Junk Journaling

I fell in love with Junk Journaling during COVID.  I love creating with paper, any size, any kind and have scrapbooked, made cards, etc., and then i found JUNK JOURNALING.  I can use all my creative and use junk, too!

I started out looking through magazines, junk mail, stuff laying around the house, and old books to find "ephemera" to use and have gravitated to printables.  I am even learning how to create my own printables and hope to have a few designs available soon.

I watched video after video on YouTube teaching different ways to create ephemera, how to put a journal together and SO MUCH MORE.  Talk about a rabbit hole, lol. I turn on YouTube and I might as well forget about doing the dishes or laundry -- I'm hooked and I will not surface for quite a while.  To me, it is addicting, in a fun way!

Let's get started with some terminology:

Junk Journal -- a journal you can create using an old book cover and adding signatures (groups of pages), creating your own cover and adding signatures, creating a one-signature journal.  Once you have decided on the journal cover and how many signatures you want in it, you can start designing the journal.

Signatures -- a signature can be as large or as small as you want it.  Whatever fits the journal you are creating.  A normal signature is 6 to 10 sheets of paper --8-1/2"x11" folded in half.  One sheet of paper creates four pages, so a signature with 6 sheets of paper is really 24 pages. The more pages in your signatures the fuller the journal becomes. Remember, you are going to be adding pockets, tucks, belly bands, etc. to the pages and your journal will expand exponentially.

Pockets -- a feature you can use to store a tag, a small booklet, a journaling card -- the list can go on and on, lol. 

Tuck -- similar to a pocket, but it is open on two sides so you can slide in a journal card, a tag, a piece of paper to write on.

Belly Band -- a thin piece of paper/card stock that attaches at the top and bottom of a journal page (or side to side).  It is used to slide ephemera under to hold in place.

Tags -- tags can be used to journal on, giving the journal maker (or receiver) more area to write down their thoughts and ideas and come in various sizes and forms.

Collages -- a collage can be any size and can be anything your creativity designs.  I normally use a thin piece of cardboard (like a flyer that came in the mail) and start gluing bits and pieces of paper I have laying around and adding images randomly.  Collages are fun -- google to see what everyone is doing out there.  You may become hooked on collaging, but be sure to come back to us -- we'll miss you if you don't! And, if you do become hooked on collaging be sure to come back in January 2026 for our weekly Scraps to Art Challenges.

Masterboard -- a masterboard is very similar to collages.  Again, I normally use a thin piece of cardboard (usually the one included in a package of Stampin'Up!'s Designer Series Paper) and glue down bit and pieces of paper, ribbon, etc., along with whatever images I have near me.  A Masterboard can be cut down into pockets, tags, journal cards, etc. and used in your journals.

That is it for now with the new terminology.  I DO NOT want to overwhelm you.  Again, google the above items, get a feel for them and come back and we will start creating ephemera for your journal!

Watch out for that rabbit hole!

JUNK JOURNALING -- WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT?

Junk Journaling -- immediately I think of journaling with junk. How do you do that?  My old can opener will not fit into a journal or my broken down pair of tennis shoes. What in the world is everyone going on about?

Junk Journaling began as a way to use up "junk" from around the house; i.e., old envelopes received in the mail, junk mail itself, old letters or cards laying around, old receipts or bills, your children's artwork to be saved and savored, school reports, pictures from a magazine, recipes from a magazine, odd bits and pieces of scrapbook paper -- the ideas are endless.

Today's junk journaling has evolved a bit -- not only do you create with the junk laying around your home or office, but you can purchase "printables" you can use in your journals.  

What is a "printable"?  Printables are digital files, like documents or images, that are designed to be printed on paper using a printer. They can be downloaded and printed by users for a variety of purposes, including creating art, educational materials, or organizing or events. 

Printables can be purchased from "Etsy" shops or anywhere online; or, you can google free printables and find many, many free ones you can download.

What do you do with the printables?  Many printables are the whole journal; i.e., journal pages and ephemera.

Ephemera can be found or created.  What is ephemera? 

EPHEMERA is:  e·phem·er·a

/əˈfem(ə)rə/

noun

1. things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time.

   "there were papers, letters, old boxes—all sorts of ephemera"

   • items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity.

     "Mickey Mouse ephemera"

   
   

What can ephemera be used for?  Making pockets, tuck spots, envelopes, belly bands, etc. in your journals.

Intriqued?  Follow along with us during our own junk journaling travels.  We'll learn and create with you as we go along this journey together.

Let's jump into the world of junk journaling by googling junk journals. Be careful, you can easily fall into a rabbit hole and not surface for minutes, hours, days, maybe even weeks.  Come back after your search and see what we are up to next!  Look for our next post -- maybe tomorrow? or I might even fall down that rabbit hole and not surface until the next day.  See you soon!

