Are you planning to document 'the most wonderful time of the year'? - then how about a *Festive junk journal* & some *Christmassy Bits*?

Hello hello.

2014 has really been the year of the junk journal in my Etsy shop but also in my own crafting:

• I used one to document some of the special occasions in May
• and followed that up with my Summertime journal which ran from June to September. 
• Then ... I used an altered book to mark out days in September ...
• ... and I'm rounding off the year with a festive junk journal!

And if, like me, you like the idea of recording the moments, lists, details, photos, thoughts etc of the season with a relaxed creative project ... then take a look at the 'Festive Junk Journal' packs I've put together and see which one rings your [jingle] bell.

Oh and, if you need any more persuading ... these kits are truly unique as each pack contains a selection of 5 original, unused, Christmas cards from the 70s/80s!! If you're of a certain age [like me] then you're likely to even recognise some of them ... they're an amazing blast from the past!

Over the 10 different designs of pack there's a colour-combination to suit most tastes and there are  'Christmassy Bits' embellishment packs to coordinate with them too: 

[A] Some are bright / modern / pink / purple/ eclectic ...

Above: 'A Merry Little Christmas'; 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'; Pink Christmassy Bits.

 

[B] ... while others are red / blue / green and full of character:

Above: 'Rockin Robin'; 'Rockin Around the Christmas Tree'; 'Baby It's Cold Outside', 'Thomas at Christmas';  Blue + Red Christmassy Bits.

[C] ... then there are those in typical traditional deep reds / burgundy / fir green:

 Above: 'The Holly & The Ivy'; 'A Partridge in a Pear Tree'; 'Rouge & Turquoise' Christmassy Bits.

[D] And finally ... something soft / vintage / romantic / neutral: 

 Above: 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'; 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'; White Gold + Ice / Gold Christmassy Bits.

And there a few more on the shop shelves too. And here are a few more details on the journals:

 

*FESTIVE JUNK JOURNAL* bits packs contain 25+ items including ...

1.  5 **unused** ORIGINAL Christmas cards from the 70s/80s in shades which compliment the pack. You can use these as pages in your book [I have in mine!] or else to send to loved ones - it's entirely up to you. [Please note that, as the cards are over approx. 30years old some may be imperfect around the edges].
2. approx. 25 colour-co-ordinated items including pockets, patterned paper pages, labels, tags etc
3. something a bit sturdier to use as a cover plus a section of corrugated card to use as a book spine [complete with link to a tutorial].
4. plus approx. 1 metre of coordinating twine.

Book rings are not included but are available separately here.

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If you've got any questions about the packs, then ask away [either here or on my Facebook page]. I'm sure I'll get around to sharing photos of my own journal at some point but, until then, if you need inspiration of what to do with a pack like this then just browse back through my other journals of 2014 as the principles exactly the same .... just less festive!

Julie :-)

p.s: I'm planning to offer some more of the original retro Christmas cards for sale singly - not in packs - so if there's any that have caught your eye then hold that thought ....

Filling a Junk Journal: Inside my 'Summertime 2014' album *Part 1*

Hi you.

This year my junk journals are like buses; you wait forever for one and then you become so desperate to get home that you blindly get on the next one that comes which turns out to be the wrong one and then you have to get off and walk in the rain. No, hang on ... I'm confusing junk journals with my life ...  ;-)

...no, what I meant was: you wait forever for one and then two come along at once. Yes, that's what I meant.

My 'Summertime 2014' journal ...

... is the second I've shared here recently after sharing my 'May 2014' one in the last few weeks here, here and here.

Plus there's a full step-by-step tutorial here all about how to add a spine feature to a junk journal / mini-album as I did to today's journal.

 And I'm sharing them with you this summer for two main reasons:

1. I like how they turned out. Woo! Yay! It's always nice when a project goes to plan!
2. And ... I get asked by customers and people interested in the junk journal 'bits' in my shop [all one-of-kind packs, filled with genuine ephemera and oddments!] if I can show them any examples of the kind of things they could make with their packs. [They do ask that!! I swear!]

