Step By Step: How To Make A DIY Prayer Journal or War Binder

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While there are many beautiful prayer journals on the market, sometimes you just want something special, or you may want to use it for more than just a prayer journal. I’m creating this one as a second War Binder, as my first one is getting a bit full.

(For war room prayer strategies and barriers to effective prayer, see this post).

I’m going to walk you through the simple steps that I took to create a simple but beautiful DIY prayer journal.

You’ll need just a few supplies and a heart of prayer.

Whenever I create a prayer journal or war binder, I begin by asking God for my project to glorify Him. I thank Him for all He has done in my life and ask for guidance in creating a journal that would act as a symbol of worship to Him.

Here are the supplies you will need to create your  DIY Prayer Journal or War Binder:

Small Binder

(I used a 6 x 8 binder from Stampin’ Up!, which was blank on the front, to allow me to decorate it the way I wanted. It was also the perfect size to throw in my purse or keep on my desk)

There are also great options on Amazon, like this one

.

Scrapbook or Other Decorative Paper

(I used a thicker scrapbook paper from Simple Stories Vintage Blessings Collector’s Essential Kit. I love this collection and all of the beautiful, optional accessories that coordinate with it. I’ll share some of the ones I used later in this post.

Loose Leaf Paper or Grid Paper

(I used 8 1/2″ x 11″ grid paper from Amazon)

Hole Punch

(Because this small binder only had two holes and rings, a three-hole punch wouldn’t work, so I used my “Crop-A-Dile,” but any hole punch will do) 

Adhesive

(I used my ATG gun, which I love because the adhesive roll lasts so long, but you can use liquid adhesive such as Mono Liquid glue or any tape runner or glue stick).

Grab your free War Binder printables below!

Optional:

Decorative Tag Punch for divider tabs

I used the Stampin’ Up! Everyday Label Punch, but here’s another great option from Amazon.

Photo Pocket Pages

I’ll share some of the decorative items I used at the end of this post.

Instructions for Creating Your DIY Prayer Journal or War Binder

1. Decorate the cover of your DIY Prayer Journal or War Binder. (if you are using one with a blank cover)

You may choose to do this at the end, but if you do, you may need to take out the pages and divider and add them back in when the cover is complete. Since I knew I was using a wet medium, I did this first. (I have the steps for the painting with the Q-tips technique that I used for my cover in this post).

2. Select, Cut, and Punch

Start by choosing the papers you want to use for your dividers and cut them to 6 x 8 (if you are using a different-sized binder, you’ll need to determine the page size you’ll need). Then, punch the holes where the binder rings need to be.

2. Punch Tags for the Divider Tabs

3. Adhere your divider tabs to your dividers.  

(I like to adhere them like steps so that I can easily see each section tab).

I normally wait to add the divider names until later when I’m decorating my DIY Prayer journal.

4. Cut your insert paper (where you will do your journaling, writing, verse mapping, etc.)

Then, punch the holes to insert them into the binder. Since my paper was 8 1/2″ x 11″, when I cut it to 6 x 8, I was left with strips, which I tucked into a pocket in the back to use as notepaper or to jot additional prayers, which I can insert anywhere in the binder.

5. Add any pockets or pocket pages to your DIY prayer journal

As listed in the supplies above, I used the pocket pages from Stampin’ Up! They fit perfectly in my binder and come in a variety of layouts. I keep the scrap grid paper in one, as shown above, and have used others in this way.

The paper pack from Simple Stories includes sheets of cut-apart cards that worked perfectly in the pocket pages.

6. Decorate your DIY prayer journal!

Setting up the DIY prayer journal, including cutting all of the inserts, dividers, and tabs plus the pocket pages, took me just thirty minutes, but decorating, well…that’s another story!

I only decorate a bit when I set up my DIY prayer journal and then add to it as I am led.

Get your free war binder printables below!

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The first thing I did was to add the Simple Stories notepad (it is pre-punched and fits in perfectly to my binder!).

I love having one of these notepads handy so that when I receive a prayer request, I can jot it down here, and then, when I write my prayers, I have the list handy.

Next, I added the stickers included in the Carpe Diem Sticker Tablet (they coordinate with the Faith paper pack) as my section divider labels, as shown below.

I also added some fun clips to mark my place in the book.

Finally, I begin to pray, praise, and study the Word!

Here is one of my semi-decorated prayer pages.

I absolutely love creating DIY prayer journals and war binders. To me, the creation is part of the worship. I don’t worry that it isn’t fabulous and Pinterest-worthy. All I worry about is that it is pleasing to my Heavenly Father.

You may also like the Warrior Women: Creating a Custom War Binder for a Powerful Prayer Life.

Have you created your own prayer journal? If so, I’d love to see it!

Because of Him,

Sue

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