If you’ve ever wanted to capture your travels in a way that feels both creative and meaningful, this travel journal spread is the perfect place to start. Hi, I’m Nolana, and I love turning our travel memories into something tangible—and this Byron Bay spread might be one of my favourites yet - and it was so easy to put together!
For this project, I documented a week-long trip to Byron Bay using my Archer & Olive Travel Journal (Olive Storybook), combining soft grasses and florals, dreamy skies and beaches, and layered textures to create a cohesive, memory-filled layout. I focused on keeping it simple but intentional—letting photos, stickers, and a few thoughtful details tell the story.
You can follow more of my journaling and creative process over on Instagram @nehlan.has.a.plan and on YouTube @nolanalynch, where I share more behind-the-scenes and process videos.
Supplies Used
You are welcome to use code: NOLANA10 for 10% off your Archer and Olive order.
Creating this Beach-Themed Layered Travel Spread
Choosing a Gentle Colour Story
I wanted this spread to feel light, airy, and nostalgic—something that reflected the relaxed energy of Byron Bay. To do that, I leaned into a soft palette using elements from the Snowdrops, Gentle Breeze, and Swan Pond collections. I am pretty much obsessed with lilac lately, and once I saw the alpha stickers from Wondrous skies, as well as the Snowdrops washi tape, I knew they'd go perfectly with the grasses from Gentle Breeze.
These sets worked beautifully together because they share delicate tones and light organic shapes, making it easy to layer without overwhelming the page.
Anchoring the Page with Photos
The heart of this spread is the four 3x4 photos from our trip. I pulled these out of my gallery and uploaded them to Canva. I then sized them down to approximately 2.75 inches x 3.5 inches, leaving a white border around it that mimicked a polaroid photo. I then printed them using my Epson photo printer and cut them all down to the same size to keep the layout clean and balanced. I love the added touch of faux polaroid frames - as this elevates the photos slightly and this gave the spread that scrapbook feel while still keeping everything cohesive and minimal.
Adding Meaningful Details
One of my favourite elements in this spread is the stamped phrase:
“I want to remember this.”
I paired this with the date on each photo, which instantly made the page feel more personal and grounded in time. It’s such a simple addition, but it carries so much emotional weight.
Layering Stickers for Depth
Using the Alpha Sticker Set from Wondrous Skies Quarterly Subscription Box, I created a subtle title that ties the spread together without overpowering it.
Then I layered in florals and soft decorative elements from the Snowdrops, Gentle Breeze, and Swan Pond sticker sets. I focused on:
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Adding interest to either side of the title
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Clustering above the photos
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Creating visual flow across the page
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Leaving white space so the spread could breathe
And Why Not Add in Some Washi Tape?
To bring everything together, I added a border of the Lilac tape from the Snowdrop Washi Tape set. This helped frame sections of the page and added a soft, cohesive border without feeling heavy.
Why I Love This Spread
This layout feels like a perfect balance between memory-keeping and creativity. It’s not overly complicated, but it still tells a story—one that I can come back to and instantly feel.
Sometimes the most meaningful spreads are the simplest ones.
Free Printable
Here’s my free printable for this blog post. I created some polaroid frames that will make things easy to pop your photos in. You can also doodle or paint in them. The possibilities are endless. I hope you love using it to help you journal! (Insert Free Printable here)
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been wanting to document your travels but feel overwhelmed, this is your sign to keep it simple: a few photos, a soft colour palette, and meaningful details go a long way.
If you create a spread inspired by this one, I’d love to see it! Be sure to tag @archerandolive and @nehlan.has.a.plan so we can share and celebrate your creations.
And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out other travel journaling and memory-keeping blog posts over on the Archer & Olive blog for even more ideas.
Here are some lovely ones:-
- https://www.archerandolive.com/en-au/blogs/news/how-to-start-penpaling-a-creative-guide-to-writing-and-decorating-your-first-letter
- https://www.archerandolive.com/en-au/blogs/news/how-to-start-penpaling-a-creative-guide-to-writing-and-decorating-your-first-letter
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