Categories
Craft Inspiration Paper Tutorial

Trash to treasure: starting a creative junk journal

Junk journaling is, I think, more of an American term. It’s a bit like scrapbooking, but more relaxed and unstructured; a creative journal where anything goes. Use it for art, words, memories, collages… You can start with a theme in mind or just go with the flow. It’s great for upcycling and using up scraps of paper. All you really need is a blank journal, with pages sturdy enough to take whatever you’re sticking in.

A selection of colourful paper scraps in a white envelope, surrounded by shape punchers, scissors, washi tape, laying on a wooden surface.

Step 1: Collect junk!
Hoard any scraps, labels, or packaging you think is an interesting colour, texture or pattern; or maybe some words or text that stand out to you. If you’re stuck for what you want to create, you can use these as a jumping off point to get you started. I like to use old tea bag packets, magazines, old diary covers, and pages from unwanted tattered books — along with a selection of scissors and shape cutters, Washi tape and stickers.

An open journal shows a page decorated with some text, a paper fox and some paper flowers.

When using text, I tend to see a word or phrase that I like and build the page around that; either by tearing words out, or editing sections to highlight the words I like. Here, I’d come across the word ‘foxes’, so I started from there, adding one of my origami foxes and some cutout flowers. 

An open journal shows a page decorated with various scraps of patterned paper and card, including bits of map and old teabag packets.

More hints & tips: Play around with things on the page before committing by sticking them down. Create layers and textures. Add pencils, pens and paints. Use stickers to stick scraps instead of using glue. Add dried/pressed flowers or leaves.

As you collect and add bits to your journal, it’s a good idea to keep it all together. You can keep smaller bits in an old envelope. Simply tie string or ribbon around the journal, envelope, and any bigger bits and pieces; or, you can create a loop of elastic by sewing the ends together, and use that to slip around everything and keep it all in place.

A journal lays closed on a wooden desk, tied together with an envelope using some purple raffia. It is surrounded by pens and pencils.

You can also create a simple open pocket by cutting the top off an envelope and gluing it onto the inside cover of your notebook.

The back cover of a journal lays open, with a envelope on the inside cover filled with paper and card scraps.
Categories
Craft Origami Tutorial

Simple origami fox tutorial: step by step with pictures

An origami fox on a pale wood background, with a folding tool and a couple of squares of origami paper

Grab a square of paper and try your hand at folding this simple origami fox! Following along with the pictures and accompanying step-by-step instructions for this easy origami make.

  • If using two-sided paper, start with the plain side facing you.
  • Fold in half diagonally (bottom right to top left corner).
  • Crease and unfold.
  • Fold in half diagonally the other way (bottom left to top right).
  • Take the point of the triangle nearest you and fold up to meet the top right corner.
  • Take the top left point and fold it to meet the other point at the right-hand corner, making a square.
  • Flip the square over, front to back.
  • Fold in half diagonally, top left to bottom right corner.
  • You should end up with a triangle with layers, short flat edge at the bottom, longest sloping edge to the left.
  • Fold over the straight right-hand edge (including all the layers) by about a third, creasing firmly.
  • Taking this folded section, open up just the top layer…
  • …this should create the two ears, and the fox face should fold down as you open up the layers.
  • Fold a small bit of the left-hand point over to create the tail.
  • Let’s work on those legs! You’ll need to fold the front layers (below the face) behind a little, one side at a time; The left one tucks in between the body.
  • The right side folds back and tucks behind the model.
  • Crease bother fold firmly, and you’re done!
  • You can leave you fox laying down to decorate a card or journal page, or stand them up.
An origami fox on a pale wood background, with a folding tool and a couple of squares of origami paper
Categories
Craft Gifts Stationery

It’s a Stationery Lovers thing: National Stationery Week & a new stockist!

An open notebook with decorated to do lists, alongside some pens.

For the love of Stationery

That’s why you’re here, right?
I’ve got you covered, both online and offline!

It’s National Stationery Week in May, running from Monday 12th – Sunday 18th. To celebrate, I’ve got a tasty little treat for you all that week: 20% off my entire Etsy shop! Just head to The Craft Fantastic, any time between those dates.


