Almost daily I’m asked What is a Junk Journal? So today I thought I would take the time to share what a Junk Journal is and how I use one in my life.

So what is a junk journal? Junk journals are different things to different people. What I love about junk journals is that there is no wrong way to make one. When I think of a junk journal I think of a book that is usually handmade but isn’t limited to being handmade. Then the content of the Junk Journal is usually a variety of “junk” that the owner adds to the journal. And place to write memories.

Things that can be in a junk journal? Well, there are all kinds of things that can be in a junk journal. Photos, postcards, maps, envelopes, receipts, bits of ribbon and lace, important documents, pressed flowers, items that might be considered trash to others can be found in a junk journal. Old book pages might be used for pockets to hold mementos. Items that have been altered to write a note on or tuck something inside – small paper bag from the drug store, a coffee sleeve to hold a greeting card or even an old-fashioned calling card.

And in my opinion, each junk journal should have a place to write. The writing space can be blank sheets of paper, notebook paper, graph paper, cardstock, letterhead, stationery, tags and more. Every person has their own style and may only need a small space, others want page after page of blank space to write. Having a junk journal that is handmade can help the writer have all the space they could ever want.

In this video, I share my thoughts about what is a junk journal and show several journals I have made.

A Junk Journal is a visual way of recording moments. The visual pieces might be paint, and papers and written notes. It could be recycled trash. The contents could all be items that were found or could be purchased items.

When it comes to what is a junk journal? It is whatever you make it for yourself. No one can tell you that what you made is wrong. So have fun.

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the journals I created? Please feel free to contact me through my Facebook Page.

Here is my shop, I have a lot of items uploaded and add more weekly.

My hope is that I have inspired you to look at those papers in your stash and make your own junk journal.

Keep updated of my posts by following me. Follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Or Follow my Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on my blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today to learn about What is a Junk Journal.

Calico Collage

All About Robins Junk Journal Tutorial

Today is All About Robins Junk Journal Tutorial. As I’ve been cleaning and organizing in my studio / craft space I found some All About Robins items. I also found a journal cover that was given to me and decided that it would be a good time to combine these together to create a junk journal.

All About Robins Junk Journal Tutorial Video

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMOoL26BeU?feature=oembed&w=750&h=422]

Supplies used:

All About Robins Items
Speckled Egg Distress Oxide Ink
Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide
Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide
Salty Ocean Distress Oxide
Blending Brushes
Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Ranger Ink Blending Tool
Henna Rose Stamp
Spring Song Bird
Ulysses Butterfly
Geranium Maderense
Leaves
Little Daisy
Leaves and Berries
Flourished Bordered Lines
Bunny and Flower Duo
Calico Collage Bible Verse Domino images
Archival Ink Jet Black
Charms
Book pages
Sheet Music
Aleene’s Tacky Glue
Cover from old notebook

The inside of the cover was decorated by the person who gave me the cover. I decided to leave it as it was and only added to the inside spine since it was blank.

On the right side I stamped the Henna Rose and then layered over the top of the bible page. The Doily was sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists and then I stacked a few pages from a tear off notepad that my Mother in Law gave me a while back. Then over that I added an image from the All About Robins Sub Box and the word inspired that I stamped a long time ago.

I like being able to combine different kits together. On the left I used a page from the Musical Botanical Mini Journal. The bird on the pocket was from a dictionary. Sometimes those dictionaries can have some wonderful images, keep an eye out for them. On the right side was a page where I laid a card down and then sprayed through a stencil. It created the negative space with a border of the stenciled pattern. This effect is great to create two things at one time. And actually I created three. The base Page, the journal card and a mop up page. Adding the little bird stamp in the corner adds a sweet touch.

I found a package of printed little tags when I was cleaning and thought it would be good to put one on this page. The right side of the page is a piece of tissue that I sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists then Rubber stamped a few flowers with leaves and a text stamp. Then I used watered down Aleen’s Tacky glue and painted a plastic bag, while it was wet I laid the tissue on the glue. Add another layer of glue on the top side, push the edges in to create texture so it is easy to pull up then allow to dry. Doing this technique strengthens the tissue paper and makes a cool crinkle sound when added to a journal.

The featured thumbnail shows an All About Robins Page on the left. Then on the right side I used the Feeding Frenzy Stencil with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists on a pink text weight paper. Layered in the corner is an image from the All About Robins Kit. Inside the pocket are some tags that were given to me.

