Flipping through my junk / trash journal and choosing a new one

[@pallor17]

I really love how you are fearlessly putting REAL junk into your book and owning it. I feel so often that I need permission to collect things when really it's the process of collecting, gluing, touching the paper and tags, etc. that is the activity that we are looking for. It's nice to see journals that are authentic and messy (I'm paying you a compliment here, lol). I aways wonder what people will think of me. Comes with having a Virgo rising, I suppose. But I realize that I can just glue the things and then toss the blasted book if I want to. Nothing says that I have to keep it. What do you do? Have you ever just tossed one of your journals into the trash?

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Aww yes the “purpose” issue … I think a lot if artists often speak of this … and I struggle with it also ( like with my glue book and on a heavier level I wonder about my daily journals because who is going to want them when I’m gone ? They will probably be trashed which is alright. I throw away all of my process journals as their purpose is done after I write in them . I have thrown away a journal / book here or there but just the one I was “plating in” or trying new art stuff … it’s all ok … whatever feels right for you

[@ketchup016]

Oh, my gosh, I have that Wish Book! I bought it at least 20 years ago (full price for me, lol), early 2000s for sure. It's in a trunk with all my memory type stuff like high school yearbooks, etc. And it's mostly empty!! I was too precious with journals back then. I think I will dig it out at some point and use it for all the random ephemera that collects in drawers and closets, like a smash book. Great memory, thanks for sharing!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

wow how cool! yes go get it and stuff it! what fun!

[@bunnygoddess33]

this is cool. i don’t usually sequester my trash, i pop them in thematic places here and there. but this is cool. only to the untrained eye is it trash, it’s memories and evidence of these tiny parts of our lives. thank you for sharing! and how freaking awesome you found another 1993 journal! magical!! i am itching for a copy of this! 😂

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Thanks yes I have enjoyed it and was super excited when I found another same book! Yes the trash is fun and definitely has memories and the randomness feels ok for me with the trash

[@NeverHopelessbyElizabeth]

Love this!! I still have more Mysterious Pillow Case Material 😂

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Love it! 🥰

[@frannypannyatpawsnpaints]

You kept saying that you don't know what the purpose of this book is. You said it isn't about memory keeping. I wish you could see this video the way we do because I hear your tone and your words and to me it sounds like it's chock full of memories 😊

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Aww thanks friend … yes it does induce memories for sure . Thank you for the reframe ! 🥰

[@jenpark6849]

I started a trash journal after seeing yours sometime last year and I love sticking stuff into it, just for the fun of it.

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Yay! Yes that’s the whole point! Love this 🙌

[@DanielleBatog]

I have kept trash journals for a few years now...I use altered books usually 8 x 10 and I leave the cover as is because they are always vintage. The insides have varying size pages and at least 3 signatures. I do paint or mark make around some of the pages if the trash is a bit blah but it's always fun to randomly glue down all the bits...to me it's a unique form of art that document your days and culture ❤️

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Love this ! What fun! Yes I like gluing down the bits for sure and the trash always tells a story … altered books sound fun!

[@jillybeanstudio]

Hi Allison, love the fun of this journal and how amazing you have another original! It's interesting to do one over a long period of time too, a little time capsule in a way. Always fun to watch you flip through!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

yes i was really happy to find another copy of the book... and yes you are correct - it is like a time capsule.. i have never worked in a journal for that long so it is fun for sure ! I will date this one and see how long it takes me to fill it! Thanks for watching!

[@stamdl]

It’s crazy that you found the exact same book. I don’t keep a trash journal because I have so many other projects that I work to keep up with. So I keep things that are meaningful to me that go into my daily journal, some things that go into theme specific journals and then mostly packaging material that will be repurposed into my junk journals. And I have container limits on packaging material so if I’m not actively using it I don’t keep collecting it. In theory! Because otherwise I get paralyzed by managing all the stuff vs having fun making things.

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Speaking to my soul on the paralyzed part and container theory 😂

[@jenniferedwards6238]

I think you just explained where I am…..”paralyzed by managing all the stuff”! I couldn’t figure out why I hardly ever create but instead spend my precious little available time organizing. Now I know what to call it so I know how to solve it. Thanks for commenting this.

