Thursday 31 March 2016

Junk Journals!

Hi everyone, Ruth here with this weeks inspiration post which is very loosely linked to our current theme of Spring is in the Air. For some reason Spring made me think of Spring cleaning, yes I know I've just lost half of you there but please bear with me! I'm always trying out techniques or create more pieces of art or embellishments than I really use and gradually the drawer I use to store these experiments in was full to bursting. I've been wanting to make a junk journal for a while now so thought I'd do some 'spring cleaning' to clear some space and make something useful at the same time.


When I started looking at what constitutes a junk journal, well it seems that almost anything goes and it's probably easier to say what it's not, so I thought I'd start by including links to some fab inspirational junk journal ideas found on pinterest but put the link to the original source. As you'll see many of these ideas have been around for a while but are still a great source of inspiration.

The first is made by Sarah just using envelopes, and is so effective. The second is a journal by Kate Crane and shows her using book text on the back of her pieces ( an idea I've used in mine). Next is a video by Shannon Green using an old book to create the journal covers and lastly lots of ideas on this site of Jackie and Michelle's. 

So this is the starting place, the drawer....and a box of smaller pieces, yes it had spread by the time I got around to it! 


When I'm overwhelmed with where to start, I find it really helpful to limit my choices so I reduced the colour palette and limited myself to using what was there, so I didn't create even more pieces. The base pages were about A5 size or trimmed to fit.

  
 I also allowed myself to use book text, 2 stamps (text and sequin waste) and the brayered paint techniques to alter the colours or put a base on the flip side of a page. At first this was challenging but  so, so rewarding; to create something out of 'junk', pieces that you couldn't quite throw away but couldn't really put on a card. So much so that I became obsessed with completing the whole 20 page journal.


To start I cut some grey board for the covers and as I don't have a cinch or bind-it-all, used some book rings. The journal holds 20 pages and I've already ordered some larger book rings to use as I add to it. The card was a real mish mash of types, none that I would use if journalling, but as I wasn't adding product, it wasn't a problem.


The inside cover and first page altered with book text and scraps. I have to recommend Tims' tiny tags and tabs die, as you'll note I decided to take it down the tags and pockets route and this die was indispensable. What made all the difference was sticking to certain colours for each page, as long as the colour was ok, it really didn't matter what you were adding.



A few details, the little booklet, was one I made out of a sheet of paper a while ago but then never did anything with...ideal!


The pages grow quite quickly. Another before shot.


 Anyone still have K& Co paper? I'd cut these flowers out years ago and never got around to using them, now or never then.



A few more pages.


A spring themed one. Another lovely part of making this is that it reminds you of other projects where you were testing out before the final piece. 


Lots of stamping and stencilling included in this journal anyway, these were gelli print backgrounds on some odd yellow paper I had!

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Sometimes the pages can be simple, no tags on this one but room to journal. Bistre backgrounds on cartridge paper and the regular followers may recognise the feathers from a previous challenge theme, 


Some of my favourite pages started off totally different and went through many changes. 


And some didn't, at the moment this is my favourite and quite quick and simple. Now I'm not going to show every page as you'll lose the will to live, so I'll post the remainder on my blog over the next week. 

To finish though I'll just mention the cover. I used fibre paste which gave a lovely flexibility to the cover. Lots of fresco paints and some stencilling and finally some calico craft parts which I have been hoarding but after some UTEE addition and a little treasure gold they seemed to look the part.



I hope this has provided a little inspiration to either use something you've been hoarding or some scraps on a project or maybe even your own style junk journal. And remember there's still another week to join in with our challenge. Ruth x

21 comments:

  1. beautiful junk journal Ruth!

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  2. I love making junk journals and yours is simply awesome full of yummy pages, Ruth! Wonderful detailed and inspirational post! Great job! Hugs! Branka x

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  3. Oh Ruth! You have chosen the best time for me to see this fabulous junk journal -I have just sorted a pile of papers to start one myself. The pages you have made have provided so much inspiration that I can make a start today! There are so many wonderful pages that I am sure you will enjoy adding to! Thanks for the links too! Hugs, Chrisx

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  4. A brilliant junk journal Ruth. Having recently completed one I know they take time to build even with scraps (yes, I do still have lots of K & Co papers!!!) but the end results are brilliant. I love the mix of textures and styles on each page x

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  5. What a wonderful journal Ruth. I love making them and each is so unique. Your details are gorgeous, enjoy playing and thanks for sharing your lovely project x

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  6. I have made a couple plain paper journals, one with a quilted cover and one with a lace cover but now that I see your junk journal, I think this is the next kind I need to make. I love how you refined your junk into a colour palette, which gives it a more cohesive and elegant feel. I also love how you bound it simply and with larger rings you have made room for expansion. Gorgeous!
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  7. Oh I love this Ruth! What a gorgeous way to use your scraps. The cover is amazing and each and every collage is a joy! Thanks so much for inspiring me to do some spring cleaning! <3

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  8. Fantastic Ruth!! You've created a beautiful journal which I'm sure will be a joy to use or just to flick through when you need a bit of inspiration. I've got several folders full of bits and bobs, you've definitely inspired me to get started on something like this ! Thanks Ruth . Toni xx

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  9. Fabulous Ruth !!!!!! you have some wonderful scraps! Jennie x

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  10. Stunning, fabulous and a real inspiration. Such a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing x

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  11. Absolutely stunning Ruth ! Love how the journal came together into such a masterpiece. Gorgeous ! Sue C x

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  12. Fabulous and what a great way to use up all those bits and pieces. Love how all the pages fit so well, even though they are all so individual, - it looks as if you had a lot of fun with it!

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  13. I've often wondered what junk journals were but never bothered to try and find out. Yours is stunning and you've co-ordinated all your hoarded little treasure perfectly. I aught to have a go but I bet I wouldn't manage to match enough things to make many pages. Mine would be a right mash up, lol! Yours is just perfection!

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  14. Ruth, this is absolutely brilliant and so very inspiring! I think i need to start my own junk journal today!
    I love the color palette you stayed with- very organic and nature-ish!
    hugs,Jackie xo

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  15. This is only the second time I have heard of these, yet I love it! I will try to make time this weekend to make my own. Thank you for the inspiration and the steps you shared as I wouldn't have had a clue where to start Karen x

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  16. what a fabulous project , I've never heard of a junk journal but love the idea, thanks for the inspiration

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  17. Wow, what a beautiful book this has become! Great to see how you work and thanks for all the inspiration!

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  18. This is fabulous! I love the design and elements.
    Hugs
    Linda xxx

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  19. A gorgeous journal Ruth.
    TFS, Julie x

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  20. Gorgeous journal Ruth....and yes I do remember K & Co papers and still have a few left myself. lol. They do come in handy don't they? :-)

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  21. Gorgeous journal Ruth....and yes I do remember K & Co papers and still have a few left myself. lol. They do come in handy don't they? :-)

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