Hoping this post finds you all well and keeping out of mischief. In between working over the weekend, I have started on my Junk Journal series which I am going to create as a Step By Step in Parts for you.
I will be showing you how to make the cover, pages and how to bind it together, plus decorate and embellish it to the theme of what you want to use your journal for.
You can play along with me or do your own thing and make yours into whatever theme you would like it to be. This one, will be my December Daily Xmas Journal, for me to record some of our past and present family memories in. I am following along with Barbara over @ 49 Dragonflies on YouTube. I will be having a go at her prompts and doing a bit of my own thing also!
This shows you what sorts of items you can use for a cover. I am using a Cornflakes box, as you don’t have to worry about making spine for it, and it has a large spine. You can use an old book, a file/manila folder, cardboard, large envelopes, exercise book covers, paper bags, envelopes, whatever takes your fancy. I want this journal to have a soft cover, but that is the fun of junk journaling. There are no rules and no right or wrong way to make your journals 🙂
BASIC SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THE COVER–
– Cereal box, cardboard or a book, – some chipboard for spine, – paper cutter/craft knife and ruler or scissors, – double sided tape, – wet glue like white pva, and some – book or duct tape.
So grab your supplies and join me for the start of your journal. If you sign up to my blog you will be notified each time I post so you won’t missany steps and I also have my blog linked to my Facebook page.
Have fun finding your items to use and I’ll see yousoon to show you how to make your cover!
I am having a bit slower week and I have managed to call my Altered Book Project finally finished!! Last year I did a journal class with Johanna clough for photos of unknown people. I had some leftovers from this class, so I decided to make a smaller version of this journal.
As you can see above, I have had some fun embellishing my book with Tim Holtz Photo Booth photos, (unknown to me) trims, lace, stamps, inks, gesso, tags, tuck spots, tabs, envelopes, journaling, tea/coffee dyed paper and all sort of other papers from my stash.
I hope you may be inspired to make one of your own!
I am back with a spurt of mojo that I found last night….. I started altering a book. I haven’t done one in awhile, just some journals where I remove the pages completely and use the covers. The last one I did was a garden one with photos of all my roses in it. I haven’t quite decided on a theme yet but it might be a Memory book for our pets!!! I found a couple of books in an Op shop before Covid 19, hit us here in Australia and I haven’t had much time to do something with them.
When you chose a book you need to make sure it is in pretty good condition with a good spine and covers. This book measures approx 6×9″. I didn’t want it to be to big as it takes time to alter it….There are 450 pages to reduce to approx. 1/2 or it will be too big and bulky when finished.
The first thing I do is tear out and glue some pages together. I like to use a metal ruler to tear out pages. It is a nice sharp edge and I don’t have to muck around with my craft knife!!
I like to go through the book and do a bit of a plan as to what pages I want to remove, any images that are good to keep and where/if I want to create any pockets. As this book was glued and not sewn I didn’t tear right at the page edge. This is because I needed a bit of it there to stop it from falling out.
I then add white glue or what ever your preferred glue is to one side then I close the book and press down on it too get a good stick! I find that closing the book lets the pages naturally fall straight, and you get less warping.
As you can see, you remove pages, but you make new pages also. This is why you have to do a bit of work altering your book before the play begins!
I just randomly added some side pockets by gluing around the three edges and leaving the opening unstuck on the side of the book.
These were quick to make by just folding down a corner and gluing to the page underneath. These give you extra space for journaling, photos, tags, embellishments etc.
My book has the pages out of it, some glued and some torn out. I have created some side and corner pockets for extra space and it is half the size it originally was!!
There are lots of ideas for using your Altered Books….. Memory books, Art Journals, just to play in. Collage, Glue Book, Technique Book, Personal Journal, About Me, Art, Butterflies, Astronomy, Gardening, Mixed Media, Art Journaling, or anything you can think of, or want to use it for……………..
I did a bit of research on You Tube to refresh my memory on how to create one as its been awhile. I used this video from Karla @ Caged Fish here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhuYxymrbc8 There are lots of great ideas on You Tube and Pinterest. You just need to find what suits your style and the purpose of your book. Now once it’s all dry, I can start decorating the pages and cover for my theme.
Stay Tuned as I am going to start the Embellishment process next and you will want to see how the book gets transformed!!
I hope you are having a lovely week and keeping well. I have had a busy one and looking forward to the weekend and seeing my son. We all hang out together for the day and have some catch up time. With us all doing shift work, time together these days is very precious to me.
This journal came about as I went to our local second hand trader looking for a cupboard and came home with free books to make journals with. Sometimes, journals I make end up not being what I want, but I use them for other things. This happened with the one I made for my Dyalog inserts from “THIS POST”
If you don’t know, I love re-using old books and bringing them back to life!! As you can see this book was cancelled from a library. I don’t destroy precious books, I only use discarded, unloved ones that probably don’t have any real value, but to a person like me that loves making journals.I cut the page block away from the spine carefully and then I adhered a piece of chipboard to it for more strength.
