D.I.Y Scrap Paper Journals

I was given the gift of time over the Christmas break  (I have a really kind husband) and used my whole 7 hours alone making a beautiful papery mess in my living room. I am a hoarder of paper; it’s not a problem, just a bit inconvenient at times! Anyway, I took the opportunity to sort out all of my scraps of packing paper, handmade papers, ugly papers that really I wanted to throw out but didn’t want to waste, old wrapping paper etc. and decided to do something with them. I’d had in my mind the vague idea of making books out of them but the label ‘book’ was far too intimidating so I never really had a go, but on this day it just so happened that I had a cute little roll of pink and white butchers string hanging about and it was the nudge I needed to give it a go.

Initially I was just making one; I picked my biggest pieces in similar sizes and after lining them up ‘stitched’ them very simply with the string and a darning needle. I had an almost instant scrap/sketch book. I couldn’t stop at one. After that I had the pleasure of having themed books; one of all Christmas papers for the next seasons sketching; another pinky pretty ones; and another with a map cover!! (Ooooohhh….maps! I do love maps, especially ones bought for 30p at a second hand bookshop!).

The result is a small but great collection of sketch/scrap books ready to be filled with anything and everything. 

The best thing about them is that they solve the main problem I have with any kind of creative documentation of my days and that is the blank page- it’s so daunting and I’ll often not bother making a mark on that lovely white sheet for fear of making the wrong one. Now I have no such worries; all of the pages are already crinkled, cut, torn, wonky or dirty!

Here’s a little of what I have done so far; it’s over the top of a paper Little H brought back from Pre-school that had the letter ‘H’ stamped all over it. He loved it, and I’m so happy to keep it like this, merging both of our creativity into one piece. It’s far less likely to get lost or forgotten now and that in itself is so precious to me.

So dig out your papers people, or rummage through your recycling and see what you can find!! (quite a few of my pages were flattened out wrapping paper and parcel stuffing…and they happen to be my favourites!!)

See you soon!

Hayley

xxx