Ever wondered what to do with an expired passport? Don't toss it! Turn it into a unique scrapbook and document your travels in a creative way. In this post, we'll explore how to transform an old passport into a personalized travel journal. No old passport? No worries. I'll show you how to easily make one from scratch.

If you don’t have an old passport and don’t want to find a notebook, I’ve got a free passport printable that you can use for collaging and memory keeping.

Why a Passport Scrapbook?

Passports are more than just official documents. They're filled with blank pages, visa stamps, and departure/arrival stamps – a mini journal of your travel history. Repurposing an expired passport as a scrapbook is a wonderful way to preserve those memories and create a visual story of your adventures.

What You'll Need:

An expired passport (or a passport-sized notebook, or even just copy paper!)
Glue stick or glue
Scissors
Photos, papers, and other decorative elements
Optional: Washi tape, inks, rubber stamps, travel guides

Choosing Your Destination

The beauty of this project is that you can choose any destination you like!

Past Travels: Document a place you've already visited by including photos, ticket stubs, and other mementos.
Dream Destination: Design your scrapbook around a place you've always wanted to go. Use images and inspiration from travel guides and online resources.

Sourcing Images

There are many ways to find images for your passport scrapbook:

Flickr: A treasure trove of photos, many of which are available for personal use.
Pixabay: Another great source for high-quality images, with the option to donate to the photographer.
Shutterfly: Create custom photo collages and have them printed in a variety of sizes.
Travel Guides: Old travel guides from used bookstores or library sales are packed with colorful images and illustrations perfect for collaging.

I got these images from a DK travel guide book. It was super cheap because it was an old edition.

Creating Your Pages

The key is to have fun and be creative! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Backgrounds: Use inks, watercolors, or patterned papers to create interesting backgrounds.
Layering: Layer different elements like photos, tickets, and ephemera to add depth and visual interest.
Captions: Include captions under your photos to provide context and information.
Embellishments: Add washi tape, stickers, or stamps to personalize your pages.

Free Passport Printable

Want to join in the fun but don't have an old passport? I've created a free passport printable that you can download and use for your own travel-themed collage project.

Also, here’s the video where I go into a lot more detail about how you can collage on a passport, and show you how I made my pages.

Happy collaging!

How to scrapbook a passport