After creating the base for a little girl’s junk journal, decorating is the next step. What can you add to your junk journal to make it unique? Here are a few ideas:
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- Postcards or photographs
- Ticket stubs or memorabilia from trips or events
- Dried or silk flowers or leaves
- Old book pages or sheet music
- Handwritten letters or notes
- Fabric scraps or lace
- Stickers or washi tape
- Trinkets or small objects that hold sentimental value
- Collages or mixed media art
- Pockets or envelopes to hold additional treasures.
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Other Supplies Needed to Decorate the Junk Journal
- Tacky Glue
- Stapler
- White Copy Paper
- Scissors
- We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
- Bira Craft Scoring Board
- We R Memory Keepers Tag Punch Board
- Paper Trimmer
- Ribbons
- Tim Holtz’s decorative ephemera
Directions
Seahorse Pocket
I’m not going to lie. I was feeling a little at a loss after finishing the base of the journal. Then, the idea of creating a pocket for one of the pages came to mind. The picture of Memphis as a mermaid gave me the idea to create a pocket with a seashell on it. After spotting the seahorse graphic on PicMonkey, it just seemed the perfect addition.
In no time, I created this page of cutouts. My original intention was to leave about a quarter-inch margin on the sides and bottom of the seahorse pocket. Oops! I forgot as I cut it out but still had enough to make a narrow margin at the bottom.
For this pocket, I scored the lines and folded the margins backward to create a tab to glue to the book page. So that you don’t forget and don’t have a good-sized tab for gluing, I’ve added a cut line 1/4″ outside the border edge to the printable above.
Cut the two bottom corners away where the creases cross to remove the excess and allow the pocket to lay flat.
Layout and plan where you want the pocket and the other decorative elements. Then, apply glue to the folded margins of the pocket and attach it to the page. Glue the other elements.
I’ve left it blank on the printable so that you can add your child’s name to the birthday card.
Cut out the doubled shell, trace it onto plain paper, and cut several for a tiny notebook. Stack the papers on the cardstock shells and staple them in the middle.
You can use Washi tape to cover a piece of cardstock to set off and edge the quote or use a piece of decorative cardstock.
I used a shell stamp to stamp Staz On Ink onto tissue paper. Then, using the glue mixture leftover from the Faux Rice Paper Gift Tags, I created the little faux rice paper piece, let it dry, and glued it to the page.
Make use of Printed Tags for Your Junk Journal
A lot of these 12 x 12-inch decorative paper pads include pages of tags.
You can see an example of that in the picture above. As I searched for a background for a printed quote, I came across the ones in the picture above and decided to use one for the background.
If you don’t have any of these 12 x 12″ paper or cardstock pads, Joann’s has a Park Lane Tag Stack. This pad is page after page of tags in one cardstock pad.
Add Surprises to Each Decorative Page
While working on the initial pages, I envisioned Memphis eagerly flipping through and discovering a new surprise with each turn. Each page turn reveals another envelope or pocket filled with mystery and excitement.
At this point, a plan to make each little surprise envelope different took shape.
- Pockets
- Circle Pockets
- Heart Envelopes
- Little Envelopes
- Hidden Notebook
- Layered Pocket
- Lace-up Pocket
- Double pocket
Girl’s Junk Journal Lace-up Pocket
Aside from your own ideas, there are so many more creative ideas out there on Pinterest, like this lace-up pocket.
You can make this pocket whatever size you want. I cut the paper 6 inches by 6-3/4 inches. The center folded section is 3-1/2 inches and the sides each measure 1-5/8 inches wide.
The pocket at the bottom is 2 inches tall. There is no need to glue the pocket anywhere. The paper folds upward and is held in place in the creases.
Cut the corner off from scored line to scored line. Repeat on the remaining corner. Fold on the score lines and use the scoring tool to crease the fold.
Fold the narrow bottom upward and use the scoring tool to crease the bottom fold.
Grommets
First, decide where you want your grommets. Then, make a hole with a hole punch slightly smaller than the grommet sleeve.
Use a base tool and a flaring tool with a small hammer to apply the grommet. Or you can use grommet pliers, but I found it easier to use the little manual tools.
Tuck little cards and tags inside.
Girl’s Junk Journal Folded Angled Double Pocket
First, I cut a 12 x 12-inch piece of 2-sided decorative cardstock and cut it in half. Score a line 1/4 inch from the edge of one of the long sides.
Score a line at 1/4-inch on one of the short edges. Fold on the scored line and lay the folded edge against the edge of the scoring board.
Then, score 3 – 3/4 inches from one of the short edges. Next, score at 7-1/2 inches, and lastly, at 11-1/4 inches. You should have 3 equal sections and end flaps of 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch.
Next, fold the first section backward under the second section and lay at an angle on a paper trimmer. Cut so that the left side is shorter than the right side.
By creating tabs, the pockets are a tad roomier for adding little surprises of tags, etc. If the paper is glued flat, it won’t be as easy to open.
Snip the corners of the tabs away where they overlap so that the tabs are uniform and don’t have extra bulk. Apply glue to the tabs on the shorter section and glue to the second section. I glued it together so that the tabs were folded to the smaller patterned backside of the cardstock. The larger pattern shows on the front and inside.
The back section should have a folded edge and two narrow folded edges like the picture below.
Cut a piece of ribbon, lace, or string long enough to wrap around the pocket and tie it into a bow. Then, glue the center of the ribbon to the back of the pocket.
Apply glue to the two tabs on the backside and about 1/8 – inch from the right side. Don’t apply glue to the top-angled side. Position the pocket on the journal page with the ribbon ends loose on each side and press firmly. I love Tacky Glue because it sets up pretty quickly and holds really well.
This post has taken longer than expected but I want to make all of the pages special for my granddaughter. My plan is to add more posts showing how this journal is decorated.
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As I added pockets to the pages, it became clear that a larger 1-inch wire cinch was needed to allow for the bulk. If you are adding a multitude of pockets, you might want to consider it, too.
There’s more to come. You’ll want to come back and see the rest of the pockets, decorations, and notepads. Here’s a sneak peek.
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