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Let’s Talk Junk Journals with Linda Israel and Calico Collage Dragonfly Delight by Canvas Corp

So you have heard about junk journals, maybe you have made one, maybe you have made 100 or maybe you are just thinking about making one?  Well, we thought it would be fun to share some thoughts about junk journaling from the amazing Linda Israel who created and hosts the huge Facebook Group – Friendly Junk Journal People  We will walk you through the design process of one of Linda’s Junk Journals and ask her some questions along the way.  The junk journal and projects we are sharing today were created for the world-wide launch of a brand new printed collection by Calico Collage and Canvas Corp – Dragonfly Delight.  Calico Collage has traditionally been a digital download only brand, but thanks to the partnership with Canvas Corp, a new printed version will be available in 2019 in the CCB Shop.  To help them launch the collection, the kit along with a brand new selection of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist paints was featured on Create and Craft TV and wow was a that amazing.  Linda created the models for the show and this journal was featured on air to show the world how to make a junk journal and show off this amazing paper line at the same time.  She also had a hand in the original design inspiration for the Dragonfly Delight Collection and pairing up Norella and the Canvas Corp Team.

You can create an amazing mixed media junk journal with just about any paper kit or collection like this Dragonfly Delight collection from Calico Collage and Canvas Corp. The wide range of papers, elements, ephemera, and artwork gives you so many options that no two journals will ever look the same.

We thought we would start by finding out a bit more about the new Dragonfly Delight Collection and what it is all about and then a bit more about Junk Journals, how Linda likes to start her journals, what inspires her and sneak in some tips and tricks.  Here is what we found out and we are so excited to share some inside scoop with you…..

Canvas Corp Brands: we heard you had a part in the inspiration of the original dragonfly delight collection?
Linda Israel: well that is true, not only do I love the collection and love WORKING with it, I was the inspiration behind the collection.  I love dragonflies, I love the colors and i love lots of elements to cut out and create different elements for my journals.  i was even more excited when I had the chance to pair norella and the team at canvas corp to help bring to life a printed version of the collection, which is really ideal for junk journal makers and really paper crafters of any kind.
Canvas Corp Brands: we know this collection started out as a DIGITAL download, so for those who don’t know what a digital download is, can you explain it for us?
Linda Israel:  digital downloads are collections of art that are created by graphic artists and designers for the purpose of selling the download and allowing crafters, makers, and creatives to print and use the art for their creations.  the downloads offer a wide range of different pieces of art, full pages of design and items to fussy cut.  they are all designed to be printed on a home printer and generally are printed on copy paper or in some cases on cardstock if your printer will allow it.  you can see the original dragonfly delight digital download that is still available today.

Canvas Corp Brands: what are the pros and cons of digital downloads for paper crafters and junk journal artists?
Linda Israel:  by far the best part about digital downloads is the wide range of art you have to work with, the ability to print extra pages of your favorites and the flexibility to print what you need when you need it.  the downside is you are limited to what you can print at home, for the most part, the art does not cover the entire sheet of paper as home printers require white space around the edges in order to print the art and most home printers do not allow you to print the art on thicker paper weights.

Canvas Corp Brands: we are in love with the new dragonfly delight printed cut & create collection, but we are not sure exactly what it is, can you tell us a bit more about it?
Linda Israel: the number one request norella of calico collage receives and one of my biggest wishes, was to see a printed version of the art and papers I love to work with.  the new dragonfly delight kit began with the original designs from the digital download collection but has become so much more.  The kit includes 15 different papers that are filled with journal covers, journal pages, ephemera, fussy cut art, sentiments, borders, pockets, file folders, tags and more.  the art is printed on a range of different papers that are ideal for the design and some of the papers are single sided and others are double, making it ideal for junk journal creators like me.  along with the basic kit there will also be 12×12 matching papers; an ephemera pack and tags, allowing you to choose the items that speak the most to you.

Making tags with thin printed paper is not the easiest, so having them printed on cardstock weight paper is ideal. It allows me to sew them, layer them, paint them, glitter them and more. These tags are great for gifts, but they also look amazing when slipped into a pocket of a junk journal.

Canvas Corp Brands: when will these items be available for purchase?
Linda Israel: December 7th was the worldwide launch on create and craft tv.  a special kit was created for them with exclusive items and I was so excited to have the opportunity to help make the samples and models that were FEATURED on the launch show.  you can buy one of the exclusive kits from create and craft tv while supplies last or stay tuned for them in the ccb shop where you can buy the entire collection, which will happen in january 2019.