And it can be tricky to offer up simple examples as each pack I sell  is different ... so I can't show a pre-prepared sample ... or else I'll have used up the kit and it'll be gone!

But I can at least use my books to demonstrate a few possibilities and general approaches you can take with the 'bits' packs you've bought from me[or your own ephemera].

So, if you've ever asked ... and even if you haven't ... here's what you too could do with a small pile of paper, a hole punch, two book rings and something sticky. [Like glue or tape I mean. Not honey. Or a stick.]

My starting point:
I created this 'Junk Journal Bits' pack for myself which - like many I sell - contained a mix of 20 or so colour-coordinated items of ephemera:

For some reason I was inspired to use a colour scheme I don't think I've used before: green, yellow and peachy orange and [fortunately!] it seems to have turned out OK in the end!

BTW: My golden rule whenever I'm trying to get a colour scheme to work is: be brave and just keep adding. A few items in a weird colour mix will stand out and look odd. But, thrown in a lot of odd colours, several times across the project, [a yellow page here, a yellow label there, a strip of yellow washi somewhere else] and you've got yourself a deliberate colour-scheme!

The basic assembly of my original 20 pieces involved nothing more taxing than punching holes along the sides of the items I planned to use as pages and at this point it looked a bit naked ...

The cover:

To house my journal I followed the techniques I've detailed in this tutorial, to create a book-style cover ... leaving it better dressed than before! [See above] To personalise the cover I added a vintage collector's card and old postage stamp featuring butterflies, a strip of vintage wallpaper and a few word snippets on a summer theme.

The pages:

 As it's intended to be a document of my summer it contains:

• photos of my July city break;
• plus pockets of ephemera [tickets, leaflets, receipts] from the holiday;
• notes about what we ate ... we're foodies; eating out is one of the highlights of any trip and definitely needs documenting!
• plus it was the obvious place to house the photos I've been taking throughout summer for the 'Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt'.

To store all of this I used a mix of page bases and you really can use anything you fancy to fill a junk journal [the clue's in the name!]. 

Here's a page from an old book which I've done nothing more to than add a few scraps in the bottom corner. When you've got a fabulous illustration like that there's no need to cover it up! Just allow it to add a unique feel to your journal:

I even used the back cover from of the old map that I used on my front cover and, rather than trim it down and cover over the holes in it, I simply kept it whole, punched holes for the book rings and stuck a photo on top: 

Another page was made from an old mileage claim form [from my ephemera collection] which happened to fit my colour scheme and subject matter perfectly!

Then there are lots of pages made simply by chopping up sheets of patterned paper:

And they really are all chopped up. Not carefully measured and trimmed. Chopped / hacked at with scissors. 

In fact, the whole book is a particularly higgledy-piggeldy, randomly eclectic project; no two pages are the same size ... it's quick and wonky and that suits me just fine!

 

As much as I love playing with paper I really want a book about my summer to be completed in my summer! There's no hanging around for perfection here! 

And, when the end result is a fun patchwork of colour, shape and moments ... then the lack of straight lines or carefully measured edges really doesn't make any difference!!

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This glimpse into the basic make up of my summer junk journal is just Part 1.  

There are several more to come in the days ahead all aimed at offering up general ideas which YOU can adapt into your own book. I'll be covering:

• a variety of ways to store ephemera, leaflets, tickets etc
• plus a few creative techniques you can use to add in some more unusual page styles
• all with examples on how I've used the methods in my journal.

If you're inspired by any of the ideas from today then please do pin / share them with like-minded crafty-types. Your support really does help my blog and shop reach new sets of eyes and it's always very much appreciated! 

Right ... I'll be back soon with those further ideas on how you can fill a junk journal. See you then then!

Julie

Junk Journals: Inside my 'May 2014' album. Part 2:: The foldy-out, lifty-up, store-that-in-there type pages

 

Hello again.

