My New Little Passion

Some might say I’m a packrat. I prefer “magpie.” A creative magpie.

For decades I have added to a stash of glittery costume jewelry; bits of luxe fabrics such as lace and velvet; interesting paper stock from magazines, greeting cards and packaging; nicer store tags from clothing; fancy buttons; as well as other petite and interesting things hard to classify.

Once, in a fit of decluttering, I donated a weighty small tin box with vintage watches, an antique rhinestone button, a tiny silver spoon, an intricate decoration from a hairpin, and other treasures. I selflessly put them in the world for someone to create with because it didn’t look like I would use them. That’s the one bit of decluttering I regret.

I’ve often thought of myself as mysteriously afflicted. I couldn’t quite place myself as a hoarder, as I could fit everything of this sort in a small dresser drawer. It hurt me to throw away something that was beautiful that someone, perhaps I, might use in fashioning another beautiful item.

I didn’t know what I might make of such things. Now I do! I’m not crazy after all.

I’ve fallen in love with making junk journals components and junk journals. And YouTube videos about how to fashion them.  I’ve found my tribe - others who can’t help but collect little bits of beauty and uniqueness to recycle.

My favorite YouTuber is Natasa from Treasure Books. This Bosnian-born Aussie citizen has ideas that spill out and flood my brain. Sometimes she begins her video with, “Today I am going to play.” She grabs a handful of paper and miscellaneous items from her craft junk drawer to demonstrate how to make a component of a journal and to illustrate that a person need not spend hundreds at the craft store. She narrates and shares her thought process. We see her try placements and arrangements of elements until she likes the effect. She very naturally chats, often in a stream of consciousness manner, and explains why she thinks something looks pleasing and interesting and why something doesn’t.

She encourages viewers to “just play.” She says, “Just because I like it doesn’t mean you have to like it. Do your own thing!”

            It’s the generous sharing of her thoughts as she creates that catches my attention. She has a delightful sense of humor (she often tries to talk alá Arnold Schwartzenegger). Plenty of other YouTubers give demonstrations on exactly how to make something, for example, a page with a pocket, or a card with exact dimensions and placements of decorations, complete with name-brand sponsorship. But Natasha is special in that she often creates in the moment from bits of this and that. As she does, she shares all the little tips that she has learned that eliminate some of the missteps I’d otherwise make - things like the types of glue she uses for various applications and where she obtains her supplies (usually at second-hand stores, right up my alley!) or from things that have outlasted their usefulness but have some element to salvage, like a buckle from a pair of worn-out shoes. I appreciate her commitment to sustainability.

She employs the woven handles of gift bags, broken jewelry, vintage trims, doilies, bill envelopes with windows, chains, keys, feathers, playing cards, humble brown lunch bags…it’s impossible to list all the everyday items she squirrels away to transform into these books.

All these oddments add bits of surprise to her pages and journals. No two are identical. Every page is indeed a creative treasure.

It helps that I have standard paraphernalia from other paper crafting interests and sewing from which I can draw. I can use them in new ways. I’ve also collected new categories of materials – paper napkins and playing cards come to mind.

“What is the purpose of junk journals?” you might ask.

Some have plenty of space to write and use as a daily journal; some are art journals, experiments perhaps. They can often be admired for sensory experiences - the variety of textures, the sounds different papers make when the page is turned, the visual jolt that can be had by the juxtaposition of disparate materials assembled harmoniously.

They satisfy a creative itch for the makers. They are interactive for the user. There are surprises in pockets and envelopes, elements that flip down or up or to the side.

Journals are as different as the people who make them. Any theme or vibe or method is represented by people worldwide obsessed with this craft. Popular themes are the steampunk industrial vibe; romantic with lots of roses and lace and vintage items; goth; boho; fairy; oceanic; sunflower; butterflies; botanical; color; eclectic... I’ve seen very neatly contained and very messy journals that nearly explode with ephemera. They might be dark and moody or light and bright. Some are made of new materials while others use only antique items. People delight in making journals only from junk mail and packaging. The books can be relatively simple and of few pages or extraordinarily complex with many pages.

I won’t live long enough to use everything I have, but this magpie sure is having fun playing!