Junk Journal: Covers

Often when I am making books I like to use tissue paper, paint and Matte Medium on heavy weight paper to make my covers. I find that the layers of paint and tissue paper make it sturdy and give it texture.

To determine the size of cover you need measure your widest and tallest pages that will go inside your book. Mine happened to be 8" x 9 1/2" I added 1/4" to the top and bottom and ONE side. This way my cover is for sure going to be larger then any page. I only add 1/4" to one side because when I hole punch my pages they will be lined up right against the back edge of the cover. I cut two pieces of light weight cardboard        8 1/4" x 10" for my front and back cover.

After I have my cover cut out I continue to add paint, bits of tissue paper, and Matte Medium until I get a look I like. Yes it really is that simple and you really can't screw it up!

After you are happy with your covers you can spray them with paints and dyes, add stamps and all sorts of other things to create the look you want for your journal. Trim off extra tissue paper from edges. 

I hole punched my covers at this point and added a quote to my front cover. If your not sure what to do on your cover at this stage you can always come back and embellish it later.

 

Junk Journal: Tags and Inserts

It's time to fill those pockets! We are finally getting to the fun stuff by making tags and inserts in all those pockets you made for using envelopes and brown paper bags. I used old clothing tags by adding paper to the back of them with space to write on. For other inserts any paper with writing space will work, because these inserts are just hanging out in pockets and sleeves they do not need to be sturdy or double sided like when you made your pages.

Junk Journal: Writing space

When making junk journals Heather's (my mom) rule is that every page must have a space to write on it. There are many great lined stickers, rubber stamps, and writing prompts available.

Greeting cards, old or new, work as great writing spaces and work as flaps. If the card has already been used paint or gesso over top of old writing. Glue down the back of the greeting card to one of your already started pages. 

Junk Journal: Making your Pages Sturdy

When making Junk Journals I hole punch my pages and secure them together with binder rings. It is important to prepare your pages to be hole punched at this stage so that you don't add writing or images too close to that edge, only to have them cut off. I used scrap papers to secure my edges, mostly just with strips of paper. Some only needed a strip of paper glued along the side, others I folded in half and they wrap around to both sides of the page.

On some of my pages I used my sewing machine to stitch down strips of paper. Remember when sewing with paper to use a larger stitch so as not to perforate your paper.

On my brown paper bags I decided to tape or staple them to create pockets. Because of how heavy they are it is important to make sure they are secure and your pockets do not pop open.