[@henrietta9206]

Dear AJ, I found myself stuck and your video helped. Some weeks back an actress (who migrated to US) said on an interview she was "able to live" because (back where she was) there was oppression and in America, she could breath, she could ~dream~ That was when I broke down because I realized ...no matter how much time I take off work, or go for deep retreats etc ...I do not know how to *dream!* It was like, I had some sort of handicap. In your journal, there are tabs...those are a START for me, and I cant stress this enough. I will 'think around' those groups and try to figure something out also someone posted in comments she will take note of things that 'awaken her mind and heart' it helped me too, some of us are trying so hard, and trying to live well, live real, live beautifully. Sorry for writing a novella...just wanted to pen a heartfelt THANK YOU Have a beautiful month of April!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

oh my - i love this so much! Thank you so much for your kind words! i am so glad you are inspired and find joy in watching and i wish you well in learning to dream and creating! yes it is true we need to learn to shift our mindset around things.. we cant avoid them and expect them to change. what a powerful awareness point you discovered! thanks for watching and sharing! be well🤗

[@janicebrinson5940]

I love trips down memory lane... Wish I could have gotten a clear screenshot of that recipe with the broccoli and sundlower seeds, etc.

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Sorry for delay in response … I have a pic of it … can you message me on Instagram and I’ll give it to you 🙌😃

[@marysouraya9407]

I am going to look for an old book and put those labels and tags that awaken my mind or heart. Thanks for sharing

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Wonderful! Have fun!

[@grandmaallison]

Great flip through what a great idea👍👍👍👍🌺🦋🌹🌼💐🌷🌸🌻 love it💜💗💛💚 thank you for sharing 🤗🤗🤗🤗have a Blessed day💜💜💜💜

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Thanks so much 😊 hope you are having a good day!

[@februaryandjune]

I had fun looking through your Junk it journal Allison! How cool!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

ha ha - nothing like finding a reason to keep trash .... and finding friends who like it too 😹 thanks for watching and hope you are well!

[@cynt.hudson]

I love your junk journal‼️

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Thanks so much sweet friend

[@crafterdeidra]

I really enjoyed looking at your junk it book. ❤ Cant wait to see a new one in the making and what you put in it. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

ha ha thanks friend ! love that i found a place to keep trash and found friends who encourage it 😹🙌🤔😂 but i do enjoy it and love the chunky book! thanks for watching!

[@deekilroy1746]

This looks so fun!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

It has been and it’s really “no point” so no pressure and I love it!

[@karenmcnamara4585]

I have a trash journal that has not been receiving much love lately but you have inspired me to get using it more often. I have painted some of my pages and I love the look so I think if you like the look of your painted pages then go for it. My book is a book I picked up at the library for a couple of bucks, it is hard covered and I have removed some pages. I loved seeing the things you put in your journal, thanks.

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

ooh super cool! yes i do like the painted pages and i might add some just for backgrounds and fun but i will keep just trash in here and not try art journaling .... and i definitely will need to remove some more pages.... thanks for watching and good luck with yours!

[@kawaiicopycat]

Yaaaaayyyyyy!!! 🤩Edit: 50 minutes later. Love it! So much inspiration, my muse left the room this year so... TFS!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

aww i get it! but thanks for watching and hope you found some inspiration!

[@AllThingsPretty3]

I love this ❤

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Thanks 😊

[@deberahharbour9245]

You inspired me to make one and I love it..

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Yay what fun!!! 🤩

[@janicehoughtelling5137]

A great flip through a great journal many prayers sent your way

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Thank you so much!😊

[@theconcretebutterfly9747]

Ok... explain... sexwax air freshener... please enlighten me... hahaha! So cool that you found another book that is exactly the same! So fun! I am doing an Allison inspired junk journal... trash, stickers, whatever... lol. Love and hugs friend!

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

Ooh sounds like a cool journal ! Sex wax is the wax we grew up waxing our surf boards with … and the coconut air freshener smells like old beach days It’s my kids favorite and when I get them new ones I always steal one for me ;)

[@tammyvalin4906]

There must be something you can do to preserve those thermal printed receipts. Maybe just a coating of clear gel medium.

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

@@tammyvalin4906 interesting … might give it a try .. I know I could probably laminate them but that’s not worth it to me … I’ll try mod podge 💙🙌🤗

[@tammyvalin4906]

@@ajsinspiredlife665 mod podge a thermal receipt and then toss it in your purse to test. The ink seems to dissapear pretty fast in my purse. Lol. Lost a lot of coupons that way.

[@jenniferedwards6238]

@@ajsinspiredlife665- the heat from the laminating will turn them black, at least that’s been my experience.