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Unearth YOUR Summer's Story at Handley with Junk Journaling

Gemma Thomas

Gemma Thomas

Posted on:
A page of a journal decorated with elements of food packaging—stickers from produce, netting from a bag, a bread clip, logos from food packaging, and a cut up quote from Anthony Bourdain: "food is everything we are".

What is Junk Journaling?

Junk journaling is repurposing found materials to decorate the pages of a notebook. While something like scrapbooking is more formal, only uses certain items, and tends to follow a particular format, junk journaling can be messier, use unconventional materials, and doesn't necessarily have any specific structure. 

Junk journals are unique for their use of ephemera. Ephemera are items designed to exist for a short time or to be thrown away—things like receipts, flyers, tickets, packaging. In junk journaling, these items are transformed into art.

You can find more information about junk journaling in these books:

Unearth Your Summer's Story at Handley Library

The theme for this year's Summer Reading Program is "Unearth A Story". While you unearth the stories in the books you read for the Adult Summer Reading Program, you can also unearth the story of your own summer by junk journaling! Junk journaling is a great way to preserve memories through the items that we encounter day to day. You can decorate your journal with ephemera you encounter over the course of your summer to document the places you go, things you do—the little things that make up the story of your summer! 

At this year's Rally for Reading, the bag for the Adult Summer Reading Program will include a journal, a special piece of ephemera, and some information to get you started on junk journaling. We'll also have a table at the Rally with stickers, newspapers, and magazines which you can decorate your journal with while you're there, or take home with you. 

Can't Make the Rally? Junk journal take-and-make kits will be available at the Handley Library Information Desk through June, or as supplies last. 
 

Is Handley Library Part of Your Summer's Story?

Select Handley adult programs this summer will have a unique piece of program related ephemera. Stop by and pick up something new to add to your junk journal!


More Junk Journal Ideas

Your junk journal can be whatever you want—use ephemera or other materials, write something or don't, keep your pages minimal or fill every bit of space, follow a theme or just add anything—but if you're looking for some ideas, here are some fun prompts to get you started inspired by A Year of Junk Journaling by Martina Calvi:

Portrait of You (page 23)
Unearthing YOUR story begins with YOU! Introduce yourself: through words, a picture of yourself, ephemera, colors, etc.
 
Fruit Stickers (page 38)
Summer is a great time of the year to collect stickers from all the delicious fruit you eat!
 
Soundtrack of Your Summer (page 83)
If this summer was a movie, what music would make up the soundtrack? Tape down an old CD, and use ephemera to make your own CD artwork. Use song lyrics (printed or handwritten), album covers, or concert tickets
 
Summer Reading Bookshelf (page 113)
Create your own miniature library to immortalize this summer’s reads! Cut/craft or draw a mini bookshelf on the page. Use photos of book covers or draw your own to fill the shelves. Write down reviews, quotes, or anything else you want to remember!