Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639 
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Feb 5, 2022 16:21:25 GMT
I fell into a junk journal YouTube rabbit hole. While I'm fascinated, I don't understand! These women -- and there are a bunch -- just make pockets, tags, journal cards with tons of distressing, vintage paper, dyed seam binding (things that all went through the scrapbook world) -- then made coffee dyed lace imprinted paper -- and bunch everything up into journals? No pictures, no writing (though they keep making "journal" cards and adding stained paper!) -- but  ? The items - the books - they are all pretty (not really my "style"[such as I have any recognizable style]) - and I keep watching - but mostly to try to understand. What do they *do* with those things? Certainly, I guess the same question could be asked of my stacks of cardstock and drawers of scrap crap ....... Is anyone here in the "junk journal" arena? |
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Post by Linda on Feb 5, 2022 16:45:34 GMT
not a junk journaller but I suspect that they enjoy the process and the art they are creating and the result doesn't need to have anything 'done' with it
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,144
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Post by scrapnnana on Feb 5, 2022 16:51:02 GMT
not a junk journaller but I suspect that they enjoy the process and the art they are creating and the result doesn't need to have anything 'done' with it I sometimes enjoy making mini albums, based on a similar process, although I don’t do shabby Very few of my mini albums actually have photos. They are mainly a fun, artistic endeavor. |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Feb 5, 2022 17:03:30 GMT
These are art projects not memory keeping. There is an overlap with scrapbooking due to products and the process. Art doesn’t have to be something hung on the wall or for public consumption. I assume they enjoy the process. I’m the same way with scrapbooking. I enjoy the process, the memory keeping part is extra.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 5, 2022 17:25:03 GMT
I’ve considered making a Junk Journal because I have so many supplies. With that idea in mind, I joined several JJ Facebook groups. One group has over 20,000 members. Clearly it is a very popular paper crafting hobby. I have learned that Junk Journaling takes many forms. Some are just strictly little works of art, similar to memorydex cards. Some are themed, such as Alice In Wonderland, while some are random. Some are inspirational or Bible-based, devotional. Some will do daily or monthly journals and use them as planners. Some fill all the pages with bits and pieces, stickers and ephemera. There is another whole subset of junk journal makers that leave spaces for journaling and pictures. Travel junk journals where they use tickets stubs, postcards, pictures, etc relating to a trip are very popular.
Many just use the decorated journals to just that - journal.
Sadly, I am a total failure at junk journaling. I just don’t have a creative bone in my body. My attempts have been sloppy, disjointed and just plain ugly. I do not feel fulfilled or inspired by making a junk journal. It’s just not for me.
I’ll also admit here that I have seen many junk journal pages and YouTube videos and gone huh? I just don’t connect with the idea or process. Many people in the Facebook groups also have said that they have given the junk journals as gifts and the receiver has not understood the journals either.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Feb 5, 2022 17:36:40 GMT
Restless Spirit art takes practice. I say, keep at it. Just like most of our first scrapbook pages are a little rough around the edges, practice helps you find what you like. It’s always a good to stretch your skills. I try a lot of fads/trends just to learn new skills. I may or may not use those skills in the future, but I can move on knowing I tried it.