Adding a simple pocket to a book page looks pretty. I’m glad that I kept some scraps from a project I made a while back. The colors in the pieces all seemed to work well together and these were all from different creative sessions.

I’m so thankful to my friends who send items to me. Many times I remember who gave them to me and many times I do not. Hopefully if you gave items to me you will understand that sometimes it is hard to keep track of everything. So thank you for your gifts. The dear head note pad paper was one of these gifts. Beside it I used a scrap of napkin that was adhered to a book page. I thought it blended well together. On the right was a stenciled page I created during the video. Using Distress Oxide inks and a blending tool I added lots of color then I sprayed with a couple of colors of Tattered Angels Glimmer mists. The stamped flower and text was the final touch to the page.

Inspired by a journal card that Norella of Calico Collage created for her Amarillo Rose Kit I made my own version using stamps and coffee dyed paper. I also used some scrapbook paper and a digital copy of one of my gel prints.

Sometimes you have to be creative when you want to use something that doesn’t fit on a journal page. I really liked this stationary page, but it was too wide to fit on the page. So I cut off the sides and then realized that I could glue them back on and it would fit on the page. Get creative with what you have!

Layered pockets are fun to add in a journal. I used a strip of scrapbook paper to create a vertical pocket and then layered on of the All About Robins images as a horizontal pocket. The tag was a printed dictionary paper that was given to me and I just layered some scraps and an image from a dictionary on top.

A belly band is a great way to add something thick to a journal. I made the little folio a while back and thought it would be a pretty addition to this junk journal. It is full of little items to use for journaling.

The back inside cover was pretty as it was, but I wanted to cover up the brand name of the cover and add a pocket. The pink foil cardstock scrap that was given to me was perfect for this spot. I then added a tag from Calico Collage’s Amirillo Rose and one from the All About Robins kit.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing my project today and that you are inspired to create! Take a look around your stash of goodies and see what you can pull together. It doesn’t have to be fancy to create a beautiful journal. Add color and texture with different supplies and tools and have fun while creating!

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the projects Linda has created? Please feel free to contact her through her website. Here is her shop, a lot of items featured and more added weekly.

Keep updated on her posts by following the blog by creating an account. Follow Linda on her Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on the blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today to see the All About Robins Junk Journal Tutorial.

How to...

Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial

Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial using book pages, stamps and more I’ll show how to create a faux seed packet and an altered paperclip. Use up those left over bits of paper to create a fun seed packet, this design can also be used as a coin envelope.

Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial Video

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QpYDwB74_o?feature=oembed&w=750&h=422]

Supplies Used.

I’ve been planting seeds, getting ready for the spring planting season and was inspired to create a faux seed packet. Looking through my stash I found scraps that I felt would work for this project. Book pages and gel prints are great for this project. Even if the gel print wasn’t perfect, it can add a pop of color and pattern to the seed packet.

Don’t worry if the paper you have doesn’t have a crisp pattern, most of it will be covered with other bits. So use up those not so favorite pieces and make something beautiful.

Once you get started making these, soon you will be lost in creating and have several to use in journals.

To get started with this Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial, select a book page and then score it and cut it down. The front of the seed packet measures about 3.25 wide by 4.25 once it has the sides and tops folded to the inside.

Cut another book page or gel print or any other paper to measure about 3.25 inches wide by about 5.75 to 6 inches tall, this will become the back of the faux seed packet.

Score from the bottom at 4.5 inches leaving the top portion to be the fold over part of the envelope. In the tutorial I trimmed the top down to 1 inch and then covered the inside of the envelope flap with another piece of paper.

Since I used a book paged that I painted with yellow acrylic paint I decided to stamp over the paint with the Henna Rose Stamp using Archival Ink Jet Black. Stamping over the book page helps obscure the text and adds a unique pattern to the paper.

Going back to the front plain book page using Mustard Seed Distress Oxide ink add color to the paper. Then add different shades of yellow Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists to deepen the color. Using the Henna Rose Stamp again add on top of the color for more pattern.

Fold in the tabs on the front of the seed packet and then adhere using Aleene’s Tacky glue, or your adhesive of choice.

Apply Distress Ink Walnut Stain around the edges both inside and out of the seed packet.

