Junk journals are fascinating, aren’t they? As I considered what kind of junk journal to make, I remembered my granddaughter writing on notepads. She seems to love to write. Making a personalized journal for little Memphis is my plan.
Looking through the cardstock bins, I spot two BoBunny paper pads. I think those would be the perfect size for a little girl’s journal. The papers measure 6 x 8 inches.
For this project, I use Canva, an online design platform. You can use whatever design program you have. The Canva template I used for the body of the book is called Peach Organic Floral Daily Journal. I used a couple of other templates and just changed the colors to match. You can change colors, add, or delete details and change fonts easily.
Here are some things to consider when making a personalized junk journal for your daughter or granddaughter:
- Choose cardstock that will withstand wear and tear better. Use a heavier sturdy material for the cover.
- Think about what types of things your little girl would like in her journal. Memphis loves to write. Would your little girl like pages for drawing, writing, or adding photographs?
- Consider adding personalized touches. Kids love to see their names and pictures in print.
- Leave plenty of space for your granddaughter to add her own personal touches and make the journal truly her own.
- Incorporate found objects, ribbons, lace, stickers, or even small trinkets.
How to Make the Junk Journal
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Supplies Needed:
- BoBunny Paper Pads 6 x 8″
- Paper Trimmer
- Printer
- We R Memory Keepers the Cinch Book Binding Tool
- 5/8 inch Binding Wire
- Variety of Embellishments – papers, fabric, lace, buttons, stickers, etc.
- Tacky Glue
- Envelope Punch Board (optional)
- Cardboard or Chipboard
- Scissors
- Rotary Cutter and Mat
- Needlenose pliers
Junk Journal Directions:
First, you need to go to Canva or your favorite design tool. Then, create the pages for your book.
Next, you’ll want to select the pages for the book. I chose one-sided print cardstock so I could print on the blank side.
Design your pages. Include pictures of your little girl, quotes, and inspirational thoughts. Personalize it for your little one. Save as a pdf.
Print the pages. Since the BoBunny paper pad is 6 x 8″, I set the printer for 5 x 7 and ‘fit to printable area.’
Cut out a front and back cover from cardboard or chipboard. I chose to leave a border around the top, side, and bottom edges to help protect the pages.
After you have the pages printed, you can use a punch to round the corners on the right side of each page if you like. I’m making envelopes with a We R Memory Keepers envelope punch to add to some of the pages and just used the punch on it. I left the corners on the side that will be in the middle of the book and have the punched holes.
Cinch Tool
First, use a scrap piece of paper to make a guide for where the holes will be punched.
Use the guide on top of a few of the pages. Push the alignment peg down through one of the holes in the guide. Press down firmly on the cinching bar to punch the holes.
You’ll notice that I punched the holes before covering the front and back with fabric. Although it works, it was a little more difficult to line up the punch correctly. I suggest that you add fabric or paper covers before punching the holes.
Covering the Front and Back
You can cover the cardboard front and back covers with decorative paper or cover them with fabric. Using the transfer web is the easiest way to adhere fabric to cardboard neatly. I buy this in a bolt when the fabric store has a 50% off coupon. It comes in so handy!
First, lay the cardboard cover on the paper side of the transfer web and trace around the perimeter. Leave about a 5/8 inch margin around one piece for the outside cover. The lining can be cut loosely just outside the line.
Next, lay the transfer web, the web side down, onto the backside of the fabric. Use a dry iron to iron the paper side of the transfer web to the fabric, following the manufacturer’s directions.
Cut the outside cover fabric closely around the edge of the transfer web. Then, remove the paper leaving the webbing on the fabric.
Center and lay the cardboard cover on the wrong side of the fabric. Then, pull up the outer edges of the fabric, lay over the cardboard, and iron flat.
To finish the corners, pull the fabric over the corner and pleat it, or fold it back over itself. Hold and pull one side in place and iron. Then, repeat with the other side. Flip the piece over and iron the front side.
The Lining
Next, cut the lining 1/8 -inch inside the traced pencil lines. The rotary wheel and clear plastic rule work well for this. If you don’t have these, use a ruler and pencil to mark 1/8 – inch inside the traced lines and cut with scissors.
Remove the paper, leaving the webbing on the fabric, and center on the cardboard covering the folded fabric edges. Use the iron to heat the glue and adhere to the cardboard.
Repeat this process for the back cover.
Then, center the scrap paper guide you used earlier and center it along the edge of the cover. Remember that if you have a pattern, make sure you have the pattern facing the right direction.
Line up the fabric-covered cardboard on the Cinch tool and punch the holes along the left edge of the front cover. To be sure you are punching the correct side of the back cover, lay the two lining sides together. Then, you will punch the holes on the right side of the back cover.
Binding the Junk Journal
The Cinch machine comes with clear instructions on how to bind and cinch the book together correctly.
Lay the cinch wire along the side hooks on the right side of the Cinch tool. The hooks will hold and stabilize the binding wire while you thread the pages onto the wire. In order to hide the wire seam, you’ll want to stack the pages in this order.
The last page should be placed on the wires first and the cover page should be on top.
Next, place the front cover on the cover page, right side up. Lastly, place the back cover on the wires with the right side facing the front cover. The inside lining of the back cover should be on the top.
Cinching the Junk Journal
Adjust the cinching bar with the knob. The numbers to the left of the knob indicate the diameter of the wire when closed.
Place the opening of the binding wire flat against the body of the tool and hold the wire in place. As you push down on the handle, the bar cinches the binding wire closed. Do this slowly. Check the binding wire from the side to make sure it closes properly. The wires should just slightly cross. You want a perfect circle. Lastly, if you didn’t trim the wire earlier, trim the wire and curl the wire end with needle nose pliers.
Now we have the book intact, adding all of the ‘junk’ to the book will be featured in an upcoming post. You’ll want to come back to see it. Sign up for the newsletter below.
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