A Glimpse at my First Junk Journal

 

It is my belief that when we are new to a craft or art, it's quite likely we will need to learn what that art form is all about.   And that the very best way to learn is to start where you are with whatever droplet of inspiration that you might have and then one must find others who are performing the same art and learn from them and what inspires them.

So, my first junk journal is a semi failure.  I didn't have a clear idea of what I was doing only a vague notion.  And while I found I had a good eye for potential materials, i.e. junk, I lack skill in executing what my vision saw.  A few pages of the Christmas journal turned out cute, some were a mess and some downright ugly.  My biggest mistake was failing to have a blank space to journal!  I can remedy that by going back and adding in pockets and then tucking embellished labels and tags and sheets into pockets and envelopes.  These fun little books are meant to be used as a true journal with photos, writings, quotes, etc., as well as a way to express an artistic point of view.

However, mess that it might be, incomplete though it is, I thought I'd share a few of my better pages with you, just in case this is something that you too would like to look into.  Please, please do not judge my lack of skill as what all junk journals will look like.  There is a wide variety of styles out there and I was strictly limiting myself to just what I had on hand, not buying a thing.

I found a new vlogger whose work I really like.  She is skilled in teaching the why and how to of junk journals that no other vlogger had explained.  Her name is Cat Hand.  I've shared the YouTube link.  And her Instagram is @cat_hand.  She's very good and sells her things online, creates some of her own printables, etc.  But she also makes good use of junk, bits and pieces clipped from a magazine or catalog, packaging, etc.  

If this is something that might interest you, please do go look her up.  Her style is totally different from that of the first artist I shared.

I'm going to try to get these photos in the same order as they are in my journal.  There are several blank pages still in my journal and at least two that I want to completely redo because they were not pretty nor imaginative in anyway.  I can do better if i take time to play about a bit before I start to build the page.  And yes, I will definitely give myself spaces to 'journal'.  

I had this scrapbook paper in my stash.  I embellished the pattern with a bit of glitter in the center of each of the shapes.  I backed the paper with cardstock and glued it on.  The nutcracker image is from an envelope that came in the mail (junk mail!) and the title is from a scrapbook paper.  The little tag I had on hand, and I embellished it with a sticker from more junk mail.

This is the paper I chose to use on my binding.  And this is NOT the correct way to bind these books. It's just the way I did it.  I've since seen a tutorial on how to do this much neater and more nicely

I tried my hand at calligraphy...Too many new skills to master at once!  Nothing is perfect but that's okay.  I'll get better as time goes on.  I think I'm going to buy me a couple of the kindergarten lined pads to practice calligraphy.

The greenery was clipped from a junk mail envelope...

This a portion of a junk mail envelope and the words embellishing it are clipped from another scrapbook paper.  I used a button from my stash of buttons thinking I'd be able to close the envelope, but I miscalculated that.  I've tucked a few wishes for things I really hope to acquire this year...and one or two far-fetched dreams.  Might as well make big wishes as well as small ones!

About the time I started this page I was just plain having fun.  The trees are various scrapbook or construction papers, and the little Santa is clipped from a notepad page.  Another junk mail enclosure.

I wrote my letter to Santa...It's tucked into this envelope and I will open it next year...

This poinsettia should have gone in my art journal.  I had a scrap piece of wrapping paper and 'saw' the flower petal shape.  Some people do have art journals, and they would have taken something like this and journaled on a portion of the page, perhaps painted the background.  

This is only one of two or three art pages.  I was very much experimenting and trying to find the style that suits me.

I found these replicas on the back of the boxes of cards I sent out this year.  I clipped them and made a gallery wall effect.  The oval snowman is a sticker...and I can see that I need to remove that star next to it.  It's completely thrown off the balance of the page.

I was anticipating going to see our church play, "Believe" and had already made a page for it in my journal...And then our plans changed.  Never mind.  The church is airing it on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, so I'll get to see it then.  

This page has a sort of 3-D effect because the bows are not quite flat.  Just a variety of scrap pieces of paper on this page.  I wanted this page to represent the pile of presents I'd put under my tree this year.  One of my best decisions was to wrap early and enjoy the sight of those wrapped presents.  I'm glad I didn't deny myself the pleasure of seeing that pile of prettily wrapped gifts.

My goal with this little book has been to commemorate our Christmas this year.  I'd like to add a page that documents the movies we saw over the month and another one with a little pocket that I can add recipe cards for the cookies I made this year. 

I'd like to add a page that has our menu for Christmas day on it and notes about how the table was set.

I've begun a page with a stocking on it.  I'd like to tuck in a list of things we really enjoyed in our stockings this year and a few suggestions for next year...Which reminds me, I bought a book to tuck into my stocking, and I completely forgot it!

This is my very first attempt at a junk journal.  I have plans to start another journal here very shortly, but I want to wait until after the first of the year.  I've already accumulated a nice little bit of stuff to use.

Later:  I have just finished the last page...Not to say that it's completely finished because I may continue to add highlights, outlines, borders, etc., but at this point every page is full and I'm pleased at the moment with how they all have come out.