I pulled some papers out of an arty collection I have and cut them to the size of the covers. I was going to use the fabric down the spine but I changed my mind!!!
As I will be creating in this journal quite a lot I wanted it to be strong so I added blue book tape to the edges. I buy this at Bunnings and it is great tape for making journals and binding pages. I have used it quite a lot and is the only one I use now.
The paper has all the hard work done for me with some cute arty prints. I just sorted out what I wanted on the in and outside and cut them to size. I rarely measure anything with a ruler. Who has time for that!!!!! I then decided to cut put some elements on one of the papers and used the hearts and some sketchy flowers on the front. I couldn’t resist the kitty on the bottom. I added some stitching on the hearts for some texture. I have my sewing machine set up ready to go and I love using it in my papercraft!!
To finish off the front I just added a bit of text to it, that I thought was good for me at the moment. I am an original and no one else is like me. I need to remember that and to just be me. I am trying to find balance in my life where I am not over worked and I have time for my family and some me time. We all need balance in our busy lives, even more so with what is going on in our world at the moment……..
As you can see, this book fits my Dyalog journal inserts very well and it is a lot sturdier for constant use. I can take one out the one I want to work in. or just open it up in the book as it will lay flat.
I was going to punch holes and put eyelets in the spine but, as I had some elastics and I decided they were funky and to use them instead to bind the inserts in.
Thanks for stopping by and having a peek into my arty journal. I hope you may be inspired to make one yourself! I am wanting to do some more craft of some sort over the weekend and share it with you also.
I hope you have a lovely end to your week and lovely weekend.
It is the 1/9/20 and the first day of SPRING here in Australia. Hopefully the days will get a little warmer and our Corvid Restrictions might ease a little! I miss seeing my friends and family, but we are slowly getting there I think!
This week is pretty busy work wise for me but in-between, I am changing how I store a few of my craft supplies in my ‘new space’. I thought you might like to see what I am doing. These ideas might even work for you and your craft area!
First up is my marker storage, which really bugged me! I decided to invest in some decent storage from Deflecto. They clip together so nothing falls out of them and I can stack them on top of one another! I have all my SU Alcohol Ink and Watercolour Markers, plus my other Alcohol Ink Markers and Distress Crayons, stored all together, easy to find and access.
I like to use different types of storage, that may not be used for it’s intended purpose. A couple of months ago, I ordered these Tupperware Spice containers, but I decided to use them for my craft embellishments instead. The caps come off to fill them up and there is two separate openings to use for getting them out!
I used my Dymo Label Maker to create their labels and they stack nicely on top of one another. They are semi clear so I can also see their contents.
These fit nicely on top of my maker storage and also on my storage unit on my desk which you probably saw on my previous post “HERE”
Another few problem areas I find hard to sort are dies, stamps that come in plastic and die cuts. I think I have finally found a solution that will work for me.
Today I finished sorting my dies into themes. I only keep my SU dies and stamp sets together, at my desk in the white unit. My other dies are sorted into, Leaves, Journal, Grunge, Frames, Flora, Doilies, Winged and Misc. You of course could sort to what you have.
I have some Universal Craft Storage Boxes. Each one Includes one big storage case – 21 x18.5 x 14 cm and six internal 17×12 x3cm storage boxes. They are perfect for storing all sorts of supplies, including small punches, photos, ribbon, washi tape etc…….
Above are all my dies sorted in two boxes. I decided to leave my Sizzix/Tim Holtz dies in the plastic packets and they are in a box also together.
Die cuts are one embellishment that I probably have too much of, but they are so useful for lots of projects. Sometimes I am lazy and I cant be bothered stamping and colouring to make my own! These are great for my die cuts that I seem to be searching for all the time!
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I sorted these into themes as well and they are well organised now.
I collated them into the most used themes I have and use.
I labelled the outside of the boxes and the smaller cases with some stamped labels made from cardstock.
I am going to use these for most of my smaller storage. I can label each one in the case then the outside of the main case to tell me what is stored inside. I think my ‘other stamps’ will be what I attack next and probably collate the same sort of way. They will be all stored on one of my bookcases across from my desk 🙂
I hope you have enjoyed my ideas I have shared with you and you might find them useful!!
We are slowly getting back to “normal” here, whatever that is at the moment 😉 We moved on the 3/8 to our new home, just as Stage 3 Covid-19 Restrictions hit us in Regional Victoria, in Australia. I haven’t seen my oldest son for about 5 weeks and I do miss him…… We are nearly all unpacked and able to see the floors!!! Life is really busy with work etc, and its nice to be finally getting settled!
I have had this weekend off so I thought I would share with you what has been keeping me so busy!
