simply need to fill the basket or box with your chosen goodies. Consider individually wrapping some of the gifts to make them look nicer and keep coordinating items together.
For example, you could pop the journal/notebook, pen and bookmark into a fabric pouch. Or maybe you like the look of the vintage ephemera bundled up together and finished with a cute bow?
Next, arrange everything by size, so the small items can be seen from the front.
Step 2: Wrap your basket and goodies.
Once everything’s in place, grab a large sheet of cellophane/plastic and cover your gift basket with it.
Scrunch the top of the plastic together and tie it closed with some ribbon or lace trim. You might also want to slip a gift tag onto your ribbon/lace and finish the whole thing off with a bow.
And voila! You’ve made your very own journal gift basket. I hope you and the person you’re giving it to love it!
Bonus Tips
- When it comes to choosing your basket, don’t feel like you have to use a traditional wicker one. You can use practically anything, such as a pretty gift box or a soft fabric basket for a more unique look.
- While I repurposed baskets from my craft room, you could make your own! Here’s a fab tutorial from Kay at The Paper Shed showing her process for making fabric coil baskets.
- The idea for this gift is to keep it as cosy and practical as possible, so the giftee can curl up with their new journal and enjoy an evening of self-care.
- Speaking of self-care, these same instructions apply to any kind of DIY gift basket. You could easily change up what you put inside the basket to suit any theme or occasion. You could make a new baby or new home hamper, a self-care basket or even send a basket of goodies to a bride so she can pamper herself the day before her wedding.
Discover More Quick & Easy Gift Ideas
If you’re looking for more thoughtful yet simple gifts, you might enjoy some of my other DIY gift ideas, such as:
- 20+ Best Gifts For Journalers They’ll Love
- DIY Travel Notebook Set: Upcycled Passport Holder Idea
- DIY Book Spine Bookmarks
- Quick & Easy Homemade Cookie Dough Gift
- Quick & Easy DIY Hot Chocolate Mug Gift For Christmas
- DIY “A Year Of Dates” Gift For Your Other Half
- DIY Meet Me Under The Mistletoe Sign
- DIY Christmas Luminaries Using Mason Jars
- 14 DIY Paper Anniversary Gifts To Make In A Weekend
Did you enjoy this quick and easy journal gift idea? Why not pin or bookmark it now, so you can refer back to it later?
Junk Journal Toolkit
📦 What do I need to get started?
If you’ve got paper, glue, scissors and something to bind your pages with (like a needle, thread and an awl or pokey tool), you’re good to go! Check out my essentials vs. nice-to-have supply list for more info.
🤯 I’m overwhelmed by tutorials and ideas. Where should I start?
Start with my free Mini Junk Journal Masterclass. It walks you through the process step-by-step. Even though it focuses on a mini journal, the same tips apply to any size journal.
❓ I don’t understand the terminology. Can you help?
Absolutely! My A–Z Junk Journal Glossary breaks down all those confusing terms and acronyms. Jargon be gone!
🪡 How do you keep your binding neat?
I use my bookbinding cradle to line up my holes and avoid punching too far through the pages. Smaller holes give a neater and more secure binding, and I use this thin upholstery thread for a cleaner finish.
🧵 Do I need a sewing machine?
Not necessarily! A basic sewing machine is helpful for making fabric-covered journals, but strong fabric glue can work just as well. If you stick to paper-based journals or folios, you don’t need one at all. I like the sewn look and making fabric-based journals, so I personally use a simple machine (similar to this) that’s lasted me over 10 years – it’s a trusty part of my toolkit.
🖼️ What digital papers do you use?
I use a mix of my own designs and other favourites. You can see examples here. New to digitals? Check out my mega bundle for a big saving on some of my designs or sign up for my Mahalo Clubhouse membership to get brand new digitals sent to you every month.
📜 What’s the best paper for printing digitals?
I use this 100 GSM Presentation Paper for vibrant and high-quality prints.
🖨️ What printer do you recommend?
I love my Epson Ecotank. It’s affordable, reliable and the ink lasts ages. I used to spend £30 a month on ink – now I refill just once or twice a year for under £30. While I haven’t used it myself, some other crafters recommend the HP Instant Ink program.
🖇️ What glues do you use?
My go-tos are Collall All Purpose, Cosmic Shimmer and Beacon 3-in-1. Here’s how I use each one.
📖 What books are best for junk journaling?
I love using second-hand nature and botanical books. Here are some great titles to look for next time you’re thrifting.
