Easy journal – very sturdy, no sewing, using materials you probably have on hand
I wanted to get started on a journal so I can follow the prompts for Junk Journal July. The idea behind “junk journals” is to use material you have already. It appeals to me as a way to use the craft supplies and recyclables that might otherwise end up as waste.
Materials for cover:
Large cardboard box
Size least 9’ x 6” x 2” (larger than a regular sheet of paper folded in half)
International measurements 22 cm x 16 cm x 5 cm
Corrugated is not recommended, but food boxes are ideal, such as breakfast cereal
Duct tape or some other heavy-duty tape
Extra layers of thin cardboard
Glue
Open the large box, separating the seams on the side and ends, until it is completely flat. Remove the top and bottom and one side. This will leave you with a book shape. Mark the desired size on the remaining large sides and trim with scissors. I’m suggesting the size of 9” tall and 6” wide because that is slightly larger than a folder letter-size page, the common paper size where I live. The international measurements in centimeters are adjusted for folded A4 paper.
Reinforce folds with a layer of heavy-duty tape, if desired. Reinforcement should be 9” long by about 1” wide (2.5 cm) but slightly larger or smaller is OK. Don’t bother to try to trim tape. You will be able to see the reinforcing material in the finished project.
Cut additional layers of thin cardboard to the desired size but 1/4” smaller on the width, so 9” x 5 3/4” (or 22 cm by 15 cm). Glue these so the outer edge lines up, leaving a little gap next to the spine. Tip: once you cut one, trace it on the other layers; it’s faster than measuring and marking multiple times. The gap makes the book easy to open and close, while a full-size panel would crowd the folding point in the spine.
Cut additional layers of thin cardboard to the size of the spine but 1/4” smaller on the width, so 9” x 1 3/4” (or 22 cm x 4 cm). Glue these so the top and bottom line up, leaving a little gap next to the spine.
Materials for contents and assembly:
Paper, assorted 8 1/2” x 11”, folded in half to 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”
International: A4 21 cm x 29.7 cm, folded in half to 21 cm x 14.8 cm
Thin elastic cord, twine, or string
Assembly:
- Fold your pages in half and stack several to form a signature.
- Make several signatures.
- Run the elastic cord (or whatever you are using) in loops around the top and bottom of the spine, tying off after you have at least one pass for each signature.
- Slip each signature into one loop.
You can then decorate the cover with wrapping paper, magazine pages, or scrapbook paper. Or not, if you want to embrace the cereal box exterior!
Short video tutorial on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c256dlJOODQ
Papercraft Crystal 