 

This is the third post in which I'm sharing one of my complete junk journals to inspire you to try this relaxed style of self-expression for yourself. And today I'm going to focus on ways to add extra interest to your pages by adding interactive elements and storage pockets.

 

It's also a useful post for anyone who's bought the 'Blue sky and Blackboards' self-contained Junk Journal kit as that's the kit I used as my starting point:

If you're interested in or have already bought the kit I'll point out which items are from it as we move along - LOOK OUT FOR THE **asterisks** AS THEY DENOTE THAT THE ITEM MENTIONED IS PART OF THE KIT.

If you missed any of the other posts in this series you can catch up here: 

• A general introduction to Junk Journals
• Lots more images inside my 'May 2014' journal with ideas for adding collage and/or scrapbooking elements into your book.

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Inside my 'May 2014' album. Part 2:: The foldy-out, lifty-up, store-that-in-there type pages

In my earlier post I shared the various styles of simple page design I'd used in the journal< Now today I'll focus on those pages which not only look nice ... they serve a purpose too!

Using envelopes & pockets:
If you're using your junk journal as a memory-keeping album then you'll probably have lots of ephemera [receipts, leaflets, tickets etc] related to that moment in time; and you'll need somewhere to store it all.

I've used a clear pocket*  [you get 2 in the kit] here to hold a restaurant business card:

One of the good things about using a clear pocket is that not only do you not forget what you put in there ... you - and anyone who's browsing through your album - is more tempted to take it out and have a look. It's not so secret and hidden away!

The clear pockets are available to buy individually in my Etsy shop for just 45p!! [and with FREE P+P when purchased with another item it's worth picking up a few with your next order!]

I've also used them to hold a mini-photo:

And with the popularity of multi-pocket-style scrapbooking ... this style will be familiar to many scrapbookers; it's just on a smaller scale! [Plus, the pockets will hold the regular 3x4inch cards from multi-pocket scrapbooking suppliers.]

 

Alternatively store receipts etc out of the way in a handmade, hand-stitched, pocket*: 

Or else decorate a regular envelope with a photo from the event in question [with a washi-tape tab on the flap to remind you that it's there to be lifted].

Here the outside features a photo of me near to the restaurant; while inside I've saved the receipt from the meal:

'Lift-the-flap' fold-out pages:
First up, greeting cards make ideal pre-folded  and, more importantly, decorative 'lift-the-flap' elements in a junk journal.

That particular envelope* above is from the kit and it comes complete with this greeting card* which is our next example of an interactive page ...

I stuck the adorable card on to a page made from kraft card then added a label on the front detailing what you'll find when you open the card ...

You can then decorate the inside of the card with some collaged elements too.

Washi tape is also a quick and easy way to add a flap to your page:

Here I've managed to fit two photos on to my petite page by attaching the 2nd over the top of the 1st using a strip of washi which acts as a hinge:

[BTW: the size of book ring I've used is also available in my shop - at just 70p - it's large enough for you not to have to worry about over-filling your journal!]

And finally ... rather than a lift-up page here's a fold-out landscape design:

It's simply made from a band of 11x12inch card stock folded in half, length ways, then the outer short edge was edge-punched [which isn't necessary - I just liked it!].

You can decorate the inside of the fold with anything you like but I used a section of a page from an old book which complimented my photo ... and finished off with a few song lyrics:

And there we have it, they're all the interactive pages of my 'May 2014' journal ... I hope there's something there that you'll remember to try and make your own next time you're tackling a mini album like this.

When you're working in such a small scale it's good to have a few tricks up your sleeve that can make the best use of the space! It's like IKEA storage ... for your junk journal!

If you've enjoyed this post please share it with others in whatever way you share [Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, word-of-mouth]. Reaching new eyes, new like-minded creative folk [and yes, potential customers] is s one way I can continue to blog here regularly and share my creative ideas for free.

Thank you!