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,855
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Feb 5, 2022 17:48:58 GMT
Sadly, I am a total failure at junk journaling. I just don’t have a creative bone in my body. My attempts have been sloppy, disjointed and just plain ugly. I do not feel fulfilled or inspired by making a junk journal. It’s just not for me. I know how you feel! I tried it and didn't like the results, but when I took an in person junk journal class a few years ago the teacher said she didn't like her first 5 junk journals and threw them away! She said it takes awhile to find your flow so don't give up! But also, if you are really struggling and it's not fun for you, it may not be the craft for you. That all being said, we are our own worst critic so of course you think yours were not great. Maybe you can try something like what Veronica Creates on Instagram is making, she's altering a book and it's a scrapbook/junk journal mashup. |
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Post by Ryann on Feb 5, 2022 17:49:21 GMT
I’ve considered making a Junk Journal because I have so many supplies. With that idea in mind, I joined several JJ Facebook groups. One group has over 20,000 members. Clearly it is a very popular paper crafting hobby. I have learned that Junk Journaling takes many forms. Some are just strictly little works of art, similar to memorydex cards. Some are themed, such as Alice In Wonderland, while some are random. Some are inspirational or Bible-based, devotional. Some will do daily or monthly journals and use them as planners. Some fill all the pages with bits and pieces, stickers and ephemera. There is another whole subset of junk journal makers that leave spaces for journaling and pictures. Travel junk journals where they use tickets stubs, postcards, pictures, etc relating to a trip are very popular. Many just use the decorated journals to just that - journal. Sadly, I am a total failure at junk journaling. I just don’t have a creative bone in my body. My attempts have been sloppy, disjointed and just plain ugly. I do not feel fulfilled or inspired by making a junk journal. It’s just not for me. I’ll also admit here that I have seen many junk journal pages and YouTube videos and gone huh? I just don’t connect with the idea or process. Many people in the Facebook groups also have said that they have given the junk journals as gifts and the receiver has not understood the journals either. Could you please share the name of the FB group with 20k members? Thank you!! |
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Post by peachiceteas on Feb 5, 2022 17:50:42 GMT
It's a form of art journalling.
Art journaling is an open-ended form of art on loose paper or in a bound journal where the focus is on the process of creating and of self-expression rather than a particular end result. Drawing, mark-making, writing, painting, and collage are often components.
Some of the more 'paired back' junk journals that use less mixed media and instead lots of different types of papers can be used for memory keeping.
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Post by Ryann on Feb 5, 2022 17:52:09 GMT
I follow a few junk journal YouTube channels. I find a lot of what they do translates well to traditional scrapbooking. I really enjoy watching the process videos and making embellishments using scraps.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 5, 2022 17:55:25 GMT
I’ve considered making a Junk Journal because I have so many supplies. With that idea in mind, I joined several JJ Facebook groups. One group has over 20,000 members. Clearly it is a very popular paper crafting hobby. I have learned that Junk Journaling takes many forms. Some are just strictly little works of art, similar to memorydex cards. Some are themed, such as Alice In Wonderland, while some are random. Some are inspirational or Bible-based, devotional. Some will do daily or monthly journals and use them as planners. Some fill all the pages with bits and pieces, stickers and ephemera. There is another whole subset of junk journal makers that leave spaces for journaling and pictures. Travel junk journals where they use tickets stubs, postcards, pictures, etc relating to a trip are very popular. Many just use the decorated journals to just that - journal. Sadly, I am a total failure at junk journaling. I just don’t have a creative bone in my body. My attempts have been sloppy, disjointed and just plain ugly. I do not feel fulfilled or inspired by making a junk journal. It’s just not for me. I’ll also admit here that I have seen many junk journal pages and YouTube videos and gone huh? I just don’t connect with the idea or process. Many people in the Facebook groups also have said that they have given the junk journals as gifts and the receiver has not understood the journals either. Could you please share the name of the FB group with 20k members? Thank you!! Friendly Junk Journal People 20.9K Members. Amazing! |
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 5, 2022 18:01:22 GMT
Friendly Junk Journal People 20.9K Members.
Other FB Groups I belong to:
Junk Journal Inspirations 9.4K
Junk Journaling beginner friendly 6.4K
Junk Journal Tutorials 38.1K
Clearly it’s a popular art form!
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Post by Ryann on Feb 5, 2022 18:18:45 GMT
Other FB Groups I belong to: Junk Journal Inspirations 9.4K Junk Journaling beginner friendly 6.4K Junk Journal Tutorials 38.1K Clearly it’s a popular art form! Thank you for sharing!! |
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Post by scrappyrabbit on Feb 5, 2022 19:54:03 GMT
I have had the same thoughts/questions regarding junk journals, and even mini-albums I have seen people make on youtube that seem to be more for pretty ephemera and less for photos. I appreciate all the thoughts on here broadening my mind on what I expect paper-crafting to be!
