Junk Journals
Introduction
A junk journal is a book made from found and recycled materials, which can be used to record your thoughts, ideas and inspirations. Junk journals can be used as a:
Very few materials are needed to get started
You can buy downloadable files online, which contain themed printables. You can print many copies of these for your own use – I buy mine from Etsy which has a wide range. These will include pockets, tabs, tags, images, labels and other items.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=junk%20journal%20printable&ref=auto-1&as_prefix=junk%20journal%20p
How to make your journal cover
Your journal is whatever you want it to be – use it how you wish, every day, occasionally, or make it a memento of a special occasion such as Christmas, special birthday or holiday.
A junk journal is a book made from found and recycled materials, which can be used to record your thoughts, ideas and inspirations. Junk journals can be used as a:
- Diary/journal to record everyday thoughts, track the highs and lows of your research and note quotes.
- Planner to record dates, to do lists, shopping lists and track expenditure.
- Memory book to keep mementos such as birthday cards, tickets and photographs.
- Theme book, record news, collect memorabilia and images on a specific topic.
- Art journal to keep inspiration, sketches, doodles and ideas for larger pieces of artwork.
- Gift – give a blank junk journal or a completed one as a gift.
Very few materials are needed to get started
- One sheet of scrapbooking card 12" x 12" (30cm x 30cm) – An old cereal box cut to size will also do (you can paint or collage this to cover the print).
- A range of paper and card cut to either A4 or A5 size (see below for suggestions)
- Two lengths of ribbon or yarn, each 75cm long
- Gluestick
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Hole Punch
- Old books/magazines (to take apart and cut up)
- Junk mail
- Old sheet music
- Old sewing patterns
- Scrapbook paper and embellishments
- Used postage stamps
- Stickers
- Old playing cards
- Bingo cards
- Greetings cards
- Wrapping paper/patterned gift bags
- Tissue paper
- Napkins
- Old notebooks
- Old address books
- Planners
- Notepads
- Notepaper
- Paperclips/binder clips
- Concert/event flyers or tickets
- Interesting business cards
- Coffee cup holders (the ribbed cardboard variety)
- Ticket stubs/train tickets
- Receipts
- Empty tea bags (cut and folded out)
- Maps/atlases
- Photos
- Ribbon, twine or yarn
- Product labels
- Mail order catalogues
- Sweet wrappers
- Tags from clothes
- Paper doilies
- Brown paper/brown paper bags
- Bits of old jewellery etc. to use as embellishments
You can buy downloadable files online, which contain themed printables. You can print many copies of these for your own use – I buy mine from Etsy which has a wide range. These will include pockets, tabs, tags, images, labels and other items.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=junk%20journal%20printable&ref=auto-1&as_prefix=junk%20journal%20p
How to make your journal cover
- Decide if you wish to have a theme, i.e. daily journal, holiday journal etc and gather things that reflect that.
- Take the 12" x 12" (30 x 30cm) card and measure 25 cm. Draw a faint line horizontally at this point and then fold the card along the line to make a flap.
- Glue the short side edges of the flap down to make pockets.
- Fold the card in half so the two new pockets are at the bottom.
- Find the mid point (12.5cm) and punch holes into the journal cover.
- Take any papers you have which are larger than A5 size and fold them in half. Punch holes in each page.
- Place all of the folded pages one inside the other.
- Take the papers which are A5 or smaller and punch holes in these too.
- Slot the single pages between the folded pages.
- If they are slightly wider than the cover, then you can trim them down.
- Add some pocket pages (remember to punch holes in these too):
- Take an envelope or paper bag, trim it to size along one or two sides and glue an edge if you need to.
- If you have no bags or envelopes, take an A4 piece of paper, fold in half and glue along 2 sides, either top and bottom or bottom and side. This will allow for mementos and leaflets to be stored.
- Slot the ribbon or yarn through each of the holes at the back of the cover so the ends are in the inside.
- Slot the ribbon through the stack of papers ensuring that it goes through each hole.
- Slot the ribbon through the front cover so all 4 ends of the ribbon are on the outside of the journal.
- If the pages are blank paper, you can write and draw directly onto them.
- If the pages are text, for example from magazines you may want to create some pockets/slots to hold journal cards. To do this cut a strip of card/strong paper either diagonally (triangle) or horizontally approximately 4 cm deep. Glue along the edges leaving one edge free to tuck the ephemera (train tickets etc.) or journal card into.
- Paint the pages.
- Stick labels or other ephemera to the pages.
- Use ink stamps to decorate.
- Use decorative tape to create borders on the pages.
- Glue decorative lace or ribbon to the edge of the page.
- Use specialist punches to create a decorative edge to your pages.
- Make tabs to show sections and glue these to the edge of the page.
Your journal is whatever you want it to be – use it how you wish, every day, occasionally, or make it a memento of a special occasion such as Christmas, special birthday or holiday.