One of my favorite hobbies is junk journaling, or scrapbooking. Sometimes when I am struggling to find words to express my feelings or empty my mind being able to express myself visually is a great alternative. Like with traditional writing everyone has their own style of junk journaling.
Some use scraps of papers and such from their everyday life while others choose to use stickers, photo album papers, washy tapes, even lace and buttons. Some people will even use traditional journaling with scrap booking allowing them to express themselves in even more ways.
I like using a variety of supplies that I have collected for my many other hobbies. Stickers, construction paper, different tapes, stamps, dried flowers and leaves, even extra drills from my gem paintings or my own sketches and paintings. I like having a variety of supplies to choose from. It allows me more creative freedom to put together entries to match how I feel.
When people start out a journal of any kind they often feel like they can’t journal because they might do it wrong. There is no right or wrong way to journal. Just put together what you feel. If your angry and want to crumple up a bunch of paper and glue it in your journal do it. If you want to structure square pictures of different flowers all of the same color have at it. A journal is supposed to be an expression of who you are as a person.
When I first started another struggle I had was wanting to make pages that would be pleasing for others to look at. I began to try and imagine the people in my life and what they would enjoy seeing. I lost site of journaling for myself and expressing my feelings. A written journal is often times considered a private and secretive item. Scrapbooking is no different. If you choose to share it with others you sure can but you don’t have to by any means.
In the next few weeks I will be writing a detailed article describing how I got started junk journaling, how and where to find good supplies, and what you can do with the journals when they are all full. Did you know there are people who like to buy completed junk journals just too have to look at? Some artists will create junk journals with blank writing space in them for people to purchase and use as a traditional journal. For me its just another way to destress after a long day and it feeds my crafty bug.
If you junk journal feel free to post pictures of some of your favorite entries if you would like to share! I love seeing others creativity!
I will be adding regular updates on my instagram and facebook pages of all the entries in my junk journal.
