What Is a Junk Journal?

Hi there, 

It is Winter here in Australia, and where I live, down South, in Victoria, it's pretty cold and wet. Great for indoors and crafting...

Alot of you out there may not even know what a Junk Journal is... I have fallen down the Rabbit Hole and never found my way out!!!

To me, the definition of a Junk Journal is a handmade book using recycled, repurposed and second-hand materials, like old book pages, receipts, packaging, junk mail, and fabric.  Instead of using the strict format of a scrapbook or diary, they are highly eclectic, textured and used for memory keeping, art and any creative expression.

I have been creative all my life and have always been a scrapbooker and card maker. Already having those supplies was a natural next step for me. 

I feel I have more creative freedom, and I have never looked back....... I use my Junk Journals for memory keeping with photos, art journaling, glue/collage and mixed media, a daily planner, and a recipe book. I have made many as gifts, and mine are always a reflection of what I like and my arty style. You can use just one or have a few for other uses. As far as I am concerned, you can never have enough!

These journals have been made using cereal boxes and parcel packaging.

Above you can see a few of my journals, which I have made and the different sizes. 

Remember the one rule....There are no "RULES"

 You can make and use them any way you like, for whatever you want to use them for. Make them pretty to look at, or functional to use. 

Don't get caught up looking at other artists' journals and think yours aren't good enough. You just do what is creatively right for "YOU". Finding your style is half the fun, and once you find it, you will never stop creating......

Getting started in this fun and addictive craft is pretty easy, with not a lot of tools needed. If you have some paper, scissors, ruler, glue and some "JUNK"  you are set.

I make mine from all sorts of things, and I like hard covers and soft covers. I add all sorts of 'daily stuff' that I collect, eg: cards, receipts, tissue paper, business cards, gift bags, postcards, gift packaging, postage stamps and envelopes, old calendar pages, catalogues, magazines/newspapers, children's book images, etc. Whatever I like, I add.... 

There is a never-ending list of "FREE" supplies you can find: 

Sheet music, book pages, vintage text and documents, invoices, tea bags and tags, clothing tags, napkins, tissue paper, lolly wrappers and product packaging, lists, children's art, colouring book pages and brown paper shopping bags.

Fabric and trims, lace, twine, burlap and torn clothing, buttons, playing cards, flashcards, metal, pins, clips, paper/fabric doilies, pressed flowers, washi tape, old library cards and shipping tags, Oh my! ...................... You will never run out of stuff!

I have found alot of different things at second-hand and op shops. It's fun to collect things from your holidays and places you go. My fave is postcards. I add them as ephemera or make them into other things.

This is a wrap-around journal that I made from the squishy Amazon packaging and fabric.

My fave things to use in my journals are: stamps and inks, fabric that I dye with coffee or watercolour paint. Paper I, tea dye, add ink and paint to. I also like using different book pages like graph paper, botanical and children's book pages, plus atlas and maps. I love adding texture with fabric, lace, trims, buttons, twine, ric rac and flowers that I make. I also hand stitch, also known as slow stitching. I have made a few covers with all fabric as well.

The best advice I can give anyone starting out in this journey is "JUST START"

Whether you want to document your daily life, make mood boards, or make messy art, your junk journal is your personal and private space just "FOR YOU"

Let it grow and see where it takes you. It's meant to be stress-free and relaxing, so "ENJOY"

Thanks for stopping by to my little creative piece of the web.  Please leave a comment, and let me know if you have fallen down this rabbit hole too!

Happy Creating

Kerri x

 

 

 

WORK IN PROGRESS!

G'day everyone, and WELCOME to my new blog.

My name is Kerri, and I live in Australia.

I am 2 hrs from our capital, Melbourne, Victoria and approximately 45 minutes from the Great Ocean Road. We are surrounded by farms, the sea and forests.

I have two grown sons and a black, mischievous kitty named Jett. He is my crafting buddy, and he loves helping me......

I have tried many crafts over the years, but have always come back to paper and fabric. I love to make my own junk journals, memory keeping, try different techniques, mixed media, plus hand and machine sewing.....

I hope you will follow me and come back soon to see what I am up to.

Thanks for popping in, and I can't wait to share some of my projects with you.....

Hugz Kerri x