Teens Junk Journaling

In one of our teen art classes, students learned how to make junk journals. A junk journal is a handmade book created from many types of paper, often painted papers and recycled materials like patterned papers, sheet music, envelopes paper bags, maps, brochures and more. The covers are often created from old book cover or cardboard/chipboard bases covered with paper, fabric or paint.

Our students were led by the talented Colleen Stone who recently joined Cloud 9 Art School.

Students started off by painting papers. This was an exercise in playing with color, collage, and stamps.

Next they cut up cereal boxes and started assembling the cover of the junk journal. They played with decorative papers and collage.

Then it was time to start assembling the papers into signatures. Trimming and folding and finding the right combinations of papers.

Finally it was time to use awls for punching holes into the cover and signatures and start sewing the binding together!

Everyone’s junk journals turned out great and now these teens have learned the process for creating their own journals and sketchbooks. Super fun! And thank you Colleen!