One of my favorite pastimes is to make Junk Journals. They are a type of writing journal that include pockets and various embellishments. It was a hobby that started with planning and turned into more a more creative outlet. There are numerous videos on you tube about junk journals and they are always highly informative and thought provoking.
To make a junk journal by hand, I start with thin cardboard to make the covers and spine. Some people use old book for their covers by cutting out all the pages. I coffee stain and tea stain paper as well as use craft papers to add an individual touch. The pages are folded in half and sewn to the spine creating a blank journal.
You then start embellishing the journal with pockets and pocket tucks, paper clips, ribbons, lace, and anything you can imagine. I have used the back pocket off a pair of jeans to create a tuck spot in a journal. I use old sheet music, old Bibles, and old books. You can also download ephemera from Etsy or find clip art online that fits your needs. I learned how to fold and glue in different types of pockets from you tube. One common style is a seed packet.
I have seen junk journals that sell for $10 upwards of $75 on Etsy. There are so many different types and themes. There is something for everyone. Chicken/farm journals, recipe journals, diary style journals, etc. and these journals can be used for absolutely anything. I tend to make mine look modern antique. If that is such a thing.
Junk journals are truly one-of-a-kind pieces of art. They are a ton of fun to make, but quite time consuming. You think, I am going to make a journal with ten pieces of paper. But when you fold them over you now have twenty pages to decorate. So, remember that if you venture into making one of your own.
I am including pictures of some of the journals and pages I have created. I will also put some up for sale on my site if anyone is interested. You can even use them as photo albums by gluing photos on the pages. So, you can create a very personalized gift for someone. I have two travel journals I have made. One for my trip to Salem, MA and one for Kentucky. Neither one is finished, but I have a good start.
Let me know if you want to learn more about junk journals. I am not an expert by any means, but I have made a few. If you like paper crafting you will love making journals. Please leave a comment or question and I will get back to you. As always, live life to the fullest.
Comments