Blog — junk journaling

I have discovered a super fun way to get a jump start on my junk journaling ephemera - I call it the Strip Collage. It's a long thin collage that is SO easy to make. It's perfect for decorating tags, pockets, belly bands, tuck spots - even whole pages. I've made them in lots of colors and it's so great to grab one when I need a quick element for a page. There's something about the narrow workspace that makes it easy to create something beautiful - even if you are new to collaging. Give it a try! The best...

I've been on a quest to use real junk in my junk journal. There are so many possibilities that I could never cover everything at once, so this will be an ongoing project that I will add to as I have more ideas. Here is my first video on the subject: Using Junk in Your Junk Journal Tissue Box I made this small journal from an empty tissue box. The front, spine and back were all cut from one box and covered with pretty paper. The rather thin cardboard is fine for a journal this small. The "frame" is made from the hole in...

I've been working on belly bands this week and I found some fun ideas. I think I even made up a new idea of my own: "The Belly Band Flip". I wanted to make a belly band that was removable, so you can journal on the whole page. So I hinged the top and put a closure on the bottom. Here's my video about it if you are interested: Belly Band Flip I learned about belly bands with a pocket in them from E at "Scrapbooking With Me" on YouTube. Here's a link to her video:  Belly Band With Pocket  and Jane from Inky Owl Studios...

I have some wonderful old magazine and book pages that I want to use in my junk journals. But some of them are so fragile, they'd fall apart if I put them in as is. I've come up with some ways to make good use of these gems. Here are some of my ideas. Make Stickers Small images from old magazines make wonderful stickers. And, once the images have been turned into stickers, they are super sturdy. Here's a link to the inexpensive (and amazing) sticker maker I use. Xyron Sticker Maker Make a Masterboard A masterboard is just a...

For some reason, I searched online for "botanical specimen slides" and found some wonderful stuff. Apparently, botanists used to wrap their glass microscope slides in pretty papers and label them. So, of course, I had to make some faux botany slides of my own.   I liked them so much fun that I made a digital kit to make the process easier. Here's a link if you want to buy the files to print these yourself. Botany Specimen Slides Printable Here's what you need to make your own: Small floral stickers or dried flowers Pretty papers, or the Vintage Botany Slides printout...