This is the kit printed for Create and Craft TV along with the 6 amazing new colors of paint by Tattered Angels – keep an eye out for the entire collection in the shop.

Canvas Corp Brands: we love this new dragonfly delight kit, which sounds like it came TOGETHER with many great minds.  how else would you use the kit, if you were not making a junk journal?
Linda Israel: well the kit is ideal from making junk journals and it is perfect for making layouts, tags, cards, mini journals and more.  there are so many different elements you can make such a wide variety of different styles, sizes, and creative pieces.

The creative possibilities are endless with a kit like Dragonfly Delight. There were leftover papers when these samples where created for the Create and Craft TV launch. – created by Linda Israel

Canvas Corp Brands: can we switch gears now and ask you a few questions about junk journaling…..How would you define what a junk journal is?
Linda Israel: A junk journal is a collection of things that can be found or purchased, bound together in a journal and then can be used to record thoughts, memories and more. There are no rules in creating a junk journal.

This junk journal was created using the Dragonfly Delight collection, a sewing machine, a little tattered angels paint and a few bits and pieces from here and there. – created by Linda Israel

Canvas Corp Brands: Where do you like to begin a new journal, the cover or the insides?
Linda Israel: I generally start with the inside OF THE JOURNAL and THEN build the cover to fit. It depends on the supplies I’m using, THE SIZE OF THE JOURNAL AND HOW I CONSTRUCT IT.

Flip up the bottom of a page and sew along the sides to create a wonderful pocket to fill with goodies. You can sew across the top of the pocket before sewing it into a pocket to make sure you don’t sew the pocket closed, but the touch of sewn art adds such a great handmade look and it is so much fun to do.

Canvas Corp Brands: we love to be a part of your friendly junk journal people facebook group, can you share a special story that has come from this group?
Linda Israel:  There are so many stories about having the FJJP Facebook Group. It was started so that we could have a friendly place to share our WORK and be inspired BY OTHERS. Almost daily I get a message FROM A FOLLOWER LETTING ME KNOW HOW THEY ARE happy THAT THE GROUP IS SO friendly AND WILLING TO give advice and support while creating JournalS. Recently I had a lady message me and LET me KNOW that she got SUCH wonderful support FROM THE GROUP and THAT SHE loved the tutorials I created AND how it helped her make the first journal AND SELL HER FIRST JOURNAL!

Canvas Corp Brands: what advice would you give to someone just getting starting in junk journaling?
Linda Israel: START WITH ITEMS YOU ALREADY HAVE, Pick out items you love and then add a few things you might purchase, but don’t go crazy at first AND FEEL YOU HAVE TO BUY A LOT OF STUFF. FOLLOW ONE OF MY SIMPLE JOURNAL TUTORIALS TO SEE HOW A JOURNAL GOES TOGETHER AND Get a feel for how to construct ONE.  HAVE FUN WITH THE PROCESS, MAKE IT YOUR OWN AND YOU WILL BE CREATING YOUR OWN JOURNALS IN NO TIME.  CONSIDER JUNK MAIL YOU HAVE SAVED, OLD ENVELOPES, PADS OF PAPER, NOTEBOOK PAPER, OLD JOURNALS, OLD BOOK PAGES, MAGAZINES AND MORE, THINGS YOU ARE DRAWN TO.  THESE ARE ALL IDEAL FOR MAKING A JUNK JOURNAL YOUR WAY.  YOU CAN ALWAYS PAINT, COVER OR MIST THE PAGES TO COVER UP ANYTHING YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE.

Add tabs to some of the pages to divide your journal up a bit or slip in a sentiment here or there to remind you about how special life is.

Canvas Corp Brands: you use a lot of tattered angles paints INCLUDING glimmer mist and glimmer glam in your junk journals, what do you feel they add to your journals?
Linda Israel:  Using tattered angels paints adds color and sparkle to my journals. I love using stencils and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists to add patterns and color to the pages. glimmer Glam, a sheer paint with glitter, is perfect for adding sparkly accents on top of any embellishment, a piece of art on the page, simply brush it on.

Canvas Corp Brands: what is the most unusual journal you have ever made?
Linda Israel: A heart-shaped velveteen candy box that holds a heart-shaped journal.  I took the time to make sure that the pages fit inside. It was so fun to make that journal!

Canvas Corp Brands: what is the most unusual item you have included in one of your junk journals?
Linda Israel: Fabric that once to belonged to my mother. It was destined for the trash, as it was from worn-out clothing, but I cut it up and used it in a journal and now I have the memories forever.

