PAINTABLE JUNK JOURNAL COVERS
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Ok, I’ve been on a mini junk journal kick this week. If you scroll to the bottom of this post I even share a few links to some AMAZING junk journal artist over on Etsy. Anyway, I’ve been painting lots of journal covers. It started with a handful of cards, paper, and envelopes I picked up from my local thrift store. I think I was able to get around 25 cards with envelopes for a whopping bank-breaking price of one dollar.
When I bought them, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with all of them, but I knew it would be fun to flip through all the cards. I was even able to stash away a few Happy Birthday sets for emergencies.
My entire evening was spent cutting the cards and envelopes with my paper cutter. I was basically cutting off the wording and saving just the artwork. Eventually, I had a mess and had to think of what I was going to do with all my cut paper mess, and junk journals came to my mind.
I didn’t have any scrap fabric to make journal covers, so the idea of using my canvas sheets came to mind. I made the canvas journal covers, painted them all cute, and added all the scrap cards and envelopes for pages.
HERE ARE SOME OF MY SCRAP CARD PAGES
Of course, these little journals turned out so darn cute I was inspired to make even more, but for the next round, I hand-dyed the paper and used little prints of my own artwork in each one. I’ll share photos of them at the bottom of this post because I know you came here to see how I made paintable journal covers.
LETS MAKE SOME PAINTABLE JOURNAL COVERS
I decided that I wanted the covers of my journals to be paintable, so instead of making the covers with a beautiful fabric or paper pattern, I used a paintable canvas sheet.
I also used cardboard from snack and cereal boxes. A jello box was actually the perfect size for a small journal cover template.
As for glue to glue my canvas to the cardboard template, I used Elmers Craft Bond Tacky Glue. I’ve used Mod Podge in the past, but I prefer the Elmers glue for journals like this.
I start with a sheet of canvas cut about an inch larger than the cardboard template. I also cut a small strip to glue onto the center spine.
1. Apply glue to one side of the template.
2. Place the glue side of the template onto the unfinished side of the canvas.
3. Apply glue to the center of the inside spine.
4. Apply canvas strip to the center of the spine.
5. Cut where the spine is, fold, and secure with glue.
6. Cut an angled cut on all four corners.
7. Fold and glue down the outer edges.
8. Finish folding and gluing top edges.
Finally, I cut two more pieces of canvas for the inside cover and glued them down.
There you have it! A small paintable junk journal cover.
LET’S GET ARTSY!
Ok, so you can stop there with your canvas-covered junk journals, or you can get a little wild and add extra security in case your glue malfunctions by stitching along all the edges of your journal with your sewing machine.
I am not a sewer, but this is kind of fun because the stitches can be wild and crazy. I like to zigzag and move my stitches back and fourth.
As for painting, I use acrylic paints and spray the painted journal cover with lacquer. To bind my pages/signatures, I use an awl and waxed linen thread.
HERE ARE SOME JOURNALS I’VE MADE WITH HAND-DYED PAPERS AND PRINTS OF MY ARTWORK
If you’d like to learn how I dyed the paper, I have a post you may enjoy, DYING PAPER WITH WATERCOLOR PAINTS.
What do you think? Are you inspired? I can’t wait to fill some of the journals I’ve made with my favorite quotes, little memories, and doodles.
AND If you don’t want to make a journal but are intrigued by the idea, head to ETSY and search junk journal. I am in awe of some of these junk journaling artists. I’ll share a few amazing journals I’ve found below.
XOXO
Emily
JUNK JOURNALS ON ESTY
Forest Witch Junk Journal by Note Daisy Co.
Cosmos Stamperia junk journal with pop up pages by Lara Design Creations
Shabby Chic Ultra~Feminine Handmade Junk Journal by Love Karen Dane
Purple Vintage Junk Journal by Spirit in the Making
You can find more crafty projects under the LETS DIY – ARTS & CRAFTS category on the blog, or if this is your first time on to SHE PAINTS FOR PONIES, start HERE.