Scraps to Art Challenge Coming January 2026

Scraps to Art Challenge is a fun way of using those bits and pieces of scrap paper you have laying around to create works of art.

Master Board -- Use a scrap piece of thin cardboard, card stock, a cereal box (just about anything that is thin and stiff) and start gluing those bits and pieces of paper down you have laying around your art studio. Viola' you have a one-of-a-kind piece of art you can use to make tags, pockets, tucks, bookmarks, belly bands, etc. 

Collage -- Basically the same thing as a Master Board.  Think of Master Boards with a twist -- you need to use five out of six (or all six) prompts provided to create the collage. 

Each week, on Saturday, Pelican Crafts of Long Beach will post a new set of prompts for you to use to create a collage. Collages can be any size you want -- use your creativity to come up with a first-of-a-kind piece of art.  Collages can be left as is or used to create tags, pockets, bookmarks, etc. to use in your scrapbook or junk journal.  

Start saving your paper scraps and start collecting images of "things" you think might be given as prompts!

Sneak Peak - White Forest Digital Kit by Paperomia

SNEAK PEAK    SNEAK PEAK    SNEAK PEAK    SNEAK PEAK    SNEAK PEAK

I have been working the the WHITE FOREST Digital Kit by Paperomia for the last two weeks and have absolutely fallen in love with it.  I wanted to peak your curiosity by giving you a sneak peak of what I have been working on.

I am creating a Junk Journal with a twist.  I have laminated the cover (front side only).

Here is the front/back and inside of the journal cover.

The cover is approximately 10-1/4" x 8-1/4".  

I chose one of the images provided in the kit and printed it on white card stock, turned the paper over and printed lines on the back for journaling.

I measured the right side of the image from where the two images meet to the right edge and cut at 4-7/8" and then cut the left side to match allowing for a 9/16" "spine".  I scored along the line where the two images met (4-7/8" from the right) an 4-7/8" from the left.  I fussy cut the deer from another image included in the kit and glued it to the front along with a short quote, sponged all the edges and creased the cover along the fold lines.

To finish the cover, I cut a 2" strip from another design in the kit, notched it twice to create pockets, sponged the edges and glued it down at the top, the left side, in the middle (thin line) and at the bottom.

The pocket on the back is from another page and is cut 4-1/2" x 3-1/4", notched, sponged and glue along the sides and bottom.  Note that there is plenty of room for journaling on the inside of the cover.

I will be completing three signatures to add to the journal.  Below is a quick peak of the signature covers.

                              

Lines were printed on the back side of each signature.  Fold each signature in half and the fun begins; adding pages and ephemera.

Be sure to come back often as I update and add new items to each signature as well as the cover.  Let me know what you think!

Graphics Fairy Collage Projects

Three, yep, three Graphics Fairy Collages.  Vacations and family commitments kept us from creating for a few days (oh, okay, weeks), but we are back.  Here are our creations for the weeks of July 29th, August 5th and August 12th.  

Diana's creations are on the left, mine are on the right.  Enjoy!

  7/29/24

  8/05/24

    7/12/24

Be sure to check out Graphics Fairy, they have a wealth of images on their site.  Thank you so much for visiting our blog.  Brenda

Ephemera Created Using Japan Blossoms by Paperomia

Ephemera -- I have created several pieces of ephemera for you with full directions and pictures below.  You can watch my "how to" video here.     *** Long Post ***

Ephemera Using Japan Blossoms Digital Kit (youtube.com)

1:  MINI JOURNAL

Journal Cover:  Print four double-pages to a page. Print background design on reverse side. (Fit to Page size was used).

Cut each double-page out and fold at the center.  Cut each double-page approximately 4-3/4” x 3-1/4”.

  

Sponge all edges (front, back and folds) with ink. Tim Holtz' Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink Pad was used.

Inside Journal Pages:  Inside pages are cut from 4” x 6” white pad (purchased at the Dollar Tree US).

                                                     

Remove and cut three sheets 4-1/4” x 3” and fold in half.

   

Sponge all edges, front, back and folds, with ink. (See above)

Place inside each other and even all edges up, place inside journal cover.

   
         NOTE:  A staple was used to fasten the spine. The spine can be sewn, if desired.

Place opened journal (cover and inside pages) on rubber eraser, staple with open stapler at top and bottom of spine. Turn over after stapling and press ends of staple down.

Round edges and decorate journal, if desired.

   

2.  HIDDEN PAPERLCIP

Outside Layer:  Select six images and print them on one page. Cut each image out, approximately 2-3/8” x 3-1/2”.

Fold in half, approximately 2-3/8” x 1-3/4”. Sponge all edges and fold.

     

Inside Layer:  Use one sheet of white note pad paper (see above), cut to 2-3/4” x 4”.