A Little Bit Of Sunshine is stationery and crafty shop, recently opened up at Heart Of The Shires in Northamptonshire. I’m pleased to announce I’ll be stocking some of my cute and colourful range in there: planner clips and pencil boxes in florals and pastels. 

Categories
Handmade leather journals Inspiration Notebooks

Top 5 journal prompts when you’re out of inspiration

Stuck with ideas to fill your notebook?

I’ve previously shared tips on specific journal styles or layouts (bullet journaltraveldiary) but if you’re looking to use your journal on a more casual basis, it can be nice to have some prompts.

TOP TIP: Make a list of ideas at the back of your notebook, to refer to any time you’re stuck.

Check out my previous post on layout ideas to help with setting up the page if you’d like.

Categories
Handmade leather journals Handmade stationery cases Handmade travel journals Notebooks Stationery Stationery

Refillable journals and new style pencil pouches

I’m back from a short break in Boston, ready to restock all your favourite handmade stationery, plus some shiny new products.

These vertical leather pencil pouches are something I’ve been working on this year. I’d made a few testers and trialled them in my brick-and-mortar stockists, but have just launched them online! You can find them in my Etsy shop, in the Stationery section. 

Two handmade leather pencil pouches, one green and one black. The pencil cases are vertical and have a flap at the top that opens.
Two leather journal covers lie on a wooden background. One is closed and one is open, showing two A6 notebooks which can be removed and replaced.

Get your fill! I’ve made some traveller’s style leather journal covers, that can be refilled again and again with simple A6 notebooks; there’s elastic running through to keep them in place, and a handy elastic closure to keep everything shut. I’ve popped a few in my local stockists, and will be adding them to Etsy soon.

My next journal making workshop is taking place Thursday April 10th at The Galleria in Burton Latimer, 6:30-8:30pm: learn to make an A6 journal using rescued leather. I’m hoping to do a couple of different style journal workshops in the future, so keep your eyes peeled 👀. 

Want to book in? Contact The Galleria directly.

Categories
General Inspiration Tutorial

Journal Page Layouts: Simple Ideas and Inspiration

An open notebook page decorated with various banners and decorative headers.

Looking to build on your bullet journal, or pimp your diary spread? I’ve collated a few ideas, incorporating past posts, adding updates and new ideas for you to try.

Create a simple chart, table or block system to track things – whether it’s daily activity, drinking more water or keeping on top of housework! Use a key to help keep it visually accessible, creating different colours or patterns for different segments of what you’re tracking. 

An open notebook page showing an example of an activity tracker. The journal is surrounded by pens and other stationery.
An open notebook page showing an example of some decorative lists. The journal is surrounded by pens and other stationery.

I shared this in a previous post about Bullet Journaling, but as I find it so useful I’m sharing it again! You can adapt this to suit your needs. The page is split into 3 sections: the top 2/3 (roughly) has been made into 2 columns for lists, leaving the bottom section free for notes or important details.

Sometimes it’s nice to have a place for self care and reflection. This is a great space to your imagination and get creative. Here, I’ve created a cherry blossom design, filled with some ideas of little monthly wins.

An open notebook page showing a flower with positive words written in the petals. The journal is surrounded by pens and other stationery.
Categories
General

Simple origami pumpkin tutorial – step by step with pictures

Try making this origami pumpkin in a variety of colours and patterns for a fun autumn project. You’ll need a sheet of fairly thin square paper; crease the folds with a creasing tool, or you can use the back of your thumb nail.

  • Start with the square of paper turned so it looks like a diamond
  • Fold it in half, top corner to bottom corner
  • Fold in half again, corner to opposite corner, along the top edge
  • Lift the flap you’ve just folded, and open up the layers…
  • Squash this layer into a neat diamond shape
  • Flip over sideways, and do the same squash fold on the other flap
  • You should now have a nice diamond shape, with layers that open at the bottom
  • Take the top flap on the left over to the right…
  • Fold this to the left, so the top sloped edge lines up with the central crease
  • Fold the bottom sloped edge to line up with the central crease
  • Take this layer back over to the right and press the creases flat
  • Next, take the top flap on the right over to the left, and make the same two folds
  • Once you’ve taken that flap back over to the right, you should be left with a slim diamond shape in the middle
  • Flip the model over
  • Fold over the top and bottom corners a small amount to shape the pumpkin
  • Fold both side corners in, roughly the same amount (you can take a look at the right side to check you’re happy with the shape, and adjust these folds if necessary)
  • Take the small top triangle you folded over, and fold the point up, so the tip sticks out a bit over the top of the pumpkin, creating the stalk
  • Turn it over to the right side to see the finished result!
Categories
Art Inspiration