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Post by mrssch on Feb 5, 2022 20:32:23 GMT
I create Junk Journals and use mine for memory keeping, reading journals and daily journals. My last two December Daily projects are junk journals.
My style is not the coffee-dyed or excessive lace; but I love tags, flips and pockets.
Some of the junk journal era on YouTube sell their journals.
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,394
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Post by kitbop on Feb 5, 2022 21:35:09 GMT
I think many of us struggle with the art-for-arts'-sake idea. Scrapbooking, travellers' notebooks, planners, and card making give purpose to our art and stashes. I struggle to let go of purpose. Mightily struggle and I fear I will NEVER create without purpose. I think it is passed down from previous generations. Hobbies had reason: woodworking, knitting, quilting, baking... And hobbies without products (reading, crosswords, puzzles...) don't use resources - they don't create "waste". I'd like to point out Vicki Boutin as an example of someone who has embraced creating for pure beauty. She freely admits to almost exclusively making mini albums and scrapbook pages that never see a photo. However, what she ignores (or at least doesn't admit to her audience) is that her creations still have purpose in building her business  |
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Feb 5, 2022 22:18:53 GMT
You can create for the sake of creating. You don't need a purpose so it's their way of creating and having a place to put it
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Post by joblackford on Feb 5, 2022 23:14:13 GMT
Some of the junk journal era on YouTube sell their journals. I was going to say this - I think a lot of people who share videos and photos make them to sell. (Mini albums too) Or they film the artistic bit and then use them for personal journaling that they don't share "after the pen" images of. One of my friends makes similar kinds of books and enjoys sticking in all kinds of little bits of ephemera, old postage, cut outs from magazines - the real scraps of old time scrapbooking. She makes them as gifts and chooses the decorations for the person she's gifting to. She's also given away some small partially finished ones - basically just the base pieces of interesting papers gathered together for the recipient to stick their own bits and pieces into. In the past I've made junk journals in part because it seemed like such a waste to throw away all the envelopes and interesting papers that came into my life when they could be gessoed and painted and given new life in journals. But it just wasn't my jam in the end. I'm a lot more particular now about what I save for my little journal of ephemera. And I don't care for the distressed look so mine is black pages with little stickers and graphics and tags pasted in and white gel pen writing if I want to add words. I just add a few bits each week or month. I don't do it for the art. I just like to save cool things. |
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Post by janamke on Feb 6, 2022 3:24:33 GMT
Me! I just started in January. I was frustrated with an author I previously loved and made a page in an old art journal. It was cathartic and I loved it. So I started buying more supplies. I used to be really into Tim Holtz, but no time to work on those projects. This fits that niche. I filled half the journal so far and am having a blast. Each spread takes no more than 10-15 minutes. I have no plans to DO anything with them. It’s art. It’s therapy. It’s creative fun. It’s just for me.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Feb 6, 2022 3:51:49 GMT
Thank you, everyone, for your generous and informative replies. I appreciate the definition of "art journaling" and illustrating how junk journals fit it and I see truth in kitbop stating the struggle of "art for art's sake". AS I said - I find the junk journal videos fascinating -- and I've stowed some ideas about creating pockets etc that would easily fit into the things I do. |
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Post by Patter on Feb 6, 2022 11:02:06 GMT
I don't make fancy junk journals as I prefer to make them out of used envelopes and art journal in them. I made a really pretty one with pockets, plain paper, etc., and gave to my bestie. She uses it as a regular journal for her Bible study. She writes on the pages. I know a lot of ladies sell these journals so I am assuming people may use them for journals as my bestie does. Here is my envelope journals and how I use it. The bottom two right photos are a small portion of my bestie's book I made her. The dividers inside are also out of fabric as you can see by that photo. www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gloryartjournals/ |
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Post by karinec on Feb 6, 2022 13:05:29 GMT
Patter wow those are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
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Post by Patter on Feb 6, 2022 13:57:15 GMT
Patter wow those are beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Awe thank you. Sometime I use old book covers or I sew them (like these) out of scraps of fabric. I actually prefer those--they use up scraps, and I can choose my colors.  |
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Post by lindamh on Feb 6, 2022 19:35:54 GMT
Okay - This sent me down a rabbit hole. (Thank you!) I'm really excited to try this. I tossed around several theme ideas, but then I thought about skipping the theme idea and just make it like a "playground" for me. I've got so many stamps, stencils, dies, etc. that I've bought because I loved them but I haven't found a way to use them. Maybe I'll just do a journal that has pages made with all those things and all those techniques I've wanted to try but haven't wanted to experiment on a card or page. This sounds like fun!
