I took an online class this weekend by Roben Marie Smith about making salvaged journals from old book covers. It showed her entire process from how to remove the pages, add a book cloth to the spine, upcycling the cover with a new design, choosing papers, and sewing the signatures into the journal.. She also shared videos from shopping at flea markets for paper treasures to add to her journal. I had been working previously on making hand bound journals with plain white mixed media signatures, so I thought it would be fun to make a junk journal style as well. Roben made her big journal in a dictionary, and so she called hers DJ. I found a big old Steel Construction manual from some old books my husband gave me and so I guess my journal shall be called SJ. Not that I tend to name them, but I thought it was kind of funny. I binge watched the whole thing this weekend, and in between watching I worked on the different parts of the journal:

One of Roben’s journals was made with a book cloth that was her painting ‘undercloth.’ It had such a beautiful floral look to it, that I wanted to try one of my own. I found some off white fabric, and just swatched on some paint and inks. It doesn’t have quite the same randomness as a genuine undercloth, but I like it just as well. I scribbled on some charcoal and china marker as well, just to see how it would look. The only real consideration for this part, is that I used some ink sprays and they really spread around when I sealed it with matte medium. I would have preferred the background to stay more white and less pinky. But oh well. I had this random idea to paint the cover with gold leaf. It was a bit much, so I decided to stencil some lace on top. That is also a bit much. But I think the whole thing is “bit much” enough that it works. I love that it transformed from a plain blue steel construction manual to something so over the top and feminine.

I decided to try including 5 signatures, which is the most I’ve ever tried. I went a bit generous on the papers in the first one, and wasn’t sure I could even use more than 3 without the book being way too full, but I just decreased the heavier papers in a few of the other signatures and it worked out just fine. I love flipping through the whole book to see all of the colors and textures and patterns, it really is such a fun journal. I have no idea what I might use it for or how I will work in it, but usually down the road after making a project, they will fit another idea that I have just perfectly. So we shall see what she becomes!

If you had a long weekend where you are, I hope it was great, and not as smoky as here. And thanks, as always, for stopping by!