Journal Making

Video: Let’s Make a Junk Journal

     Leave a Comment

Happy Monday!

Today I am digging through my collection of this and that and making a fun “junk journal.” Maybe you would like to make one too?

If you aren’t familiar with the term-junk journal is simply something you make with-junk! Items you would be throwing away or recycling that you repurpose and give new life to. Almost anything works. Postcards, envelopes, magazines, catalogs, junk mail-and more! Really the only limit is your imagination so why not have a dig through the recycling bin and see what you can find.

I was cleaning off the shelf in my studio that I use to hold my cardboard and such. It was beyond overflowing and I went through and did a clean out, a little organize and pulled aside some items I thought would be fun to make a journal with.

Initially I was going to use some smaller envelopes but decided that they didn’t quite go so I left them out. I used a large USPS mailer I received some stamps in as the cover and some brown paper bags for the pages. I cut the brown paper to size and used a 3-hole pamphlet stitch to attach them to the cover. I glued down half the flap of the envelope and left the side with the window open so I could add a focal image later.

Once everything was sewed into place I painted the cover a soft perwinkle/light purple color. I let it dry and then used one of the sheets from my latest digikit to sketch out a face on. I colored it in with some kids watercolor paint and cut it out. I attached the sketch to a gelli print page I made with some collage added to it and slid it inside the envelope. Lastly I added some more collage elements to the cover to tie everything together.

I am really happy with the journal and particularly how my sketch came out. I plan to fill this journal up soon so be sure to keep an eye out for more journal with me videos and photos. I will also be sharing my gelli print process in Wednesday’s video so be sure to keep an eye out.

I would love to hear if you make your own junk journal and what materials you ended up using. Do you have a specific plan for your journal? I have an idea for mine but we will have to see how everything unfolds.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Music by Eli Lev – Dancin’ on the Lawn – https://thmatc.co/?l=9EA04504
Music by Little Boots – Silver Balloons – https://thmatc.co/?l=54B37541

Video: Making Journal Jewelry

     Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! I hope you had a nice weekend.

We spent time with family on Saturday celebrating a belated Easter. The kids hunted eggs and ate way too much chocolate and the adults sat outside and chatted. It was a relaxing way to spend the day.

I did manage to get to the studio over the weekend and had a play with making some journal jewelry. I just recently heard the term although I have added embellishments and dangles my journals for years. I wanted to find a way to use some of the charms we made together as well as my stash of ribbons. If you would like to add some embellishments to your journals but don’t have a lot of found items to add then you might like to give this a try.

I started by picking out some ribbons I like and tying them together. Then I added a bulb safety pin (Amazon Affiliate Link) so that I could clip it through the top of the spine of my journal. I then added some of our handmade charms by tying them on to the individual ribbons. You could really go crazy and add so many things! You could add old charms from necklaces that are broken, beads, bells-you name it! I liked the idea of using elements I could make but I am definitely going to be making a lot more of these.

I hope you enjoy the video and try making these charms for yourself. If you do please let me know how you make out!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not cost you any more money but helps support my site and my work.

Music by Julia Pauletti – You Are Mine – https://thmatc.co/?l=63BE6B37

Making a Mini Journal

     Leave a Comment

I might be addicted to making mini journals. If you saw my post on teeny mini journals you may know what I am talking about. Today’s journal making fun is larger than the teeny journals but so much fun to make. I used Bristol paper and it only took 3 small sheets. You could use any paper really depending on how you want to create in your journal. I am thinking of using these to house some inspirational quotes but I might be adding some images to the pages as well.

I cut eat piece of Bristol paper to about 4″x6″ and then I added acrylic paint with my finger to create a natural background. I have some ideas for how I am going to add the quotes to the pages and I will add some embellishments but I liked the idea of having the pages prepped for when I have my quotes all gathered.

I am also planning on adding some beads or decorative elements to the strings which is why I bound it so that the strings where on the outside. This is such an easy and fun project and the idea of filling a journal in just one art journal session feels really satisfying.

I hope you enjoy the video and please let me know if you make some I would love to hear how you plan on filling your journal.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Video: Making a Simple Writing Journal Using Cardboard

     Leave a Comment

I have another journal for you today.

I know it might seem silly making all these journals but it is so much fun isn’t it? I had planned to share something different with you and will plan that post and video for Wednesday, but I was really inspired to make this journal.

I have been walking a journey of faith and that journey has lead me to studying the Bible and I wanted to create a journal to hold Bible verses that are really speaking to me at the moment. A place where I can quickly reference ones that I might need at any given moment.

When I was in 7th Grade our teacher assigned us a project of collecting quotes over the course of several months. We were able to design the notebook and then fill it up with quotes that we loved. I still have mine! This practice has stayed with me my whole life and I have several journals filled with my favorite quotes. It seemed fitting to make one specifically for the Bible verses that are speaking to me at whatever phase of life I am currently in.

I tried to keep the materials for this project simple: cardboard (I used a cereal box), double sided tape, scrapbook paper, some canvas fabric (you could use an old cotton tshirt or bedding or duct tape or masking tape), some paint and some Fabric Tac glue. For the paper I used regular copy paper.

I hope you enjoy the process. If you make a journal please do share I would love to hear and you are also a collector of quotes please comment with your favorite quote below.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Video: Making a Mini Journal

     4 Comments

How are you? If you listened to yesterday’s podcast you know that I have been struggling this week with anxiety and I found that my creativity was a support during a really difficult time.

A support, not a permanent fix or a magic band aid but it did offer a little rest, a lightening of the load for a time and for that I am so grateful. I am passionate about how our creativity can support us through all areas of our lives and I hope that, wherever you are right now, that you are able to feel supported and cared for.

Today I am working on a mini journal that I am sending off as an art swap. Myself and a fellow artist will each make a journal and send it back and forth through out the year adding bits and pieces to each journal until we have a completed journal each. I did this for the first time last year and we are just finishing up those journals and I am excited to see where this one goes. I will have 2 on the go this year and it should be a lot of fun.

I decided to try a smaller size journal because I have so many papers this size and I thought they would add lots of color and interest to my journal pages.

I sewed them together with a simple pamphlet stitch and then added some embellishments and goodies to get them started. Just about everything in this journal (including the papers) came from my Lollipop Box Club subscriptions so if you like what you see be sure to visit Lisa’s shop-I have a link in my sidebar. She also has a great YouTube Channel & Patreon that I highly recommend.

The journal is so cute and I cannot wait to see how it evolves over the coming months. I’ll be sure the share a video flip when it’s all completed.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog-if you have any questions please comment below and I will be happy to answer.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Music by Saint Stephen – 50’s Milkshake – https://thmatc.co/?l=352EAE2D

Video: Let’s Make a Cardboard Journal

     Leave a Comment

Today I have a fun upcycling project for you.

I don’t know about you but I love taking things that would have been recycling or trash and turning them into something fun, useful and pretty at the same time.

Years ago my mind was blown when I watched a video that showed me I could make a journal from a cereal box. I am totally in love with the idea of making something from every day items around the house.

Today I am using a similar package to make a very simple journal. I cut it to size (in my case just under 6×6″) I add some gesso, paint and a bit of collage and bind it all together with some ribbon using a 3-hole pamphlet stitch.

It’s a great project to do if you have limited supplies, time or maybe an overabundance of cardboard you would like to use up. These would make really sweet valentine gifts for kids to give their friends or maybe add some photo memories and give them to a loved one.

I hope you enjoy today’s video. If you follow along and make one yourself please do comment below-I would love to hear!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante