How To Make A Junk Journal! With trash and recyclables, machine sewing signatures! True junk journal

Hey, everybody! Several have asked for a video on how I make my junk journals where I sew in the signatures with the sewing machine. I’ve also had requests for a new recycle / trash journal! I’ve combined them into one! This should turn into a really fun journal!
The cover is made from corrugated cardboard that has been stained with alcohol ink. I have a very messy whimsical watercolor painting glued to the front cover. There is a combination of watercolor paper and items from my workshop to make the pages inside. The journal is made from two-page signatures with fabric strips and sewn into the spine with a sewing machine.
Love and hugs to everyone.
Enjoy this day,
xxLynn
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HERE ARE SOME ITEMS I PERSONALLY HAVE PURCHASED AND RECOMMEND:
ART ITEMS:
❤PH Neutral PVA professional quality archival adhesive
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❤Jane Davenport JD-049 JD Clear Stamps Faces:
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❤Sew-In Computer Printer Fabric
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❤Ranger Miner's Lantern Alcohol Inks:
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❤Gel Press gel plate: amzn.to/2PX3fJG
You might enjoy my video of gel plate transfers:
• Gel Press Gel Plate (g...
❤Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW Electric Sewing Machine - 50 Built-In Stitches - Automatic Threading. I purchased one of these in October of 2018 and it is still going strong!
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❤A Grateful Heart inspirational Christian cards
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I always use them in my prayer journals.
❤Ranger Distress Paint in Brushed Pewter 1 oz
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❤Ranger Distress Paint. I have several colors. This Amazon link is for Picket Fence:
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❤Locking alphabet stamps. I am not sure what brand my stamp set is, but Amazon does sell some connectable stamps.
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❤Caran d'Ache NeoColor II Water-Soluble Pastels. Jennifer, I cannot thank you enough for these!!
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❤Grumbacher Matte Workable Fixative. Still learning about this product!
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PERSONAL ITEMS:
❤Trader Joe's Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix
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(a cup can often be seen sitting on my desk!)
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GARDEN ITEMS:
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#abitofbirdsong
❤MY CREATIVE SELF!
My name is Lynn. Creativity started with altering my clothing as a young girl. I love birds, gardens and all things botanical. My current artistic focus includes paper and fabric, especially making handmade journals and selling excellent supplies to other artists.
❤Thank you SO MUCH for being here!

[@lenamccoy1294]

I love your kindness toward the elderly gentleman🥰

[@abitofbirdsong]

Lena, Thank you so much! xx

[@jtravisintampabay]

Thanks for showing us how you made the spine and signatures! Was curious how it all came together. Love your style!

[@SS-mk1rq]

Thank you to the moon and back. As old as I am, I'm just learning about this type of art and I am head over hills. Gracias 🩷

[@abitofbirdsong]

Thank you so much! Have fun!! 😊💗

[@suehanson2485]

I am so excited for this series 😍

[@jayne3944]

Hi Lynn ... Just wanted to thank you for making this video ... I made one of your journals after watching here ... and want you to know that it has been my VERY favorite journal to work in ever!! ... I love the fabric holding the pages together ... and I love how it lays so flat to work on ... so great!! ... THANK YOU SO MUCH creative lady!! :-)

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi J.C.! Thank you so much for your comment! I'm glad you like this style of journal-making. I really enjoy working in these journals as well. Happy Arting!! xxLynn

[@jayne3944]

Love your JUNK? journal!! :-) I love also how the rose on the front looks like it is on her headband and the leaves like part of her hair ... so cute!!

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi JC! Thank you so much! I noticed the same thing about the rose, and it was totally an accident! xxLynn 💖

[@graciebeachbum137]

Hi Lynn🤚🏻🖐🏻🤚🏻How cute!!! I love your sewing in paper pages!!! You are the master of it!! TFS💕🤗🐚gracie Have a beautiful weekend!!! 🌼🌸💖

[@abitofbirdsong]

Gracie, thank you so much! I am usually the proud recipient and owner of "happy accidents" as Bob Ross would say. 😂 I like seeing what will happen next! xx💖

[@jenniferedwards6238]

Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I haven’t ever sewn pages on fabric to make signatures but have been thinking I like the flexibility it would offer. Then you made this video and I see how to construct it now.

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for being here! I think you'll like making a journal this way. xxLynn 💖

[@normatoumayan4993]

I love this idea.... Something very different from what I have tried so far. A couple of ideas for you. If you sew the signatures to the fabric before you glue it to the cover it will eliminate the challenge of trying to fit the cover in your machine. Also, if you use a zipper foot to sew in the signatures it makes it easier to get them close together. Thanks for the ideas!!

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Norma! Thank you so much for the ideas! xx

[@jeweltoneswarden4513]

It's really amazing how you put stuff together and it comes out so pretty! I love the painting! I have been working a little bit in one of my journals and alternating between painting. After running into you, I stopped by Tuesday Morning and bought a complete Chinese brush painting kit which has an instruction book, rice paper sheets, 3 Chinese brushes, paper pad, ink and 5 tubes of traditional Chinese watercolors. And some other odds and ends. This kit is by the artist Danny Han-Lin Chin. I'm really excited about this. You never know what you will find at that store! Anyway, it was nice to see you! Hugs, Gail

[@abitofbirdsong]

Gail, it was so good to see you! Always! I love getting the chance to go in Tuesday Morning. I almost always find some fun thing there! Glad you found such a fun kit! Hugs!! 💖

[@user-ew8nc1sf7l]

That's bad ass 🖤🖤🖤🕷️🕸️

[@abitofbirdsong]

Thank you so much! xx

[@DylanJCat]

Really loving this journal great vid . We are really enjoying it.

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Cat!! Thank you so much! Give Mr. Kimchi a hug from me!! 😊❤️

[@7torian]

You make it look so easy Lynn. The lesson just do it dont over think it. So beautiful!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Tori! Thank you! Yep, just do it. 😊 xx

[@MsLeefisher]

Absolutely love this journal ❤️

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Lee! Thank you so much!! ❤️ xxLynn

[@CraftyLinnieP]

I enjoyed this so much. I think I'm going to try to put one of these together and follow along with you. I tried once before and it didn't turn out right. Maybe this time I can go step by step and and get it right. I love the entire thing, especially the cover. Thanks for the taking the time to do this. Big hugs Linda

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Linda! Yaaaay! I think you'll like it so much. I like to try new things and see how I can make it a bit different each time. Hugs!!!💖

[@donnamatoi5256]

I’m so happy that you are doing this journal. What a treat to watch you draw the girl was cool. Lynne, you are a true artist! Thank you for sharing your process. ❤️

[@abitofbirdsong]

Awww thank you!! I’m learning, with mistakes along the way as we all see! 😂 Thank you so much for being here. ❤️ xxLynn

[@user-ew8nc1sf7l]

Omg i love it Lyn that's so wicked 🖤 im gonna try to copy exactly what you did wow ❤❤❤

[@abitofbirdsong]

Cool!! Thank you!! xx

[@bettymetz3746]

So glad I found your channel and am a new subbie for you. Love this REALLY junkie journal!!

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Betty! I'm so happy to have you here! There are some very nice people here in the community. Thank you so much!! 💕💕💕

[@bradleybrock6992]

Oh my goodness, this is awesome. I am enjoying watching all of your lovely videos. They are my treat after a busy day. ;) You have inspired me to create a journal this summer when I have more spare time. Hugs, Valerie

[@abitofbirdsong]

Good morning, Valerie! Thank you so much! I am loving all these beautiful, delightful garlands and spring items you are making!! Sigh. Miss you!! Big Hugs! Lynn

[@JohannesJunkJournalLife]

Awsome. Never defeated! Just another direction! What model sewing machine? I have been using my Juki Industrial, but I don’t want to ruin it with the paper sewing!

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Johanne! I am using a Brother Project Runway machine. I bought mine from Amazon 2-1/2 years ago, and still no issues! I use it all the time! I think I've linked it below in the video description (affiliate link). I am glad to have you here! xxLynn

[@DylanJCat]

Lynn what needle do you have to use when using this heavy fabric 16 or 20, or something else?

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Cat! I am not sure the size always, because I had needles put up from years of sewing. I HAVE broken a few working on journals. Now that my stash of needles is getting low, I make sure to buy needles that say they are heavy duty. I hope this helps. I will have to pay more attention to the size. 💖😊

[@doloressalazar7030]

Thank you for showing the mistakes.

[@abitofbirdsong]

Hi Dolores! Thank you so much for being here! I thought it might help to see how we sometimes have to rescue what we're working on. xxLynn 💖

[@doloressalazar7030]

@@abitofbirdsong I just feel everyone strives to be too perfect these days. Showing the mistakes is Real. Not putting down anyone just how I feel. I appreciate seeing everything as it is.

[@TheMjj164TibBitsFromTheAttic]

Oh Lynn next time sew the signatures to the fabric first then add in your spine 😊it’s going to be awesome

[@abitofbirdsong]

Mary LOL 😂 - that’s what I did!! Sometimes I sew into the spine but it’s with a softer journal!! That way the sewing lines show up outside the spine! Beautiful! I forgot this cover would be so rigid. But I turned out. 😊❤️ I wanted to show the whole thinking process! Thank you! Hugs!!

[@TheMjj164TibBitsFromTheAttic]

@@abitofbirdsong no no before you put it together on the cardboard. See in the signatures to your fabric then just glued to the cardboard like you did at the start lol it’s going to be a fun journal , it still turned out grrrreat

[@abitofbirdsong]

I know what you mean. I actually have a video of doing that before.

[@abitofbirdsong]

@@TheMjj164TibBitsFromTheAttic I really pictured in my mind that this one was going under the needle! It was just too wide and rigid. I’ve done the style you’re talking about before but I also love the look of gluing first and then sewing messily into an already made soft cover. But it turned out.

[@TheMjj164TibBitsFromTheAttic]

@@abitofbirdsong sweet. Lol when you was doing all that I thought heck I would have pulled that bank bag off and sewed my signatures in then reglued it back to the cardboards. But now your spine will be even better with the extra fabric lol I gif all the goodies today I took pictures and put on here and Facebook. Thank you tons. Love love love 😊❤️😊❤️