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Post by peano on Feb 6, 2022 21:25:25 GMT
I am a fan of the junk journaler, Roxy Creations, on YouTube. She’s an Aussie living in Italy and has access to the most amazing super old papers and books—18th and 19th century sometimes. She creates constantly—nearly a video a day—and has an Etsy store where she sells her junk journals and extra antique ephemera. I like her aesthetic
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 7, 2022 1:35:42 GMT
I just adore the Aesthetics of Patter ‘s work. She has shared many pieces of her art here on the board over many years. I appreciate it. There is a beauty, balance and symmetry on her pages that not only appeal to me, but speak to me. I often wonder if many of these journal artists in fact, have artistic education and training in their background or is it intuitive and natural to create such lovely art. Whenever I try to create, I end up with something that is out of balance and totally random. I meander off with no purpose, so as hard as it was to start the project, I find it equally difficult to find a peaceful ending. My sister makes lovely journals. She has gifted me many journaling how-to books over the years. I need to pull one out and see what I can learn. I think my biggest challenge will be trying to defeat my life long linear, logical, only-do-that-which-has-purpose way of thinking and embrace my feeling/visualization artistic side - if I have one! Interesting topic! Thanks to everyone for sharing. |
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Post by Patter on Feb 7, 2022 13:29:14 GMT
I just adore the Aesthetics of Patter ‘s work. She has shared many pieces of her art here on the board over many years. I appreciate it. There is a beauty, balance and symmetry on her pages that not only appeal to me, but speak to me. I often wonder if many of these journal artists in fact, have artistic education and training in their background or is it intuitive and natural to create such lovely art. Whenever I try to create, I end up with something that is out of balance and totally random. I meander off with no purpose, so as hard as it was to start the project, I find it equally difficult to find a peaceful ending. My sister makes lovely journals. She has gifted me many journaling how-to books over the years. I need to pull one out and see what I can learn. I think my biggest challenge will be trying to defeat my life long linear, logical, only-do-that-which-has-purpose way of thinking and embrace my feeling/visualization artistic side - if I have one! Interesting topic! Thanks to everyone for sharing. Awe, you are so, so incredibly sweet. Thank you for blessing me today. I feel that way about other's art, and "I want to be like them." LOL! I only had one graphic art course in college but I also designed for many, many years for companies that sold things to Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. My great grandmother was an artist, my aunt and grandmother dabbled in art, and I picked up so many arts and crafts from my mom. My sister and my nieces are INCREDIBLE drawing artists. I can't draw worth a lick.  One niece is in art college now. I have been creating for at least 44 years in some sort of fashion. I have learned so much from working with others plus I try to develop my own style. Other than all of that, I don't have any formal training. I don't think you need it but it does help to know about the color wheel, mixing colors, etc. It helps with fabrics, paints, papers, etc. I continue to learn and learn as much as I can. I love it!! And thank you again for your sweet words. |
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Post by jen on Feb 7, 2022 22:03:12 GMT
I follow a lot of junk journalers on youtube & the majority of them sell the finished blank journals in their etsy shops.
There are lots of "junk journal with me" type process videos that show how you use the blank journals to journal in, scrapbook, plan etc.
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Post by papersilly on Feb 8, 2022 22:21:57 GMT
i love making "junk" journals. i say "junk" but i don't really use other elements that others do=== fabric, lace, junk mail, food packaging, product packaging, etc. i don't take it that far. my journals are more of an eclectic mix of items and not something straight out of a matchy-match collection of paper and embellishments.
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