Do let me know if you've tried any of the techniques we've been looking at in this journal.

Julie :-)

p.s:

Here are those links featuring the remainder of this journal once again:  

• A general introduction to Junk Journals
• Lots more images inside my 'May 2014' journal with ideas for adding collage and/or scrapbooking elements into your book.
• And here's the 'Blue Sky and Blackboard' kit again.

Junk Journaling: Inspiration from my 'May 2014' journal. Part 1:: The collaged and scrapbooked pages

Hello there.

If you've ever looked at a Junk Journal 'Bits' pack in my vintagey/crafty supply Etsy shop, or if you've ever thought about making your own, but you don't know where to go with it once you've got all the items there in front of you ... then this post - filled with photos from one of my latest projects - is just for you!

By their very nature no two junk journals can ever be the same; the items are usually reclaimed, not mass-produced, plus we decorate them with our own unique photos, words and 'bits' and so ...

I've tried to make this post not merely about just sharing my project but also about the general ideas behind each page. That way the design elements should be easy to transfer over into your personal project, without you needing to have the exact same supplies.

However ... if you would like to begin with the supplies which formed the base of my journal ...  then you can pick up the 'Blue Sky & Blackboards' kit here in my shop.

Unlike the other packs I have on sale this one is a fully self-contained 'kit' which comes complete with pre-punched holes in a selection of the pages plus the book ring to join it all together. Do have a look at the full - detailed - product description here to get the full picture of what's included ... there's a lot! [Black and white chequerboard sticky tape anyone?].

Here are a some of the supplies I added to the base kit:

... mainly it's photos, ephemera [receipts, leaflets etc] plus a few vintage book pages, some scraps, and a few splashes of orange [which works so well with the aqua elements of the kit!]

If you're interested in or have bought the kit I'll point out which items are from it as we move along - LOOK OUT FOR THE **asterisks** AS THEY DENOTE THAT THE ITEM MENTIONED IS PART OF THE KIT.

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My May 2014 as a Junk Journal ...

The end result is approximately 17x11cm [just larger than the average 6x4" postcard] and it's a tag style book threaded on to a single book- ring*:

I chose to wrap the finished book with a length of woven banding* on to which I stitched a decorative crochet flower [a gift from a friend] and a button, adding a length of twine to hold it all safely shut.

The covers [above] are made from sturdy cardboard decorated with - but not hidden behind - number paper*, soft template paper from an old craft magazine* plus some splashes of colour. The overall effect I was aiming for was messy arty collagey scrappiness so there's no straight lines involved and plenty of torn edges.

On the inside cover I began with a brief introductory page; some typed wording, a chalkboard label* [similar, but not identical designs are in the kit] with cotton tape* that I coloured with spray ink:

The chequerboard sticky tape* and camera fabric* helped to reflect and balance out the colours of the label. 

So, now I've set the scene ... let's have a look inside.

While many of my pages feature photos [see below] - I am a lapsed scrapbooker after all - they're not by any means an essential part of junk journaling. So, if you don't use photos in your creative work maybe something here will inspire you ...

Examples of photo-free pages:
If there's a phrase, quote or lyric that reflects the mood you're looking to create, then make that the sole focus of a page. The other elements can act as a backdrop:

And even the smallest snippet of info is worth documenting to take you back to a particular place and time ... even without a photo:


* Scrap of mesh / 'Must Have' label + sticky tape - all from kit

And if you're not a fan of personal journaling then you can't go wrong with more of a list style of journaling:


As this list shows, you can continue the 'junk' / reclaimed feel by writing your journaling on something with an existing background design [such as this mathematical paper*] rather than on a personality-free blank sheet!

Other photo-free options include pure collage; which is really just using paper for the love of it! No need to even attempt to tell a story - not in words at least. Try expressing yourself with colour and shapes instead!