Decorate the front of the seed packet with the Chamomile Stamp set, colored with watercolor pencil on a piece of ivory scrap of paper.

For the back of the seed packet select a piece of coffee dyed paper and stamp the Hand Drawn Notebook paper, then fussy cut around the image.

Adhere the notebook paper on the back and layer the Little Daisy water colored flower in the corner.

For the altered paperclip use a piece of cardstock scrap and cover it with scraps left over from creating the seed packet. Round the corners with the corner chomper. Add a snippet of lace, the Stamped Leaves and bloom to decorate the front of the paperclip.

For the inside create a simple journal card that has coffee dyed paper on the back and stamped in the corner with the Henna Rose Stamp.

Look through your stash and see what you can use and create a few to use in journals or to give as gifts.

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the projects Linda has created? Please feel free to contact her through her website. Here is her shop, a lot of items featured and more added weekly.

Keep updated on her posts by following the blog by creating an account. Follow Linda on her Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on the blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today to see the Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial.

How to...

Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages

In this Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages I’ll share how to use book pages and make pretty background papers. Grab a few book pages, some stamps and watercolor paints and play along with me.

Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages Video. Will be a Primer video on YouTube, Monday February 5th at 3:45 pm central standard time.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyapCYdbQW0?feature=oembed&w=750&h=422]

Supplies Used

To begin, select a book page as your base. Using an old gift card (plastic card) swipe white or ivory acrylic craft paint over the entire page. I like to leave a little bit of the text visible, but if your page isn’t very pretty or you don’t like the text, just keep applying paint until it is covered the way you like. Dry the page, either by letting it air dry or use a heat tool.

Select a few stamps that you want to use and create masks. I like to use text weight paper and stamp with Rangers Archival Ink, Jet Black. Flip the paper over and apply Zig Two Way glue. Don’t get to precise applying the glue, you just want some swipes here and there so that it will stick, but not stay stuck on your project. Hint if you get too much glue and it is way too sticky, try pressing the paper to clothing, usually the fuzz on your clothes will attach to the glue and then it won’t be as sticky. Allow the Zig Two Way Glue to air dry, I usually just lay my paper with the glue up for a few minutes while I get ready to do the next step on my project. Fussy cut the images very close to the outside line, in fact if you go just inside that like it will be better. Don’t want the halo affect around your images, so cut close.

In my project I decided to have dragonflies, flowers and leaves. I stamped the dragonflies first as I wanted those to be “on top” of the page. Once all the dragonflies are stamped, cover with masks. Next stamp the sketched daisy. When needed go ahead and mask the daisies so that you can over lap them. Mask all of the daisies then stamp the leaves. I like to make sure that the stem of the leaves is hidden behind the flowers. Rotate your page or your stamp to get each image where you want them.

Remove all the masks. I store mine on a transparency film (think over head projector film). Sheet protectors or even laminated sheets could also work for storing the masks. I like to keep them as it usually takes a lot of work to create these and I know I’ll use them again later on in my crafting.

If you used my stamps you are allowed to scan the paper you just made and then print and color over and over. You may sell the printed colored paper, but not the digital image. I like to print several and play around with different colors. If you are using an inkjet printer, seal your paper with workable fixative. Then the ink won’t bleed. Or even better if you have a laser printer use that for your prints.

Now here comes the fun part. Grab the watercolor paints and add color to the dragonflies, flowers and leaves. I even added color to the background. I do recommend that you allow each layer of paint to dry, or use a heat tool and manually dry the layers.

Add highlights of the metallic watercolors to give the page a beautiful shimmer. And when you are done, again, if you used my stamps, you can scan the image and print it over and over for your projects. You may sell the newcreated project using the paper, but not the digital images.

Have fun using the Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds in your projects. Please tag me on social media if you use this technique, I would love to see how your page(s) turn out!

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the projects Linda has created? Please feel free to contact her through her website. Here is her shop, a lot of items featured and more added weekly.

Keep updated on her posts by following the blog by creating an account. Follow Linda on her Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on the blog.

What is a Junk Journal

Published by Linda Israel on September 16, 2017September 16, 2017

Almost daily I’m asked What is a Junk Journal? So today I thought I would take the time to share what a Junk Journal is and how I use one in my life.

In this video, I share my thoughts about what is a junk journal and show several journals I have made.