Free smash book printables for kids and teens! A fun, portable way to journal—no fancy supplies required.
You might also enjoy our YW Camp acrylic necklaces, yarn rainbow keychains, or friendship bracelets.
I’m the Girls Camp craft coordinator and I love developing simple, engaging crafts that the girls can take home and enjoy. With our first camp meeting coming up, I put together a set of smash book printables to show as a mock-up craft. These are low-cost, low-stress projects that work well for a range of ages. My own daughters were excited to try them and made pages right away.
What is a Smash Book?
A smash book is a relaxed, personal book you add to whenever inspiration strikes. Think of the old-fashioned scrapbooks before they became elaborate keepsakes—pages bursting with taped photos, ticket stubs, notes, and little mementos. Smash books celebrate spontaneity: tape, glue, clip, or fold things in without worrying about perfection.
They’re perfect for summer camp, youth groups, birthday parties, or a simple afternoon of crafting with friends. Smash books also work well as a place to collect handouts, quick notes, doodles, and reminders. Tape in a camp handout, a photo with a friend, a favorite quote, or a colorful magazine clipping—anything that reflects the moment.
At camp we set up a smash book station stocked with paper, ribbon, markers, tapes, and embellishments so girls can drop in and work on pages when they have time. Some will fill pages quickly, others will collect scraps in an envelope to add later. I include an elastic ribbon to wrap around each book so it stays closed as pages and keepsakes thicken the book.
My 10-year-old made a page celebrating her favorite pony with a hidden photo beneath a flap—simple additions like this make smash books personal and playful. Her pages are still a work in progress, but she’s delighted to tape in photos and jot down notes.
Example Smash Book Pages
Below are a few page examples to spark ideas. These samples are intentionally loose and colorful to encourage experimentation. I’m eager to see how the girls personalize their books—each will develop its own style.
Smash Book Printables and Supplies
- Notebooks (I used small 8.5″ x 5.5″ notebooks; composition notebooks also work well)
- Printable covers (available in half-sheet and full-sheet sizes)
- Printable decals (print on copy paper or sticker paper)
- Colorful elastic to wrap around the finished book
- Cardstock and patterned scrapbook paper
- Masking tape or washi tape
- Glue sticks or liquid glue
- Assorted embellishments (ribbons, stickers, die-cuts, etc.)
- Pens and permanent markers for journaling and accents
Smash Book Covers
The printable covers come in two sizes and three color schemes so you can choose what fits your notebook. Half-sheet covers fit smaller notebooks (about 5.5″ x 8.5″). Trim slightly if needed to accommodate the notebook binding.
Smash Book Decals
The decals include a variety of shapes, labels, and decorative elements to add color and interest. Print them on regular paper and glue them in, or use sticker paper for instant decorations. These cutouts can be used to create page accents, labels, or small interactive elements like flaps and pockets.
More YW Camp Craft Ideas
- Fluffy Flip Flops (decorative fabric flip-flops)
- Nail Polish Washer Necklaces (simple upcycled jewelry)
- Painted Rocks (decorative, painted stones)
Smash books are flexible, inexpensive, and encourage creativity. They provide a place to keep memories, doodles, and small keepsakes without the pressure of creating a perfect final product. Set up a simple supply station, hand out a few printables, and let the girls explore their own styles—what they create will be meaningful and uniquely theirs.