Fold in half. Place and center small paperclip on white paper.

Hidden Paperclip:  Place inside layer snugly inside of outside layer (patterned paper).

Generously add glue to white layer. Press outside layer (patterned paper) down over white layer and smooth out any wrinkles.

   
Turn hidden paperclip over and repeat above process.

Trim excess white paper, round corners, if desired. Sponges edges, if needed.  Decorate.  

Attach to a page in your large journal.

3.  POCKET WITH FILE FOLDERS

Cut patterned paper/card stock of choice as shown below for pocket and file folders.

Pocket:  Measurements – 3-3/4” x 4” or 4-1/8” (4-1/8” makes it easier to measure and cut out).

Along 3-3/4” edge, score at 2/8” and 3/8” from left edge, flip pocket around and score at 2/8” and 3/8”.

Along 4-1/8” edge, score at 2” and 2-1/8”.

Fold along all score lines.

Cut both sides at the 2-1/8” score line to the 3/8” and along the 3/8” score line.

Add glue to each side (green hash marks).

Fold along all score lines, glue 2/8” area to the edge of the cut piece.  Make sure the design you want to show is on the outside of the pocket.

File Folder 1:  Measurements – 4-1/4” x 3-3/8”.  Left Tab.

Measure 1-1/8” from left side, cut down 3/8”. From right side, cut over to cut mark creating a tab measuring 1-1/8”x3/8”.

Score file folder 1-15/16” from the bottom.

Fold along score line.

File Folder 2:  Measurements – 4-1/4” x 3-3/8”.  See above diagram.

Measure 3/8” down from top and lightly pencil a line from the left edge to the right edge.

Measure 1-3/16” from left and place a dot on the pencil line you made, measure 1-3/16” from the right and place a dot on the pencil line you made. Cut both sides to the dot along the pencil line.

From the top of the file folder cut down to each to dot creating a tab in the middle approximately 1-1/8” x 3/8”.

Fold along score line.

File Folder 3:  Measurements – 4-1/4” x 3-3/8”.  See above diagram.

Measure 3/8” down from top and lightly pencil a line from the left edge to the right edge.

Measure 1-1/8” from right side and place a dot on the pencil line you made.

From the top of the file folder cut down to the dot creating a tab.

Fold along score line.

Special effects:  You can sponge the edges of the pocket and each file folder, if you wish.

                           You can round the corners of the pockets, if you wish.

                           Decorate as you desire.

Insert file folders into pocket.

 Patterned paper Place template

 File folder cut  Decorated

TEMPLATE

4.  PAPERCLIP OR SAFETY PIN BANNER

Supplies:  Washi Tape Sheet                  Glue

                 Large Paperclip                     Embellishments, if desired

Print out Washi Tape Sheet, print design on back of Washi Tape Sheet

        
Cut out Washi Tape design of choice

Cut to 3-3/4”

Score at 1/2” from the top

From bottom, mark center of Washi Tape (approximately 13/16”)

From each corner at the bottom, cut at an angle up to the center mark

Sponge edges, if desired

Fold at score line

Insert into large paperclip

Add glue and press down until firmly attached

Embellish as desired

*You can slide paperclip from the side onto a journal page, a pocket, a belly band, anywhere you want!

5 and 6.  POCKETS & TUCKS

TUCK or POCKET:  Print out Pocket Sheet in size(s) you want.

Cut out desired pockets.

Sponge the edges, if desired.

Glue along straight edges and attach to journal page.

Embellish as you desire.

          Variation:  Print out two in different sizes, attach smaller pocket/tuck onto larger pocket/tuck.

        

               

POCKET using DOT STICKER:  Print out two Dot Sticker Sheets in size(s) you want.

Cut out two of the same image.

Cut one image in half.

Add glue around curved edges of partial circle and adhere to front of full circle.

Embellish as you desire and attach to journal page.

          

7.  TAGS

Print Tag Sheet in size(s) you want to use on cardstock.  Print simple design on back or leave blank.

Cut Out

Sponge edges, if desired

Embellish

8.  NOTEPAD

Print two copies of the Polaroid Sheet in size(s) you desire

  
Cut out two of the same image

Sponge Edges, if desired

Use four sheets of the white paper from the White Note Pad

   
Cut white paper ¼” less than the polaroid image.

Punch two holes, side-by-side, at the top of each polaroid image and at the top of each sheet

 

Cut ribbon approximately 8” long in desired color to coordinate with image

Assemble and embellish as you desire

9.  JOURNAL CARDS

Print four to eight images on one sheet(s)

Print simple pages on the back of above sheet(s), if desired, or leave blank

Cut out image(s) you want to use, sponge edges if desired

 
Embellish, if desired

Insert into pocket