In its basic form, a junk journal is a journal created from things that would otherwise be thrown away. It is a journal where you can record your thoughts and ideas on any number of subjects. It often has large areas where you can write your thoughts and feelings. Beyond all that, the junk journal is a piece of custom art created by you. You can even use this type of journal as a planner too.
You can get free junk journal pages on the internet for free or at a low cost. You can also create a junk journal from scratch using things like cereal boxes and junk cardboard. You can also recycle old books to create a junk journal.
- You can use it as an everyday journal. You can collect thoughts, ideas, and things from your everyday life.
- You can use it as a planner. Create to-do lists, birthday and anniversary lists, calendar lists, and more. Add your own decor and embellishments and you have a planner that is unique as you are.
- You can make your journal just a place to record your thoughts. But you can also theme your junk journal to reflect a specific interest you may have. It could reflect a hobby like sewing, gardening, books, or travel.
- Make a memory book to remember someone special or a special occasion in someone's life. You can make a book of memories from the bits and pieces of a life well spent.
- Create a journal to celebrate s special occasion. Creating a unique journal for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, wedding, and more.
- Use a junk journal as an art journal. Use pieces of art that you have created. Use mixed media like watercolors, gesso, pastes, inks, and more.
The best thing about these types of journals is the fact that there are absolutely no rules. So your journal can be anything that you want it to be.
The cover of the book is most often made from an old, repurposed book cover. The cover can also be made with cardboard recycled from boxes that have been used to hold products from your kitchen.
Of course, the paper is one of the most important parts of your junk journal. Your paper can include some elements that you have repurposed to include:
- Plain paper
- Patterned paper
- Envelopes
- Sheet music
- Maps
- Paper from bags
Any paper that you have can be altered to give your paper an aged look. There are a number of ways to alter your paper.
What Size Are Junk Journals?
There are no set rules when it comes to the size of your junk journal. It can be pocket-size to fit in a purse or a tote bag. Standard book sizes are also popular for these types of journals. There are some that are 12 inches wide to display on a coffee table. You make it the size that fits your needs.
Is Binding Difficult To Do In Junk Journals?
There are a lot of easy ways to bind your junk journals. You can actually use things like dental floss and rubber bands to bind your junk journals. It can be as simple as using staples. Even in the larger junk journals, there are simply two stitch binding techniques that you can learn in minutes. We will show you lots of methods in the coming days ahead.
One of the easiest no-sew journal bindings is using rubber bands. This is the best way for beginners to start creating their own junk journals.
What Goes Into A Junk Journal?
Just about anything and everything can be added to the pages of your junk journal. You can keep moments, tickets, buttons, cards, pictures, bits of lace and fabric, and just about anything you can think of. Heavier keepsakes like shells can be tucked into envelopes added to your pages.
In the truest sense, a junk journal is a collection of actual junk. That could include things from catalogs, envelopes of all shapes and sizes, cards, and any pieces that come from your mail that you might normally throw away.
It can also be any boxes from products that you have in your home. You can also use old cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper rolls, It can also be toilet paper and paper towels. Think about old makeup that can be used for coloring. It can be tea bags and coffee grinds that are used to age paper. Anything you can think of can be used in your journals!
How Do You Get Started Making A Junk Journal
- Decide what your junk journal will be used for. Think about what you will do with it once you make it. Understanding how you will use it will help you focus on design and planning.
- Decide where or how you will buy or make your junk journal. You can purchase a pre-made journal, make one or use an old book to alter one.
- Decide how you will bind it. There are four basic ways to bind your junk journals. The first is a sewn binding. You are sewing the binding into the covers. Another uses binder rings. The pages have holes punched into them and then the pages are threaded on the rings. A third way to bind the pages is with rubber bands. Old books provide a base for a junk journal. They ate called altered books.
- Collect the materials you need to create your journals. You will need paper, a paper trimmer, scissors, binding supplies, some adhesives. You can also gather some ephemera that you may have to decorate your pages.
- Assemble and prepare your book. This means that you will prepare the cover of your book. You also need to cut paper to the size of your book and prepare them for binding, if necessary.
- Fill the journal up! Start adding all types of decor and embellishments to your pages. This is truly the fun part of the project!
- Add pockets to your pages. I love pockets in junk journals. They are little places where all kinds of surprises and gifts can be included. You can put things like pictures, moments, cards and more.
Using Stamps With Your Junk Journal
Think about all the stamps and stamp sets that you have. So many of them can be utilized in your junk journals. Here are just a few ideas:
- Using themed stamps-if your journal has a specific theme, just pull out those types of stamps to create all kinds of embellishments, stamped backgrounds, and more
- Background stamps-create whole background pages or partial pages in the color of your choice.
- Word and phrase stamps add a single word or phrase to any of your pages. Add directly on the page or stamp the word on a strip of scrap cardstock. You can add these just to the page or use foam dots to add dimension.
Using Craft Punches With Your Junk Journal
Craft punches are other tools that can be useful with your junk journals. Besides making little flowers or other small pieces, you can also create shapes and borders to add to your pages. A corner rounder punch can add a soft touch to the corners of your pages.
Die Cutting For Your Junk Journal
Think about all the dies that you own and how they might be used in your junk journal.
- Add layers to a page with your shape dies.
- Die-cut images that fit your theme.
- Add a die-cut word or phrase.
- Add more dimension by heat embossing your dies.
Free Clip Art For Your Junk Journal
There is free clip art of gorgeous pictures all over the internet. All you have to do is to download it and resize it if needed. There are lots of retro images, flowers, holidays, and animals. Just type what you are looking for and add the phrase free clip art.
Coloring Books For Your Junk Journal
If you like to color, you can use part of your coloring pages to decorate your junk journal. Use pieces as corner pieces, Create banners with pieces of coloring pages. Cut pieces of coloring pages with your dies. Create letters and words with your coloring page. Have fun and be creative!
Paper Scraps In Your Junk Journal
My husband likes to quip with folks how I use every scrap of paper till it is the size of my smallest fingernails. And that is true. Using paper scraps means that I get the most for the money that I spend. But it also means that I am a responsible paper crafter, using my resources to help the environment.
Of course, you can die-cut paper down to the smallest piece. You can also punch the smaller pieces into embellishments. Or you can stamp on your scrap paper. Almost every piece of paper that you might have can be used.
I have a special box where I keep all my scrap paper and paper resources for my junk journals. I just dig in and find the colors I need. I encourage you to do the same.
Using Stencils
Stencils are the perfect tools to add dimension and design to your junk journal pages. They add some pizazz to every page that you use them on. Add pieces of stenciled paper or do the background of a page.
They can be used with paint, embossing paste, distress inks, and oxide inks. You can use the whole stencil or just part of it.
Stencils are inexpensive and easy to find. They come in sizes from 12" x 12" on down to very small. They come in both metal and plastic.
There are single image stencils, multiple image stencils and background stencils.
Here are a few of our favorite stencils for your consideration, Earning may be made from some of these purchases at no expense to you. All earnings are used to enhance this community. Thank you for your support.
We have only scratched the surface of junk journals.
Free Junk Journal Ephemera and Prints
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We hope that you will consider starting a junk journal soon. Once you get started on one, it is hard to stop. You will start looking at your mail a lot differently.
Have A Great Day And Happy Crafting
Linda