I thought you might like a little peek of my new scrap space which is wonderful. We have a living area that is not being used, as I have a dining area in the kitchen 🙂 So, it is all mine!!! I was going to use the third bedroom, but not big enough lol!!! 😉 Noooo…. I don’t have too much stuff 😉 This is looking from the kitchen door into the living area then down to the lounge room. Yes, I had some helpers!! Trishka on the left and Nitro on the right…………….. There are lots of windows and natural light. I am just waiting on my new blinds to be made which will be awesome!!!
To give you and idea, this door is the entrance from the front door/hallway.
LOUNGEROOM SIDE BEFORE…..
AFTER………
I tried to do one area at a time. This is my desk where I will mainly create. I wanted to use as much wall space as I could do get the maximum storage. I sorted and did a bit more de stashing as I went and it did take a bit more time, but well worth it. I have my shelf storage and my Raskog Cart well used.
I have two of these shelf units. They are smaller and the best size for storing my ink pads, punches, stamps, tapes and extra supplies I have used Velcro to attach the ink blend foams near the inks, so they are there to use and I don’t have to search for them.
Here I store on my desk my most used supplies. I have my larger tools, watercolour pencils and hand sewing items on the top. There is mainly stamps and cardstock on the second shelf and on the shelves below is paper, adhesives, embellishments and all easy to access. I have a large non stick mat and a small cutting mat to the side.
Right behind me I have my sewing machine set up on my white desk, with my Photo Printer on there as well, ready to go.
KITCHEN SIDE BEFORE…….
AFTER…….
The kitchen side wall is made up of built in shelving and my book cases. I have used all the same furniture that I had. I like using see through storage for as much as I can, plus baskets. The large case I have had for at least 15 years, the light coloured one probably about 10 years and Jj bought me the tall slim one last year. It fits 12×12 storage perfectly.
My large bookcase on the right holds albums on the bottom then smaller albums and Junk Journal books I use. The ring binders house quite a lot of my red rubber and cling stamps. There is also my Stampin’ Up! Paper and cardstock plus other A4 size supplies.
The middle book case shows some of my Journals down the bottom with my spray inks on the left. In the baskets, I have stamps, stickers, ephemera etc.
My tall think bookcase holds 12×12 storage that has paper and junk journal supplies. It also homes my larger cardstock and pattern papers. The light coloured book case holds my smaller 6×6 and 6×8 paper and pad on the top. JJ supplies, paint, my cardmaking supplies also.
I have this area across the room near the window with my Die Cutting Machine set up. The cube shelving house my dies, emboss folders, washi tapes, ribbons and flowers, plus other tools and things. The lovely big window looks out onto the side lawn area. We have a gas heater in this room and the lounge has a split system.
My Ikea Raskog cart which I think I have had about 5 years is the handiest storage. At the moment it has my mixed media supplies (brushes, stencils, paints etc) on it and the magnetic tins are great for holding anything you need.
I may change a couple of things as I go along, so it works for me, but as a whole I am really happy with my set up. It hasn’t happened overnight and I was thinking I was never going to get it sorted again. I plodded along a bit each day in between work and life and finally got it done!!!
I hope you have enjoyed my first post back, even though it was a bit long! Stay tuned as I have a couple of storage solutions to show you next…………..
I hope you are all going well in this weird time. I’m home from work and now enjoying my weekend!! It is very wet and cold here now so a great day to be indoors and crafting!
Lately, I have had a few projects on the go all at the same time. Nothing like keeping busy!! I got the urge to make another “Faux Travellers Notebook”, to use as an Art Journal.
A Traveler’s Notebook ... In short, it is a refillable notebook, which are used by travellers to plan and document their travels. Also, to keep your important documents, contacts etc in, ………….But really, at its core, it is simply a leather book-like cover that holds multiple notebooks or inserts with elastic bands. This really handy as you can keep the cover and just replace the inserts (notebooks) with new ones.
They have so many more uses now as they have grown in popularity as a journal…………
Below are a few ideas of what you can use them for…………………
As A Travel Journal
Keeping track of Projects
Wedding or Party Guestbooks
Doodling and Art Journaling
Memory Keeping
Collecting Quotes
Habit and Weightloss Tracking
A Daily Journal
Commonplace Journal
For Planning
Of course, you can buy them, already made and in lots of different sizes, but why not make your own for the fraction of the cost to your needs……………………………….
My Version of this is a “Faux” one that I make mainly out of foam, covered with pattern papers or placemats. Yes, the humble placemat is great for making the soft covers. If you can’t find any, you can make to measure pattern papers, then laminating them. I made a few last year and gave them away as presents. You can find them in cheap shops and probably home decor shops too. They usually aren’t too expensive and you could also use plastic mats, or the clear chopping mats would work also.
