Are you a collector of all things paper? If you are a paper crafter like me. then more than likely you hoard those little bits of pretty paper that you just cannot toss in the rubbish bin.

Do you find yourself looking at the mail every day and think about how you could use the stuff you throw away like envelopes and catalogs?

Do you care about the environment and want to make a difference when it comes to using the stuff that you have?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you may be a junk journalist and not even know it!

Here is what we are talking about today:

What is a junk journal?
What kinds of junk journals are there?
What kinds of stuff can I use in my junk journal?
How do I store the stuff that I save?
How do I bind a junk journal?
How Do I create a junk journal?
What can I add to my junk journal?

What Is A Junk Journal

Simply put, a junk journal is a collection of creative junk put together in a book format. The journal can be one that you create yourself or it can be a used book that you buy from places like a thrift shop and alter yourself.

You save odds and ends from magazines, junk mail, flyers, and catalogs. Save images, words or whatever calls to you. You use bits of paper and odds and ends. And you can create your own images.

There are no rules for this type of journaling. You start by collecting just about anything and everything! Set a box aside for your junk journal collection. I have a milk carton box.

Pages in junk journals are often different sizes and may be made from any paper, such as book or magazine pages, coffee filters, scrapbook paper, maps, envelopes, and much more. The possibilities are endless and limited only by your imagination!

Covers may be made from old book covers, cardstock, greeting cards, envelopes, cardboard food boxes, binders, or any number of other items.

Junk journals are such a creative outlet for everyone. It is the ultimate recycling project! You actually save junk and create images and pages in a journal. It sure brings out the inner hoarder in all of us!

Usually, a junk journal has a specific theme or purpose. They can be bought or made, that is up to you. However, I have found that making one myself gives me loads of artistic freedom and joy.

You can use an old book with a sewn spine to alter it into a junk journal. That saves you the step of binding your journal.

Besides decorated pages, they can also include embellishments and things like envelopes, tucks, belly bands, tags, and more.

They can also be created and gifted.

The pages can be decorated any way that you would like. There are no rules on how you create your junk journal. They can be very plain all the way up to highly designed, You create your journal how you see it and what fits your personality.

In the end, they are just about your memories and your joy/

But they can serve more useful purposes than just that!

Themes and Types Of Junk Journals

Simple Junk Journal

A simple junk journal has no other purpose other than to be your expression of the creative side of your personality. These are just designed pages using recycled junk,

A Memory Book

Learn how to create this journal

You can keep just about anything in a junk journal you create. A place to keep special letters and memories that can be passed down in a family.

A junk journal memory book can also be a wedding reception guest book that can be used later as a family guest book.

You could create a school memory book for your child where you keep memories of each year of their school days.

Baby Book

What a special way to remember that first year of a baby's life with a one-of-a-kind junk journal.

A Diary Or Journal

Record your life on simple tea-dyed pages. Journal your thoughts and feelings on just about anything. Record bird sittings, your garden information, information about your grandchildren, It's all at your fingertips.

Looking at a blank page every day and wondering what to write about can be scary. But in your junk journal, there are already things at that [age that will give you joy and start the creative flow in your heart.

A Diary Junk Journal is just a way of telling your story every day. So in these types of journals, you would need space to write. You could also include things like receipts, tickets or other things that are part of your daily life.

A Travel Journal

Find out more about this journal here

All the tidbits and memories of your trips and travels in one location, You can keep maps, coffee sleeves, brochures, tickets, And of course you will want to include your own notes.You can size your journal to fit in a purse, a bag, or a carry on/

A Recipe Journal

Record family favorites to be passed down in your family. If you have recipes written in someone's handwriting, this becomes a special memory that should be passed down through the generations. Preserve those special memories in a book that will last many lifetimes. Lots of people like to use old cookbooks to alter these kinds of junk journals.

Gratitude Journal

You can create an inspiring journal with things and thoughts about all the blessings in your life that you are thankful for. You can include special uplifting quotes, verses from a Bible, anything that has inspired you.

Genealogy Journal

Notes and information about your family tree

Dream Journaling

Some folks like to keep a record of what they dream about. A junk journal is a lovely place to keep thos thoughts in.

Planner

This type of journal tends to have calendar pages that can be written on. You can create them as a daily planner, weekly, or even monthly. You can find calendar pages on the internet to use in your planner junk journal.

What Kinds Of Materials Should I Save?

There is no end to the materials that you can save to create your junk journals. I think that is what attracted me to it in the first place. When I started out in my junk journal journey, I just had a few leftover pieces of paper that I had hoarded. Now I have a milk carton full of materials that I can use when my creative juices start flowing.

