When Its More About the Writing Than About The "Junking" Journal ....

I have so many junk journals made with all junk papers, signatures, handmade covers from cracker boxes, self bound etc . But now my life has changed and I need to record more memories and say more things as I am away from my grand children and I want to remember them and make sure they remember me!  So I have decided to put away all the supplies and embellishments and focus on the writing part more than the creating part of Journal. Plus, I have made them each 2 junk journals, so they have those to write in themselves so this is more just a reading excursion!

The person that introduced me to this has a facebook page (information below).  She has been making amazing journals with just minor decoration and LOTS of writing! The two put together and they are amazing pages! She has inspired me to do the same! She has a bit more talent than I do, but... I'm Learning! Thanks, Terri!

The first book I  am working on is for myself. I have a very boring life, so not much to write about but I find something every now and then! Previously, I had been writing memories of the my past. Now.. I figure I'd better be writing about now for the future in case I am not here to write about my past when it becomes the future! (Did that make sense???!!)

So I found this bound book at Michaels Clearance  shelf. Nicely bound, thick pages, and just the right size. I did cut  out some of the pages to allow for the thickness when adding things, but also because technically, the book is a planner and I didn't want those pages anyway! I got some Scripto colored gel pens that don't soak through the paper and are bright enough colors so they can be seen without being washed out against the white page.

So here are some pictures of what I have done so far. Not amazing, but at least it is on paper and I am learning! 

 

This is the cover.. a band closure. I made the tabs.. printed them out from online and then cut them and just randomly put them on the pages. Basically, they mean nothing just a few words of inspiration!

 Below.. I just wrote things. Glued a few words from a magazine, added a bit of washi tape.

 This page I added a "flip page". I had this from another book I was making and didn't use. So I taped it to the page with washi tape and then wrote about it on the opposing page. But flip it over and there is writing on the previous page!

 

 

 This one.. not the best visually, but it was a "starter" page... and the 2 circle images I cut from a magazine - instead of stickers! I had some old stamps from scrapbooking days and just jotted down a few lines

 

 Another starter page as I didn't have much washi tape. But these "starter" page I talk about.. helped me get into the groove and  do a little better next time.

 

 These are pages I (pre) decorate and then I will be ready to just write... any time I have something to say or want to tell the girls about. I have found that really helps too... embellish many pages... then write. Don't embellish one, then write and repeat! And I am also getting over my over organizing talent and not making them in chronological order! I have many decorated pages.. I find one that I like at that moment or one that matches what I am writing about and I start writing! Amazing how something so insignificant can calm the stress!!!

 

 So, the journey has begun. I have several pages done, many more to go, but I am finding it easier to just jot a few things down every other night or so. Now.. my next problem issue.. my handwriting!  I have to print as since they don't teach cursive in school anymore, the girls won't be able to read it, so I'd better print. But my printing is sloppy, so I work hard to write nicely! So, stay tuned for more ideas and inspiration. I have 2 other books I am working on!  

 

If you want to see where I got my inspiration from... 

Meet   >>>>>>>   Terri Dudash - Artist 

                                                   (Thanks, Terri!)

 If you want to check out my Junk Journals... at the top of the page.. click on "Junk Journals" and scroll through all of them!

 Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE

Junk Journal page...with junk paper!

 Here is a great way to use junk paper to get started on your junk journals!  This page was quick, and easy and literally used junk paper. Took me like 5 minutes to make but it has the memory of my favorite french fries in the whole world.. memories of taking my grand daughters to McDonalds when they were little and having the best time with them and the memories of them and how much they loved the fries too and our time spent together. It is going in my journal!!

The page is an 8.5x11 folded in half and is from a ream of 32lb paper I got at the office supply store. $8 I think it was for 400 sheets and then I coffee stained the paper and used an ink pad (cheapest one at the craft store) to "antique" it on the edges and a few smears on the paper.

I go  to McDonalds for my bi monthly treat of fries.The are the best in the world, but...can't afford to many calories so..they are a special treat for me...instead of Starbucks or some candy! I kept the little paper pockets they put the fries in. I used double sided tape on the bottom side of the pocket and the opening side of the pocket..thus leaving the top open for the journaling tag to slide in!  Then I had a pack of tags from the Dollar Store and tied some ribbon from my sewing stash and slide that into the opening of the pocket itself. I made a journaling "tag"..really just a piece of paper I cut to size to slide in the opening and put a little flower sticker thingy on top for something to pull it out with...inked the sides and slide it in the opening behind the fries pocket. The words are from a page I had that had the words on it as a title, so I cut them individually so they would fit on the page without covering anything, and there you go! Plus..the words..."you make me happy" are perfect in this case because McDonalds is famous for their "Happy Meals" that make people happy, but...the fries DO make me happy!

Here is a view of the page with the tags pulled out so you can see them in full. See... space to write on each of the tags...front and back. Space to write on the page itself!  Lots of memories and all in just 5 minutes! Don't get better than that! And you can turn the pocket so it opens at the top, or fix it so it is a mini page on its own.

Just goes to show what you can do with junk paper! So start keeping those paper things you find/get whether at the fast foods or other places. You might not have an idea right at that moment to use them, but put them in your stash and the right idea will come to you...sooner or later and then you will be prepared to  create!
        Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing and saving those memories!

Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE