Polka Art Studio

JUNK JOURNAL

Welcome to the world of Junk Journals! These creative canvases made from everyday scraps allow your inner artist to run free. Let your imagination flow as you flip through tea-stained pages adorned with vintage ephemera and washi tape. You can make each journal truly unique by customizing it with your favorite colors, textures, and themes. In this comprehensive guide, I'll provide you with a list of suggested Junk Journals supplies, journaling prompts to get your creative juices flowing, and tips to help you get started on your upcycling journey. You'll soon be hooked on these therapeutic time capsules that are filled with art, memories, dreams, and more. So, grab some glue, rummage through your junk drawer, and let's start Junk Journaling!

WHERE CAN YOU BUY BEST JUNK JOURNAL SUPPLIES - ONLINE BEST SOURCES? THRIFT STORES AND GENERAL STORES –

Some of the best places to find supplies for your Junk Journal are thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales. Look for things like: • Vintage books, newspapers, magazines, and sheets • Old office supplies like file folders, index cards, stamps, and paper clips • Fabric remnants, lace, ribbons, and strings • Bottles, jars, tins, and boxes for ephemera storage • Anything else that catches your eye! These places are heaven for Junk Journal supplies

ONLINE RETAILERS –

If thrifting isn’t your thing or you need something specific, there are many places to buy Junk Journal supplies online. You can also grab freebies from Polka Art Studio online. Some of the most popular retailers are:

• ETSY: Thousands of handmade journaling products from vintage ephemera to custom stamps and stencils. Many shops such as POLKA ART STUDIO offer journal kits.

• AMAZON: You can find many basics here like decorative papers, washi and fabric tapes, glue and adhesive, pens, pencils, and stamps.

• JOANN: Joann is another popular craft store chain with an online presence. They offer a wide range of scrapbooking and journaling supplies, including papers, stickers, stamps, and more.

• EBAY: Ebay is also a great online platform where you can find a variety of Junk Journal Supplies, including vintage papers, ephemera, stickers, stamps, and more. Be sure to check out Ebay’s extensive selection of both new and vintage supplies to enhance your creative endeavors.

WHAT EXACTLY A JUNK JOURNAL IS?

A Junk Journal, also known as an art journal or smash book, is a handmade book filled with bits of ephemera like tickets, receipts magazine clippings, photos, and random papers you find lying around. The pages are blank, giving you creative freedom to add whatever inspires you. Making a Junk Journal is a fun craft project that produces a personalized journal or notebook you can use however you like.

WHAT TO ADD IN JUNK JOURNAL –

A Junk Journal can be anything you want it to be. Here are some suggestions to get you started: • Daily memories like photos, to-do lists, or journal entries • Inspiration like quotes or poems • Creativity like collages, sketches, or watercolor paintings collections • Travel memories like maps, postcards, or a photo travelogue The key is not to worry about being perfect or compare yourself to others. A Junk Journal is meant to be a fun, creative outlet for you and you alone. Start with the materials that inspire you and go from there. Your Junk Journal will come together in its own time.

TYPES OF JUNK JOURNALS –

There are so many ways to personalize a Junk Journal to suit your style. Here are a few of the most popular types of Junk Journals you can make: • ART JUNK JOURNAL: An art Junk Journal is perfect for the creatively inclined. Use it as a sketchbook or visual diary to explore different artistic techniques like collage, painting, drawing, or mixed media. Include images ephemera and texture that inspires you. An art journal is meant to be a creative outlet with no rules – just have fun with it!

TRAVEL JUNK JOURNAL:

If you love to travel and document your adventures, a Travel Junk Journal is ideal. You can include mementos from your trips like maps, tickets, magazine cutouts of places you visited, and journal entries about your experiences. A travel Junk Journal helps capture memories that you can revisit for years to come.

FAIRYTALE JUNK JOURNAL: A fairytale Junk Journal is like a magical scrapbook with old-looking pages and pictures of fairy tale things like fairies, unicorns, and castles. It's a fun way for people to write or draw about their thoughts and dreams while feeling like they're in a fairy tale world.

GRATITUDE JOURNAL:

A gratitude Junk Journal focuses on things you are grateful for each day. Decorate each page with inspiring quotes, images, and bits of nature. Write down 3 to 5 things you are grateful for daily. A gratitude journal helps shift your mindset to a positive perspective and can help reduce stress and anxiety.