Getting started with art journaling: simple ideas and inspiration

An open handmade journal, showing a sketch of a head with long hair, done in pencil and ink. Art supplies surround the journal, on a pale wooden background.

Ahoy there, Journalers!

Whether you want to keep a visual diary, or just have somewhere to practice and progress your skills, an art journal is a great addition to your creative journey. In this post, I’ll give you a few ideas to start you off. The first thing you need is a somewhere for your art! My handmade journals have paper suitable for pencils, pens and some paints; if you missed them, you can check out my previous blogs about that here:


An open handmade journal, with various doodles and random sketches in water colour, pencil and ink.

It’s a good idea to start simple, especially if you’re just beginning your art journey (if you’re like me, you won’t draw, paint or write anything on the first page in case something goes wrong 😂). You can often find drawing challenges and prompts online, which can be useful for experimenting with different styles and subjects (Inktober is underway throughout October, with a drawing prompt for every day).

Some ideas could be:

Still life

Nature

People

Abstract or doodles

Below you can find some helpful tips if you just need a bit of inspiration to set your creative juices flowing.

Magazines: flick through until something catches your eye… draw it!

Alternatively, look around you. What is there that you could try to draw or paint? Something with an interesting shape or engaging colours? Replicate it, or break it into basic shapes for a more abstract look.

An open journal lays on top of an open magazine, showing a drawing of a head and the image it was copied from.
An open handmade journal showing pencil sketches of hands and ears.

Wanting to build on your skills? Setting a goal can be a good way to stay on track (one of mine is get better at drawing hands). Dedicate a whole page to practicing one thing.

Some other ideas: daily sketches, details, different styles, different mediums. Experiment! Doodle! Date your work and look back on your progress. Most of all, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Perfection is overrated 😉


Categories
Craft fairs Inspiration

Upcoming craft fairs & creative workshops -Autumn/Winter 2024

Join me at a local fair in Northamptonshire, or come along to a workshop and make something for yourself. I’ve got a few dates in the diary – check them out below 👇

Don’t forget you can shop with me online if you can’t get out and about to any of these events.

I’m running a few workshops towards the end of the year, including leather journals & festive origami.

Please visit The Galleria or Wellingborough Library for venue details and to book.

I’ve got 3 fairs booked in so far in and around Northamptonshire – including a book extravaganza at the start of October. That one will be the most dangerous in terms of spending money I think 😂

Categories
General Handmade travel journals Stationery

How to write a travel journal: hints & tips for starting out

Keeping a travel journal is a great way to both plan and document your travels. Being a list maker, I always keep a notebook for planning and packing, occasionally adding notes or drawings while I’m away. Whatever you’d like to use yours for, I’ve put together some ideas for what you could include – and some fun decorations examples!


PLANNING: go as basic or as in depth as you like. Keep it simple with where & when they’re going, or plan a full-on itinerary. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
-Destination/dates
-Travel/accommodation details
-What to do while you’re there
-Budget
-Language basics

PACKING: a list of essentials is good, so you don’t forget anything important. But it’s fun to plan everything else too 😎 My top categories are:
-Essentials
-Toiletries/accessories 
-Clothes
-Miscellaneous (for things that don’t quite fit in other categories!)

TRAVEL DIARY: unlined pages keeps things versatile. You can have space for writing, drawing or adding photos or tickets (in case you get such a rare thing as a paper ticket!). If the paper’s sturdy enough you can glue things in; you could also use paperclips, or stash things in the pocket of your notebook. What? Your notebook doesn’t have a pocket?! Add one yourself by gluing an envelope to the inside cover.

Finally, some ideas for decorations and doodles. You can add these to the appropriate pages as you’re planning. Think general travel icons, local foods or what to expect weather-wise.