Sometimes people aren't sure what to do with items of vintage ephemera they have in their stash ... but really ... there's no need to tie yourself up in knots trying to be clever with it ... here I simply used a vintage Lotto board* as page:

Its lovely muted colours worked perfectly as a base to a little bit of collage; which is simply a line cut from vintage sheet music and a few scraps in my chosen colour scheme.

Below is a similar idea, only this time using new ephemera - a leaflet from one of the day trips I'm using the journal to document. Rather than keep it separate, tucked inside an envelope in the album, I simply cut it down and turned it into a page. What better way to give an album a very specific personalised theme?

*The 'Love This' chalkboard label and kraft luggage tag are from the kit.

In contrast ... this item of ephemera  - a swing tag from a coat I bought months ago - has nothing to do with the place we went to:

... but it did strike a note with me just the same!! I added the punched heart.

Now I've convinced you that you don't need to use photos ... let me show you how you can if you want to!

A scrapbooker does Junk Journaling:
If you're used to scrapping on 12x12" then the surroundings may well feel a little different ... a little smaller, more condensed, more relaxed even ...

... but you can still work with the familiar premise of photo + title + journaling as these pages demonstrate:

To get my photos small enough ...

• I make a photo collage [in Picasa, but there are probably lots of other methods] using two images.
• I then save it and print it out on to regular 4x6" photo paper. I then simply cut them apart into two photos small enough to use on this size of page!

Sometimes less is more ...

... especially on such a small scale, so I don't always embellish my photos:

And 'embellishments' needn't be 3D ones ... I personally like to use the smallest of scraps in a minimal arrangement:

*Tag [page base] and patterned paper from the kit.

I feel it helps me keep a collage feel even when I'm in scrapbooking territory! After all you can pretty much blend together any of your favourite techniques in a junk journal ... it's definitely the place to allow yourself to experiment!!

Another way of adding 'something' to a photo could be to journal over the top of it like I did here after typing on to self-adhesive fabric tape*:

Or ... by typing [or writing / stamping / using rub-ons] directly on to it as I did here [with the title of the sculpture 'Ocean Voices']:

And, of course, it wouldn't be one of my projects if there wasn't a snippet of words in there somewhere!

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Believe it or not ... there are actually more pages from this petite journal left for us to chat about! And, as they all share something in common - an element of interactivity - I'm going to allocate them their own dedicated post in a few days time.

Before then ... I'll be back with other stuff and nonsense ... and you can check out the new kit here ... or dig out an existing kit and get journaling!

If there's an idea in this post you'd like to try out please do save / Pin this post for future reference ... and maybe even share it with your crafty friends too! Thanks so much!

Julie :-)
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* Items labelled with the asterisk are included in the 'Blue Sky & Blackboards' kit available from my Etsy shop.

Junk Journals: Perfectionism VS the lure of the cardboard box

Hello hello.

I've been curating, compiling and selling Junk Journal 'bits' packs via my Etsy shop for just around 4 months and making my own junk journals / mini-albums made from recycled materials for a lot longer - about 6 years in fact and so ...

... if you haven't tried putting one together yet I'm going to try to tempt you to give it a whirl!

And I'm relying on this - the main weapon in my arsenal - to help me convince you:

Yes, my main weapon is an empty cardboard box! And yes, I'm hoping that it will encourage you to try something new to you ... by reconnecting you with something from your past.  Let me explain ...

You remember how it used to go? [Actually I'm willing to bet your parents have probably never let you forget!] ...

• you were a kid
• it was your birthday / Christmas / special occasion
• someone [usually those parents-with-the-long-memories] was kind enough to buy you the big shiny gift you'd dreamed about / written to Santa regarding / highlighted in the Argos catalogue
• you were over-the-moon, took it out of the box, set it all up and played with it blissfully until tea time and then ...
• ... you turned your attention to the cardboard box it came in!

Maybe you climbed inside it [of course you climbed inside it .. who wouldn't!?] ... and maybe it became the sailing ship in which you crossed the carpet ocean.