TURN YOUR JUNK JOURNAL INTO A BUSINESS –

Have you been making Junk Journals just for yourself and friends? Why not turn your hobby into a side hustle or full-fledged business? Selling handcrafted Junk Journals, kits, and supplies is a popular niche in the paper crafting world. Here are some tips to get started:

BUILD AN AUDIENCE:

Start sharing your Junk Journal designs and process on social media to build interest. Post photos and videos on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and other social media using hashtags that are mostly used and engage with others in the community by liking and commenting on their posts. Once you have a loyal following, you can start promoting the Junk Journals and kits you have for sale.

OPEN AN ONLINE STORE:

Sell your products on Etsy, eBay, or your website. You'll want to offer a variety of ready-made Junk Journals in different styles, as well as DIY kits with materials and instructions so customers can make their own. Think ephemera packs, paper packs, stamps, washi tape, etc. Offer a range of prices to suit all budgets.

SELL AT CRAFT FAIRS:

Apply to sell your products at local craft fairs, artisan markets, and paper crafting events. This allows customers to see and touch your journals in person. It also gives you a chance to demonstrate techniques and share your passion for the craft.

FAQ’S –

Q: WHAT TYPES OF EPHEMERA AND EMBELLISHMENTS WORK WELL IN JUNK JOURNAL?

Great options include vintage postcards, stamps, fabric, ribbon, string, twine, tickets, tags, labels, etc. Anything with an aged or distressed look helps create a rustic Junk Journal style.

Q: ARE THERE CERTAIN THEMES THAT ARE POPULAR FOR JUNK JOURNALS?

Yes, common Junk Journal themes include travel, nature, gardening, books/reading, sewing, and general vintage/rustic styles. But you can create a journal in any theme you like! The options are endless.

Q: WHERE CAN I FIND FREE DIGITAL JUNK JOURNAL SUPPLIES?

There are many websites that offer free digital supplies; however, you can also download from Polka Art Studio.

DO YOU KNOW TWO WAYS, HOW YOU CAN MAKE JUNK JOURNALS?

Creativity is inside you, which includes no single rule that restricts you in any particular way. You can either do it manually or digitally; it all depends on your preference.

LET'S COMPARE THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BOTH DIGITAL AND MANUAL JUNK JOURNAL! ASPECTS MANUAL JUNK JOURNAL DIGITAL JUNK JOURNAL

Creation Process Requires physical materials like papers, ephemera, and embellishments. Involves cutting, pasting, and crafting by hand. Created digitally using software or apps. Involves designing pages on a computer or tablet. Storage Space Requires physical storage space for completed journals. Digital journals take up virtual storage space on electronic devices or cloud storage. Accessibility Accessible without the need for electronic devices or an internet connection. Requires electronic devices and internet access for viewing and editing. Cost Cost varies depending on the materials used. Can be expensive due to the need for physical supplies. Generally less expensive as there are no physical materials to purchase. Costs may include software or app subscriptions. Sharing Can be shared physically with others by lending or gifting completed journals. Easily shared electronically via email, social media, or cloud storage links.

JUNK JOURNAL SUPPLIES - FREEBIES AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE - DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

 When creating a Junk Journal, half the fun is finding supplies to embellish your pages. Luckily, there are many free printables and digital kits you can download to get started. Together, we craft magic! We love sharing the creative joy with all of you. That’s why we’ve been growing treasure trove of freebies, just for you! These delightful gems are yours to download and use in your crafting adventures, making each project a little more delightful.

WHAT MY FREE COLLECTION OF JUNK JOURNAL SUPPLIES INCLUDE?

• CHRISTMAS LABELS: Santa Edition

• SANTAS HOMETOWN: Flip Folio

• VINTAGE EPHEMERA: Collection

• WHIMSICAL CHRISTMAS: Journal Pages

• MEMORIES KEEPER: Booklet

• MAGICAL FAIRIES: Fussy Cuts

• SHABBY CHIC: Decorative Pages

• AUTUMN BEAUTY: Journal Pages

• GRUNGY ROSES: Journal Pages

• FAIRYTALES FRAMES: Journal Pages

• CHRISTMAS: File Folders

• AUTUMN NOSTALGIA: Clip Art & Fussy Cuts

• CUTE HALLOWEEN: Fussy Cuts

CONCLUSION –

Junk journals provide an entertaining creative outlet that can lift your mood and gain you an artistic following. They are a hobby that keeps on giving, as you continue finding new items to include and ways to express yourself. If you haven't already started your own, I hope this guide has inspired you to begin. Get out there and see the potential in what others throw away! Your perfect journal is waiting to be crafted.

Let your creativity flow and make something wonderful out of what seems broken or useless. Finding inspiration in life's little details and sharing that vision with others - that is the heart of junk journaling.