Journaling Cards

These journaling cards were all created on bases of book pages, collaged with small scraps of various papers. Then pieces of napkins were decoupaged on for the focal points. I added bits of lace or labels and tabs to finish them. They are all backed with tea-dyed paper. They are approximately 4" x 6."

I also created this envelope from a napkin decoupaged onto a sheet of music paper. 

Napkins are a great source of beautiful images to use in your artwork!

"Waterfall" pockets using envelopes

This waterfall pocket is made with two business envelopes (#10). I cannot find the You Tube channel I originally found the tutorial on, but here is one if you want to see the actual construction. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w663mrPlgZ8)  The top edge is cut off slightly to make pockets. One envelope is folded so there is one end longer than the other (this forms the top pocket and the back). The second envelope is also folded to form two more pockets. This is tucked into the fold of the first to form the waterfall.

I sewed the two envelopes together at the top fold and covered the fronts of the pockets with vintage wallpapers, vintage images and lace. The undersides are covered with tea-dyed paper for space for journaling.

The tags/journaling cards inside each pocket are book pages folded over and glued together to form a sturdy base then collaged with various papers and images. The backs are plain paper for journaling.

This can be slipped behind a belly band or tucked into a journal with a paper clip or even glued to a page. I love that it's interactive and not hard to create.

Projects for Junk Journals - Using up Book Pages

I've become a little obsessed with junk journals lately. The coronavirus stay-at-home orders combined with a yearly junk journal page swap I'm participating in has given me reason to work on many pages and ephemera. I've also been watching many YouTubers in the junk journaling community which has been very inspiring.

When you remove pages to reduce bulk when making altered books or when you gut books to use the covers for all kinds of journals, you end up with a pile of loose pages! I have an abundance to use up! There are all kinds of ways to use book pages and here are just a few I've tried.

First, you can make "origami" boxes. These can be any size, depending on your pages and can hold so many things. I will use a few for cut up bits or odds and ends in my art room. They could also be used for jewelry or little gifts or office supplies ...

These are made from a pretty standard book page and measure about 2" square by 1" deep.

A great use for book pages is for bases. They can be glued together to make them thicker and can be cut into tags, journaling cards, bookmarks, even pages for books and journals. Once they are collaged, they make beautiful elements.

journaling cards on doubled book page bases

tag and journaling cards all on base of book pages
(coin envelope in center has collaged book text)

Torn up pages can be used for collage or even collaged bases for mixed media art.

canvas for mixed media prepared with book pages and gesso

They can be folded or cut into many different kinds of envelopes and pockets. 

double pocket

vertical double pocket

Stamp to make new "paper".

stamped book page made into envelope

Cut out words from book text to use as titles or sentiments or poetry.

example from Pinterest

Die cut or hand cut to make paper flowers.

Use as "glue pages." When gluing elements, work on an old book page. When it's sticky just throw away and start with another - a great way to keep your work area clean.

Some other ideas (which I haven't yet tried):

make paper beads, then color as desired

shred and make handmade paper

shred and use as "filling" when shipping packages

use as wrapping paper

punch for borders

make feathers

make ruffles

make banners or tabs

weave for a background

use for paper mâché

stamp on them and fussy cut images

punch or die cut shapes

I'm sure there are more ideas out there. I can assure you, I now rarely throw away a book page!

May Junk Journal Page Swap

I created this page for the May junk journal swap in my online group. We make one page approximately 5" x 6-7" to swap with a partner. One of the requirements is to have space for journaling.

The base of the page is a folded map and the front was collaged with book text. The front page has a belly band which I made from a strip of file folder collaged with tiny bits and pieces of papers and lace. I added the paper flower with a brad for more interest.

Under the belly band are two journal cards. The bases are book pages glued together and then collaged with other papers including some vintage wallpaper. The larger one has a plain back for journaling and the smaller one is a trifold with space inside for journaling.

For the back page I made a flip with a strip of pretty patterned paper attached to the top of a small paper bag. This was then attached to the page. I added the definition label, butterflies and bird.

The top of the flip has a "notepad" made from several pieces of copy paper dyed with avocados. (Yes, the dye is pink!) The music paper is also avocado-dyed. The paper bag is stamped and collaged and the tag is collaged with several papers.

I love all the interactive features of this page. It was so much fun to create.

Playing with scraps

Remember that "scrap roll" I made a few posts ago? I cut it up into the following: three large tags,

four journal cards, three large single pages for a journal, and a fold-over page for a journal which I will stitch into a pocket.

This is one of the journal cards that I collaged and embellished. The finished piece doesn't look anything like the original!

Tutorial - Using up scraps and extra book pages - journal cards

As you can imagine, when creating altered books and removing pages to eliminate bulk or when gutting a book to make a new journal you are left with many excess book pages. I have discovered a way to use and recycle these into a functional project - journal cards for junk journals or December Dailies, etc.

First, I always have a stack of book pages next to me when gluing projects. I lay the object being glued on top of the pages so extra glue stays off my work space. When the top page gets too "gluey," I fold it in half, lay it aside and continue with a new page.

To make journal cards, you can glue a few of these folded pages together and use them as a base for other scraps and images. Once they are completely collaged, you can leave them as rectangles or cut them into tags. You can staple or glue a folded piece of paper or fabric or lace or ribbon to the top for a tab. Or you can punch a hole and add ribbon or trims.

This is a great way to use up bits of paper, ribbons, stickers, word strips, fussy cuts, die cuts etc from your stash. These measure approximately 4-5 inches wide and 5-6 inches tall and are a great size for many uses.

I usually add a blank piece of book page (there are usually several at the front or back of books as well as sometimes at end of chapters) to the back to provide a blank space for journaling. I also sew a straight or zigzag stitch around the outer edge. This is not necessary as everything is glued, but it adds a decorative touch and finishes it off nicely.

Here are several Christmas ones I've done with scraps left over from my December Daily. I've added several to my book already. 

I hope you enjoyed this simple tutorial for using up book pages and your stash. It's always good to recycle!