For the last several days I have been working on a Junk Journal (JJ) that was ordered by someone who has purchased several things from me in the past. This particular one is called, "ALL ABOUT ME 2021". I am having fun with this one!
Now, just because these are called, "Junk Journals" - that does not mean there is junk in them. Yes, there may be tidbits of this and that...but that is what makes them fun. One never knows how the end result will turn out and two are never the same. I have fun creating Junk Journals. I am constantly looking for this and that and in fact, yesterday I made a comment on Facebook that I needed Paper Dolls for crafting! LOL - - a crafters mind...constantly envisioning creativity and thinking outside of the box! At least I do.
The recipient follows me on my craft page and tells me all the time how much she enjoys looking at the Journals and other papercraft creations I make. After I had created mom's Memorial Album, she reached out to me and asked if I could make one for the memory of her mother. I obliged...in fact, I sent it to her free of charge for her birthday along with a few extra goodies.
Several weeks ago, when she contacted me to ask if I would make her a Junk Journal for
2021, I told her I could but it would not be until early 2021 before I could get to it due to prior commitments with other creations I had on my plate. To make a
long story short, I finished up my other projects and have been able to move
forward with her Junk Journal.
A few years back before
I really got into making Junk Journals, I had thrown some papers together and
sewn them together. They were going to be for another large project I had waiting in the
wings. Those 7 signatures containing 50 plus pages each have been sitting on my
bookcase ever since. I decided to build the current JJ from those signatures.
As I sat there flipping through the pages of each signature, I was having this conversation
with myself. Talk about faux pas...I was nitpicking my work left and right. I
could tell; these items were done long before I knew much about creating a JJ. (laughing out loud)
Even though I had the
start of the current JJ, there needed to be a major overhaul on the signatures - but how was this
going to happen since I had already sewn them together? I racked my
brain and just dove in... grabbing wet adhesive, double-sided tape, my ruler,
the scissors, and whatever else I needed to get the job done.
I started out creating
the shell and covers out of chipboard as I always do. I measured the current signatures,
and they were 6 x 10, and I had seven of them. I chose to only use five of them.
After I got the shell assembled and covered, I distressed the covers with inks. A variety of colors as
shown here in the photograph.
The different colors pop with
each stroke of the dauber. Building layers upon layers, I continued inking the
covers. As you see, the spine (in the center section of the bottom photo) is
quite large. That is because the JJ I am making is going to be chunky and I
need the space to build upon the already sewn signatures with assorted papers
sitting in front of me.
Continuing to look at
the pages that are sewn together, I continue to shake my head and keep asking myself
"what were you thinking"? I did have a plan several years ago when I originally chose the papers I had. But knowing what I know now about JJ and other portfolios, that plan quickly went out the
window. That is why those signatures have been sitting on my bookcase now for a few years. What I envisioned then is not how I envision that project today. I will save it for another time...
Continuing to look at
things on my bookcase, I noticed another tub of stuff. When I was in a crafting/swapping group a few years back, we exchanged
Franken Pages and other JJ pages. I had both of these things in this tub. I grabbed a few of them to incorporate into
the JJ I am currently making. A few of them had to be reworked, so I had the opportunity to add my twists and turns to them.
Laying the signatures to the side, for now, I went back to the shell of the Junk Journal.
Staring at me across
the room were my tubs of trims, ribbons, and assorted laces. I retrieved all of
them and sat them by my desk. I wanted to do something else with the cover, but
what? I needed those vibrant colors to pop even more than they already
have...I grabbed the two tubs of lace. Looking at this lace and that lace,
moving things here and there - my eyes quickly saw a beautiful piece of lace
that had blacks, pinks, creams, and a touch of hunter green in it.
PERFECT...that is the one I will use.
That lace popped the
inks I had previously laid on the covers...gorgeous! Then my eyes caught a
glimpse of this piece of pink frilly lace. Perfect...that added a completely different look.
Now that I have the cover somewhat started and nowhere near finished, I need to begin working, I mean overhauling the signatures. I had started embellishing and tweaking the five I chose but quickly realized before I get too deep into the overhaul of these signatures, I needed to get them sewn into the JJ. I grabbed my large sewing needle, some baker's twine, and began measuring where the holes needed to go. I began sewing the signatures into the spine.
Whew, my fingers
hurt...and the tips of my fingers, OUCH! Today, they are still tender to
touch...sewing them into the spine was painstakingly difficult. Especially
since I had already sewn them together and started embellishing them
previously. Mistake!!! But I overcame...
I am now working on
adding other pages, pockets, tuck spots, and assorted embellishments to the
pages along with more trims, fibers, and lace. I am having a blast with this
Junk Journal. I hope to have it completed by the end of the year. That is to be
determined.
Without giving up the anticipation of surprise, for the recipient, here are a few
pages and what the JJ looks like before I start my day today...it is constantly
changing and hopefully, by tonight it will look much different.
I am off to create more beautiful pages in this JJ.
Tonight, I am going with my daughter and her
family to look at Christmas lights.
I hope you and your family have a safe and Merry Christmas. Remember, none of us are promised tomorrow. Be sure to tell your friends and loved ones how much they mean to you and make those amends before it is too late.
Have a wonderful day
everyone!
Heart to Heart Soul Creations
H2hsc2020
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