You can use found paper such as this grid paper, old lined school paper or blank copy paper and transform it with paint, mist, and art. Don’t worry if the paper is a bit damaged, you can cover it up with color and beauty.

Canvas Corp Brands: WHAT IS A GREAT TRICK YOU CAN SHARE WITH EVERYONE?
Linda Israel: i like to make pockets many different ways to tuck little notes, found objects, art and more throughout the journal.  You can do this by gluing ephemera in place to make a pocket, folding pages to create a pocket or gluing two pages together and leaving a small opening.

Canvas Corp Brands: what is the number one question you are asked about junk journaling?
Linda Israel: WELL THERE ARE A FEW:
1. What size do you make a junk journal? Most people will take a standard copy paper size 8.5 x 11 inches and use that for the pages, the journal cover would be slightly larger about .5 of an inch. You can also trim down the pages to make the book a bit smaller if your cover is only 8.5×11 or use a 12×12 sheet of paper to create your cover.  The size of the journal is really up to you so you can make tiny ones using SMALLER papers and items or you can bind full sheets together and make one as large as 8.5×11.
2. How many signatures should I add? SO, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO EXPLAIN WHAT A SIGNATURE IT, IT IS A SECTION OF A JUNK JOURNAL THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER WITH OTHER SECTIONS TO MAKE A FULL JUNK JOURNAL.  IT IS NOT REQUIRED, BUT IT LET’S YOU CREATED SMALLER “INSERTS” AND THEN PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER WHEN YOU ARE DONE.  HERE IS A QUICK VIDEO I DID THAT SHOW YOU HOW TO CREATE SIGNATURES AND THEN PUT THEM TOGETHER INTO A JOURNAL.   I usually decide HOW MANY SIGNATURES, when I’m collecting the items. Some journals are big some are small, I just let the items speak to me.

Create side pockets by cutting triangles of art and folding over the side and bottom edges and gluing only them down leaving the angel unglued to slip in a card or art.

Canvas Corp Brands: what is your best advice when you feel you have made a “mistake” in your journal?
Linda Israel: Don’t stress over what you think are mistakes, Many times these can be fixed by Adding another piece of paper, painting over a smudged image or adding a pocket. I have even cut my paper the wrong size for a journal and to fix the “mistake” I just added a strip of paper to make it the size I really needed by taping it together with a fun tape I had hanging around. Don’t stress, just let it flow and once you add all your details, the “mistake” you might see will be long gone.

Canvas Corp Brands: where do you get your inspiration for your next junk journal?
Linda Israel:  Many times I get inspired by the products I see or when I get a special request order. I love to work with a wide range of papers old and new and their INSPIRE me.  I also love papers from one of my favorite designers, NOrELLA from calico collage, like the dragonfly delight collection featured here.

Add journal cards, postcards and other blank cards and spaces to actually give yourself or the person you are giving the junk journal to, so there is room to write, jot down ideas or capture memories.

Canvas Corp Brands: why do you personally like to make junk journals and what got you started?
Linda Israel: in the 90’s a group of my friends got together and we had a junk journal workshop, back then we called them altered books. I loved making the book out of things I already had on hand.  i work hard to sell my art so that i can keep up my hobby and at the time, altered journals or junk journals were not really selling, so i put my passion for them on the back BURNER and created art that i knew the market would embrace.   i was so excited in 2017 when I started seeing how popular junk journals were becoming and i started making them again but found i was able to do so many different styles and types of junk journals. I also love that I can do mixed media, scrapbooking, tags and more all with a “junk journal” feel; That anything goes in junk journals and that there are no rules.  i also had a huge stash of random craft supplies that I find work so well with junk journals like fabric, burlap, wide ribbon, old maps, book pages, digital images, scrapbook paper, old stamps, stencils, junk mail, saved paper and so many other items. It is a great way for me to use the things I’ve collected for many years. Creating Junk Journals makes my soul soar and now Junk Journals are a part of who I am and I feel I have found my calling.

We hope you have enjoyed getting to know Linda a bit and the sneak peek of the most amazing collection from Calico Collage and Canvas Corp = Dragonfly Delight.  If you missed it on Create and Craft TV. Stay tuned for the USA launch in the CCB shop in January.

Happy Creating!!!



About

Canvas Corp Brands is the home of Tattered Angels, 7Gypsies and Canvas Corp (Canvas Home Basics). We are a manufacturer of surfaces, paint and vintage reproductions coming to you from Springdale, Arkansas.


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This blog is a compilation of inspiration from the Canvas Corp Brands family including Canvas Corp, Tattered Angels and 7Gypsies.