Envelopes-try to keep them with few rips. All envelopes that come in the mail, greeting card envelopes, all different sizes
Scrap paper from your other projects. Any and all kinds of paper
Bits of leftover fabric
Buttons
Cupcake liners
Coloring books and pages
Old catalogs
Greeting cards
Teabag envelopes and wrappers
Teabags
Sheet music
Paper bags
Postage stamps
Bits of leftover wrapping paper
Stickers
Bits of tissue paper
Programs'
Tickets
Flyers
Business cards
Matchbooks
Travel brochures
Bar coasters
Maps
Ribbon, yarn, string
Cereal Boxes
Netting from fruit and vegetables
Candy wrappers
Soap wrappers
Tin can labels
Tags from clothes and accessories
Magazines and books
Paper doilies
Playing cards
Old games
Bingo cards
Napkins
Used fabric softener sheets
Old receipts
Old keys
Paper Flowers

Where Can I Find More Stuff For My Junk Journal?

Thrift Stores And Flea Markets- You can find the most amazing things in your local flea markets and thrift stores. You have to be willing to browse and spend some time. There are some great buys. I often find old books that I can use for my journals. There are lots of things if you are willing to look.

Estate Sales-You can often find lots of materials for your junk journals at estate sales. Just make sure that you understand the rules of the sale. Many times, the items for sale will be listed so you can browse ahead of time.

Garage Sales- Half the fun is the find, so garage sales can be treasure-troves of materials. You can usually dicker a bit with the seller, so do not hesitate to make an offer.

Buy/Sell Groups On Facebook-Another option to find lots of things people are looking to get rid of.

eBay- Take time to look through eBay, especially for old ephemera.

Dollar Stores-Who does not love to wander through dollar stores, It's an adventure!

Family And Friends-Put out the word that you are happy to recycle their junk!

How Do I Store All Of My Junk Journal Materials?

As you are collecting your supplies for your junk journals, consider the space you have to store the materials and what works well for you.

I have some recycled milk cartons in my closet where I have hanging folders for all of my junk journal materials. I just looked around my house and found things that worked for me.

You need something to store your materials -a simple box will do.
You need a way to separate your materials. Getting organized means more time to craft later.
You need bags or page protectors to put your stuff in
A system to label it all.
It is just that simple.

Steps To Create Your Junk Journal

Start With A Base

You have many options when it comes to creating your junk journal. You can use a journal that you already have or buy one. You can use an old book that you have or buy. Or you can create your own junk journal. It is up to you how to use or create the base for your book.

If you are creating a book, you need to decide the size that you want to make and the number of pages that you want to have in it. Groups of pages together are called signatures. You can have as many of these as you would like in your journal.

This is not a structured book, so the pages can be all different sizes and shapes, after all, it is a journal made from junk.

Lots of junk journal artists like to age their papers with either coffee or tea. This gives a nostalgic look to the book.

Here are just some ideas on how to alter a book.

Creating A Cover

If you are creating your own journal, you will also need a cover for it. You can use a cover from an old book, use a box from your kitchen, or put one together from some recycled cardboard.

Here is one of the many ways to create your own junk journal.

How Do I Bind It?

Of course, you will need a cover and some paper to put into your journal. AS we said before the paper that you include can be anything in any size that you want it to be,

I think that binding is probably the one thing that scares most people away from creating journals of any kind.

In any kind of journal that you make, groups of paper gathered together are called signatures. Your journal can be simple and have only one signature or it can have many.

Ring-binder -binding where you have individual pages that have had holes put in them. Then you put them together with binder rings. So simple
Altered Books-You use a book with a sewn binding and alter it.
Rubber Band Binding-each signature is held onto the cover with a rubber band.
You can even staple pages together.

Binding is not as difficult as you may think.

Adding Pockets and Other Things To Your Pages

Now that you have your journal created, the real fun begins. Decorating your pages brings out the creative juices in all of us.

There are so many different things to add to your junk journal.

Tags, pieces of pictures, old greeting cards, journaling, or whatever floats your boat!

Adding pockets to your pages gives dimension and gives you places to add some hidden goodies. Pockets can be added in so many ways.

Corner Pockets- Triangles added to a corner of your page.
Half Page Pockets
Vertical Pockets

You can also add unlimited things to decorate your pages, these things are called ephemera or embellishments.

Final Thoughts On Junk Journaling

There are many reasons that draw people into junk journaling.

Reusing paper and other materials at least one more time was one of the first things that drew me to the idea.
Creating something out of nothing-out of junk gives pleasure to many folks.
The fact that there are no rules-just art your way gives lots of crafter's freedom to explore new avenues of srt
The satisfaction of having something in your hands, made by you is amazing!

Is junk journaling for you? Have we whet your appetite to get started? Do you have any questions that we can help you with? Leave a question or a comment below. We always love hearing from you!

Till next time, Happy Crafting

Linda

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Sunday, February 6, 2022

Junk Journal Basics

What Is A Junk Journal