Collages

• Cut out or print images, words and graphics that interest the owner of the binder. Paste these images onto the binder. The images can be used to create a collage about who the person is. Old magazines are a great resource for both images and words. The artist can get creative and combine images and words into new things. Print out images of a specific theme; for example, if a girl like horses and ponies, she can create a collage of her favorite animal. The collage can also tell the life story of the owner of the binder. For example, a photo of a baby, a flag of the home state or city where the binder owner was born, followed by an image of the first toy, a favorite outfit or sports team. The life-story collage can be quite expansive.
  
  

Photos

• Print out or make copies (do not use originals) of treasured photos of the binder's owner. Paste these images to the cover of the binder. The child may want photos of friends, family, past achievements and pets. Having photos of positive memories will give the child a reminder of all the wonderful people and moments in her life every time she looks at the binder. Use the cover of the binder for one type or theme of photos; for example friends. Use the back cover of the binder for another theme, such as family. Use the inside covers for another theme, such as achievements. Alternatively, use one or two large images for the cover. This will make the binder look like a book. The large photo might be one of the family or a group of friends.
  
  

Group Projects

• Work with friends to help each other create unique binders. Swap binders with a friend and have each person decorate the friend's binder. This can help strengthen the friendship and can be a great bonding experience. A variation on this activity is to have a group of friends all work on one friend's binder. The friends can all contribute something special to the friend's binder, such as positive messages or declarations of friendship. A further variation on this happens when the binder is divided into equal sections for the number of friends who will be decorating it; each friend gets her own square to do whatever she likes.
  
  

Art

• Tape a sheet of construction paper to the front and back of the binder. The construction paper can be of the child's favorite color. Use pencils, crayons or markers to draw on the construction paper. Add glue and sparkles, doilies, and cut-out shapes and use stickers to create a piece of art on the front. The child can create anything she wants on the cover. The child can also select a theme for the art. The theme, for example, could be the future; the child can then draw herself in the future. This can be a great exercise in imagination. Another idea might be to use the front of the binder as a canvas for a complete painting.