I really liked this tulip one, I found even though I am not a big red fan. I cut it roughly down to 7.5×10″, but you can make it to suit your needs. I wanted the width so I could make it chunky with the inserts that I made.
I cut the placemat to the size, I wanted with the image placed nicely on the front. I found the middle and made some small holes using a punch to thread the elastic through. This will allow you to move them around and remove to add new inserts as required. The thinner elastic is nice to use as it gives a bit to move the pages.
I made these inserts from mixed media paper, as I want to Art Journal in this one. I cut my papers down to approx 6×9″ and I can comfortably put 6 signatures in this with the slightly bigger cover. I haven’t as yet added any pockets etc to the inside of the overs.
As you can see for the pages, I used 5-6 sheets ad used my stapler to put them together, but you could sew them if you wanted to.
I measured the middle, then left a gap between the other two holes. There is enough room from the bottom of the journal for the paper to fit nicely in. I just used my hole punch and I will go back and add some small eyelets for strength.
I mainly eyeball when making things like this, as I am not a perfectionist and I like things looking rustic and handmade!
The journal looks lovely and as it is a placemat, I can wipe it down with no worries about damaging the cover. I will probably add my name or an art quote to the front to finish it off.
I hope I may have given you some inspiration to try one for yourself!!
It is cold and wet here in Victoria and a great day to #stayathome. I am keeping pretty busy with work and being pretty tired I haven’t done much craft this last week. We have just had one case of COVID-19 detected here so work has ramped up our PPE measure to protect our clients, family and ourselves……………
I am walking the May 50k for MS, but the weather has turned horrible. I will make it up, over the next few days when the weather clears 🙂
I bought a mixed media pad and I am using it, for my art journal pages. I Gessoed over this page first, so it is more stable and would take the wet media. With a couple of Dylusions Inks, I sprayed onto the page and let it run, with the help of some water in a mister.
I then stamped the focal point from part of a large Studio Light stamp, straight on to the paper. I then repeated the process, cut part of it out and coloured it lightly. I gave the image some depth by using dimensional tape and placing it over the top, of the first stamped image. I finished it off with some washi tape, inked edges of the paper and a quote 🙂
I am trying to get a bit of Art Journaling done in my #stayathome journal, and I managed to finally finish this page. I am not sure what I want to do with it. I think I will fold it and put it on my wall for a bit, then add it to my journal!!
I hope you are staying safe, where ever you are and having some craft time 🙂
I hope your Monday isn’t too bad and you are having a nice day…………….
Today is my Monday off, after quite a busy fortnight. I am #stayathome today and crafting, watching a couple of DVD’s and chillax’n…………. I just popped in to share with you a super cute mini album that I made with a lovely lady and her group on FaceBook. It was so much fun to make with her.
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I used all new Stampin Up Products that are available now. There is a bit of a delay on shipping some items, but the Warehouse is doing a great job on this, to keep us informed and able to get products. I followed the instructions for the mini-album and used a Black 8.5 x 11 Cardstock to cut down for the pages.
I used the gorgeous Honey Bee stamp set and the Detailed dies for easy cutting out of the stamps.
This is the Golden Honey Bee Designer Speciality Paper I had to use for the page embellishments, like the tags, pockets etc. The gold tones on the paper are perfect.
The front cover I used some of the gorgeous stamps in the set. I couldn’t go past the honeycomb die on the background and the super cute beehive. The bees were stamped and die cut, and the detail of the bee is beautiful.
If you are interested in any of these products, please feel free to contact me here or you can email me on kerri.smith64@bigpond.com
Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for some more craft fun I am working on!
I just wanted to show you the album I have completed for my mum’s Best Friend Helen. I am going to visit her on Friday for a few days as I have not seen her since before mum and dad passed away in 2017. I am really looking forward to seeing her.
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Above is a slide show with all the album pages for you……………….
This album took me a week to create in between my shift work and other commitments. It was a labour of love to create it for her. Aunty Helen and her kids, Rod and Wendy have been a big part of our lives growing up. Lots of great memories!!
I created a few single pages layouts and then some pocket pages as I didn’t think I would have time to do all singles. I just added some words and embellishments on the pockets. The covers are a cereal box cut down and embellished. I decided not to use binder rings, instead the seam binding to keep it all together.
The page on the left I created of my mum and stepdad (Les) who were married 9/6/72 in Warrnambool Mum and dad were married 44 years and we lived in Colac. Dad was a hard-working, loving, family man and he was 102 when he passed away.
On the last page, I put a photo of My biological dad (Arnold) and my gorgeous mum (Val) when they were first married in 1960. This has been good for me to scrap some old and new memories for her.
I miss mum and dad every day…….. I am very grateful for the precious time we had with them and for the great life and memories that we all had together………
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are able to be creative today……………. I am sure I will have some new memories to share with you when I come home !!!
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"The Junque Journalist" 