Maybe you put it on your head [again ... of course you did ... and if you're anything like me, you still do from time to time ...] and maybe it became the space helmet which protected you from an alien atmosphere.

Maybe you tipped it on to its side and drew windows and doors on it transforming it into a bespoke doll's house, or a shop, or zoo.

And maybe you cut it up and made wings, banners and all kinds of props for the shows you'd put on ... in front of parents who sat there slowly shaking their heads while mumbling wistfully "after all that we could have just bought her the cardboard box"...

Sound familiar? Good, because what I'm trying to say is this:

Don't get me wrong, I love a brand new paper crafting supply, fresh out of the box, as much as the next crafter. But the thing is ... I like to use the box too!

 

Meet my newest complete junk journal, which documents some special moments from May, the covers of which were cut down from ... guess ... yep, that's right ... a cardboard box!

And yes, I've covered up the majority of it but I'm in no way hiding it.

 I love this style of mini-book journal call-it-what-you-will:

• It's imperfect; in fact, I'd go so far as to say it's the mortal enemy of perfectionism!
• It's eco-friendly; it recycles / upcycles all kinds of cardboard, paper, book pages and ephemera.
• It's creative; there's no right or wrong way to assemble any of my packs - nor any of the supplies you pull together for yourself. You get to reinterpret all the reclaimed supplies in your own way, to suit your own photos or stories or favourite colour schemes.
• It encourages 'just go for it'-ness; what's the worst that can happen? If you go wrong ... just find another cardboard box or old book page! This messy collagey style, using less-than-precious materials works best when it wonky and slightly shabby ... it feels more authentic somehow. Sort of like the crafting equivalent of Lieutenant Columbo...
• Alternatively if you're more of a painty inky type who uses paint over their 'junk' bases ... it works on the same principle. There's nothing precious being 'spoilt' by any so-called mistakes.

Here's my attempt at journaling using my fairly new-to-me old typewriter:

 ... it's hit and miss ... I'm not denying it! I covered over some mistakes with patterned paper and white-out tape while I left others there because, really ... who cares?!

If I'd wanted 'perfect' I'd have spent time typing it into a text box [which I'd have had to have measured so I knew it would fit] in a word-processor, spell-checking, then printing it out.

But I didn't' want that. I wanted retro, nostalgic and edgy ... and I wanted it then and there. While I was in  the mood. When I had the chance. While it was fresh in my mind.

But if I had wanted to start afresh? Well, it would have cost me the price of a new index card. And that wouldn't really have broken the bank. Or my heart.

This page from my May album - made from a recycled clothing label with a scrap of patterned paper and a die-cut leftover surround stapled to it - embodies the whole idea of junk journaling ... it's just a more relaxed way to craft:

And often ... once you've let go of any fear about spoiling your new project by making a 'mistake' or trying to be perfect ... that's when you do your best work!

So ... how did I do? Did I succeed in tempting you over to the imperfect side?

Are you metaphorically [or even literally, I won't tell anyone!] climbing back into that empty cardboard box of your childhood?

Will you allow its attitude of 'you-can't-hurt-me-so-you-might-as-well-just-dive-in-and-enjoy-me' win you over ... again?

I do hope so!!  Make sure to let me know it you try your hand at junk journaling in the future.

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** 'Blue sky and blackboards' the junk journal kit I've used as the base of my May 2014 album[pictured here] is available here in my shop. [More than one kit is available with items varying only slightly between individual packs.]

• Unlike the other packs I have on sale this one is a fully self-contained 'kit' rather than a pack of elements for you to assemble how you fancy!.
• 'Blue sky and blackboards' comes complete with pre-punched holes in a selection of the pages
• Plus the book ring to join it all together.
• Do have a look at the full - detailed - product description here to get the full picture of what's included .. there's a lot! [Black and white chequerboard sticky tape anyone?].

If you love the kit, grab yours now and drop back here soon when I'll be sharing more images of my finished journal pages to inspire you to open up yours and start playing!

Julie :-)