Art Journaling: Getting Started

How to Make a Junk Journal: Part 2 The Pages

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Hi everyone! Today we are going to be making the pages of our junk journal and this is really where you can let your creativity come alive.

I added a photo from a children’s book to the cover. This was a book I bought for my oldest when she was a baby and it has gotten pretty worn over the years. It’s called The Eloise Wilkin Stories by Jane Werner Watson. I used the ripped book for my journal and I purchased a second copy used for our book shelf. If you are looking for a place to buy used books online I usually shop Thrift Books. Their prices are good you can usually choose from different levels of wear and tear and their customer service has always been great. (Affiliate link:  If you make a purchase using this link I may earn a small commission but you do not pay any more)

I want to start off by saying if you don’t have a lot of materials do not worry. You can use plain copy paper (like I do) to get started. In my journal I am using some 11×14″ page that I folded in half both ways and then stitched up the sides to make pockets. It’s not coffee or tea stained, it’s just regular old copy paper. You can use book pages, magazine pages-whatever you have!

I have some vintage stationery paper that I attach together with masking tape along with some vintage envelopes that were sealed shut. This is a great way to use items from your recycling bin or maybe some children’s books that have been ripped up and aren’t wonderful for reading any more.

To attach vertical pages together I line them up next to each other and then put a piece of masking tape down to attach them front and back. You can use washi tape too which will give a nice look to the pages. I chose masking tape to go with the vintage pages of my journal but you can play have fun.

Once I finished gathering my pages I went ahead and started stitching my plain paper. I added decorative stitches that also closed the openings on my folded pages creating the pockets. If you are using smaller paper you can still stitch down the sides just to add some decoration. I also raided my fabric scraps and attached some fabric to make colorful tabs on my pages as well. You could glue paper, ribbon or lace if you don’t have a sewing machine.

I personally like to decorate my pages so they aren’t blank but not so much so that they feel like they are completed or locked into a certain theme. I want whoever is going to be playing in this journal to be able to make it their own.

Once you have all your pages decorated you can decide how many you want in each signature. I put the pages inside my cover to see how much room was left over to help me determine the number of pages and then I divide by the 3 signatures I want to have. I like to sew in 3 signatures because it’s easy for me and I find the spacing works nicely on the spine width I tend to use.

In the next video we are going to start to sew in our signatures. Don’t worry it’s easier than you think!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

My 2024 Journal Line Up

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I have taken a new approach to what I focus my attention on. Taking time to not pick things that sound good or fun but that are supportive of the big things I am looking to call into each day.

The truth is I have countless ideas. Countless projects I would love to work on. Sadly, as a human being my limitation lies in the realms of time and energy. While I am grateful to almost never be bored I am also easily distracted by ideas.

When I sat down to curate this years journals I wanted to make sure I was picking practices that support what I am working towards and how I want to spend my days. I feel good about the line up I have but I am also planning to re-evaluate everything as the year goes and to not be afraid to cut things out or maybe add in something new.

So here are my current journals for this year.

First up is my 5 year journal. I saw this video and loved the idea. I have kept a small journal where I write down just a few things from the day before but I loved the idea of having one book for 5 years. I picked up this journal which is going to be short a few pages but that I thought would work well for this practice. I also decided to make a cover for it to dress it up a little. I followed a great tutorial from Pin Cut Sew that you can find here if you want to make your own.

Next up is my catch all journal. This was originally going to be a bullet journal until I realized, again, that while I love watching videos of people and their bullet journals that type of planning doesn’t work for me. So I ended up repurposing this journal into a catch all.  A place where I can write out ideas, work through plans, make lists-whatever comes to mind. I have no preciousness about this journal, I scribble in it and I absolutely love it! I got this journal as a 2-pack (the same pack I used for my current reading journal) and I am so happy with it.

Next is what I think of as my morning pages journal but really I write in it whenever. It’s the journal where my thoughts and everything I am going through gets written down. I have a cover I purchased years ago off of Etsy and I refill it with blank journals when it’s full. I love writing in this but it’s one of the practices that once I fall out of it is so hard to get back into. I often will write in it on our patio under the tent during the spring and summer and it makes me so happy. I really want to bring this practice back to help me with my writing goals.

Next is my “Be Still Journal” which is a book I created for my prayer practice. It holds space for daily prayers, verse of the day, words God has spoken to you along with blank journaling space. I plan to list a few in my shop along with some handmade goodies but in the meantime you can purchase your own here if you wanted.

Then I have 2 sketchbooks that are part of the year-long art class I am taking with Carla Sonheim. These will be where I work through the different assignments throughout the year.

Last up is this big and beautiful sketchbook that I purchased originally for the class but then decided I wanted to do something else with it. I have no idea what that something else will be but I feel like I want to make it part of a daily art practice. I am giving some space to this one to see what unfolds and I’ll be sure to share with you once I’m done.

And of course the last one, which I forget to mention in the video, is my Reading Journal which I shared with you yesterday.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into the journals I have picked out for the year. I do plan on sharing them with you as the year goes on and if you would like to know more about any one in particular just put a comment below.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

VIDEO: Use up Your Scraps & Make Paper Clusters/Ephemera

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Today I am cleaning my desk.

Well, sort of.

Today I wanted to make some ephemera to add to my journal pages and I wanted to use up all the bits on my desk.

I thought it would be fun to make some ephemera to keep on hand for adding to my journal pages.

I didn’t give much thought to the process. I opened up my scrap drawer and pulled out some papers that were similar in color, then grabbed some other bits from my scrap box along with some stamped words I made.

A glue stick, some handmade buttons, lace and trim later and I have a nice little collection of paper clusters in blue, beige and pink.

I started with some decorative paper and cut it into rough squares and rectangles.

Next, I added some torn paper or book page (or both) followed by some trim. I used a bit of lace and a bit of embroidery floss a few stamped words and a button or two.

I rounded the corners on some and others I left square. If you don’t have a corner rounder you can always cut rounded corners with scissors.  On one I decided to punch a hole and add some lace to form a tag.

These are so simple (and fun) to make. Of course, in the end I used up scraps for sure but I also have a lot more on my desk now too. No worries-I have another post and video planned for Wednesday where we will make some paper tabs.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Music by Little Boots – Silver Balloons – https://thmatc.co/?l=54B37541