I recently got into junk journaling and watched tons of videos from different channels, but, your projects and videos are always the easiest to follow. Thank you for this video tutorial, it's extremely helpful for beginners like me.
My favorite video on making a junk journal with an old book. Your style of teaching is so easy to follow. Thanks for sharing all your expertise with all of us Nik!
Wow at last. An easy to follow tutorial. I have been looking for a video like yours for months. Thank you so much. I am 72 and live in the uk. I have crafted all my adult life and I have made a journal (more of an art journal I think ) but the binding process beat me so it ended up a deconstructed journal. It is still very pretty though. I can now make another one with an old stamp album I picked up. Thanks again.
I actually have 2 of those vintage treasures scrapbook paper pads, inspired by the altering a composition notebook from one of your videos. Loved the paper you used to alter the notebook so much, that I had to have it. You are a wealth of information and ideas. God bless you and yours. Sincerely Becky B from Arkansas
Your vid are always superb! Even though I’ve made many books I always enjoy your vids and not only am inspired but learn more each time. Thanks so much!🦌💌❤️📚✌️
Been watching your videos for a while and really appreciate your straight forward style and love the different stitching technique. I've struggled with keeping the pages in JJs from shifting and the holes tearing. I'll try this new method( well, new to me anyhow):). Thanks!
wait - so, I have a few orders for journals, so I rewatched this for reference and clarity. I just now noticed you didn't glue the spine! And I didn't know cloth would last longer! 🤦♀️ I am SOOOO glad you're here to guide us!!!!!
I've been wanting to try making a junk journal from an old book....your tutorial is so good!!! Your instruction is very clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
Excellent tutorial. So thorough - and time consuming. But I need to do a few shortcuts for instant gratification. In my 'lazy crafter' version, I use fewer signatures, some staples, fewer holes, larger holes, larger thread/fiber, larger needle, less measuring. Love the headbands and twisted clip tip! tfs
I just watched your big cutter review (that thing is awesome!), and the journal(?) you created more than rivals anything I've ever seen in a store. You create on a professional level. Watching this as a refresher because, duh, it's been a while and the brain loses things. Also, new info. Mostly, you're brilliant and your teaching style is clear and often humorous 😉. Edit: see? Never saw anyone use cloth on the spine. And yay for not having to go back through hole, which splits the thread more often than not and have to redo it. Annoying. And headbands? Never saw that before, either. Waiting for the torturous embellishing!!!!!
Wow! Thanks for this 😁 What a game changer!! I’ve been using kraft tex to sew the signatures to because I figured it is more sturdy but card and fabric is practically free lol. And using the template card is brilliant!! Also your paperclip hack and using the sewing needle to poke the holes are awesome! You have the best tips; I want to be a Booksmith when I grow up (I’m older than you lol). You totally rock!! Loved this music too! Thanks Nik 🥰
Wonderful instruction...... logical, neat (as always!), with your usual thoroughness in explaining each step as you work thru the process, and, of course, your reliably lovely results. (But, geez..... I really miss the squirrels!!!) I sincerely hope you are feeling well & enjoying lots of great, creative days as spring creeps ever so slowly closer. Take care, be blessed.... and thanks so much for sharing your awesome skills!
Hi Kathy! The squirrels are there, I promise. If I get even the least bit overwhelmed/tired/stressed/hungry/frustrated/fill-in-the-blank, I drop like a stone. Its a balancing act, to be sure. Thank you for asking! =)
Thank you for a wonderful video. Now to get started! You are very gifted. I would love to see the decoration too. Well done. Kind regards.. Kim from Zimbabwe
My brain might just be fried but I went through the steps up until the binding portion. I’m confused because in the video, the length of the manilla card is shorter than the length of the pages but you transfer your sewing hole markings from a template that is the length of a page onto the spine manilla card that is shorter. Let me know if my question makes sense. It’s a little hard to explain in writing
Hi, for ANYTHING! You can journal in it, make a glue book out of it or do art in it. The "important" part is that you use material (paper) that's been used before. So rather than dumping it as junk, you re-purpose the paper in a kind of journal. Hope it helps!
I think that's the beauty of it, there aren't any rules. They can be used to simply write in or you can go all out and use them as scrapbooks or albums, whatever. =)
I really appreciate your binding methods for using an old book, but for the life of me I cannot see why anyone would want to bind old pieces of scrap junk paper!
I think its a type of quilting ruler, maybe? If you follow the link to my Amazon favorites lists under the video and click on the "Tools" there is a couple of clear rulers on that list, if you want to see more details about them. =)
This was THE most excellent detailed video on binding a junk journal I've seen. But of course, embellish and share with us. That's not boring!! Love ya, Nik!! ♥️ You really make books so neat and tidy and made to last.
Great ideas here, even for seasoned book makers. I like how you put fewer pages into each signature, the headbands, using fabric in the spine, and your method to sew in signatures. Food for thought! So generous of you to share these concepts, thank you!
I've watched and saved hundreds of so called altered book videos but I must say I always refer to yours. I love your sense of humor and your patience in explaining what you are doing. BTW all the other videos have been deleted and only yours are kept on hand for fast reference! What a relief it is to clean out the computer!!! You certainly should be called the queen of bookmaking
I love watching you create books and journals. I learn something every single time. What type of double sided tape do you use? Is it archival? Any recommendations? Because the other day, I was going through a journal from a few years ago where I used double sided tape to stick stuff down around my writing. As I was going along, pieces that were taped began to come away from the page and I saw that the tape had completely lost its adhesion and yellowed. A couple of pages even had marks on the pretty side where the tape had seeped through over time. So I would say, when making books and journals, use caution when using double sided tape because it may not have the lasting power and non-yellowing attributes that PVA has.
Howdy! The tape I use is on my Amazon favorites under "booksmithables". The AJ Sign World brand is advertised as acid-free, but I don't recall if the other brands noted that or not. 🤔
Love the review on this. I make several art journals, and then while I fill them... boom forgot how to make the basic book... again. 😊 I hope you are well and thank you for sharing.
We made this and we're so excited about getting all the signatures attached in the same day that we stayed up until 2:30 am! Ty, for making this look so easy!
I’m not a ju jo novice anymore but I found this video extremely useful - refreshing the method. Thank you so much, Nik. My fingers are itching now to make one, too.
This is one of the best illustrations I have ever seen to do a junk journal. I have been watching your channel for several years and love how detailed and precise you are. (Way better then I am) The piece if fabric and folder paper makes it so smooth and professional looking. I do have an old book cover I will be using soon to do this. Thank you so much this is amazing. As are you.
No MBA in accounting. It's generally chartered accounting. Always love using old ledger papers in my jj. And tax legislation too. It helps that I have a lot of those to use up from my day job 😂
I’ve been making junk journals for about a year now. I learned so much from your video. I was struggling with the number of signatures and using an odd number makes so much sense in making the math turn out right. Also I couldn’t figure out how to not have the stitching go through the spine. Thank you! Thank you!
I agree, however there are plenty of people who don’t want that level of learning. (I’ve talked to several) Sometimes, they don’t want the complexity. I agree with you, however, because there are some good book binding techniques she brings into her junk journal creations. I use some of them myself.
I have been watching hundreds of videos on how to make a Junk Journal and have never seen such an easy explanation/tutorial on the method as yours. You have a new subbie 💕Thank you so much😌
You were my first teacher of JJ and got me addicted...so I’m watching again and see you’ve got a new technique or two which I like. Best tutorials as always!
I was so excited to see a video from you regarding Junk Journals. I have missed them! I have always thought that you had the best videos on how to make journals and your creativity/artistic ability to create an interesting/beautiful cover was so cool to watch and see! Yay for a new Junk Journal viedo from you -- hoping for more!!
Been making books and working with paper for many years. This is a sweet video! I’m gonna try my first junk journal. Looks like I can use your video to create other kinds of books, too. A big THANK YOU.
Another home run by the master of bookbinding ⭐️ By the way your videos are never a torture, but educational as well as entertaining. Have a great weekend ☀️
Always good to see your process, Nik! And for me, you don't need to speed things up, I will gladly watch you do the whole thing in real time and listen to you chattering away! Just sayin'! ❤️
I’m a new subscriber. I love your method and how you explain everything! Will be starting this for a group of journals for a few projects such as a garden journal, a vintage photo journal for my parents anniversary, and many others. I’m so excited. Love your work! Also love the fact you don’t use the typical stock music most videos do that are super annoying. Thanks so much.
I love how you break everything down to basic steps. I recently started using books instead of making my own covers and its another adventurer. As always thanks for the great video.
I have been wanting to make a junk journal but all the videos I have seen just confused me. This is the best tutorial! I can't wait for my local librarys book sale! Thank you for this!
Oh Sharon, this could be a whole, new world! They are a lot of fun to make and people love to get them as gifts. They make excellent scrapbooks, journals, commonplace books, memorandas, etc. =) I've got a just a few hundred videos about them, so I might be biased.😄
I recently got into junk journaling and watched tons of videos from different channels, but, your projects and videos are always the easiest to follow. Thank you for this video tutorial, it's extremely helpful for beginners like me.
She’s the best, and I do mean best.
awwwwwwww thanks guys! 😊
And not only as an artist!
Completely agree!!!
Me too! This feels so achievable and uses all the craft stock that I have accumulated over the years - thank you!
Love this particular way of attaching the signatures. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
I also like how neat & precise you are.
You are such a wonderful teacher. Thank you.
Impeccable stitching! I've gotta start using headers. They definitely make a difference.
My favorite video on making a junk journal with an old book. Your style of teaching is so easy to follow. Thanks for sharing all your expertise with all of us Nik!
Wow at last. An easy to follow tutorial. I have been looking for a video like yours for months. Thank you so much. I am 72 and live in the uk. I have crafted all my adult life and I have made a journal (more of an art journal I think ) but the binding process beat me so it ended up a deconstructed journal. It is still very pretty though. I can now make another one with an old stamp album I picked up. Thanks again.
You are most welcome, Jess! =)
Great video... newbies come in all forms...even those who have made a few journals and watched a million videos will learn from this :)
I actually have 2 of those vintage treasures scrapbook paper pads, inspired by the altering a composition notebook from one of your videos. Loved the paper you used to alter the notebook so much, that I had to have it. You are a wealth of information and ideas. God bless you and yours. Sincerely Becky B from Arkansas
🤗
Great tutorial! I really enjoyed this style of binding. I cant wait to try it out!
This is a brilliant tutorial. Thank you very much. I'm going to make a watercolor journal with your technique.
Cool twisted paperclip trick!
Your vid are always superb! Even though I’ve made many books I always enjoy your vids and not only am inspired but learn more each time. Thanks so much!🦌💌❤️📚✌️
Been watching your videos for a while and really appreciate your straight forward style and love the different stitching technique. I've struggled with keeping the pages in JJs from shifting and the holes tearing. I'll try this new method( well, new to me anyhow):). Thanks!
First bookmaking video I’ve watched, interesting.
This was calming to watch...which I needed during these troubling times.
wait - so, I have a few orders for journals, so I rewatched this for reference and clarity. I just now noticed you didn't glue the spine! And I didn't know cloth would last longer! 🤦♀️ I am SOOOO glad you're here to guide us!!!!!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!! Very clear and easy to follow directions. Short, detailed and to the point.
I've been wanting to try making a junk journal from an old book....your tutorial is so good!!! Your instruction is very clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
Thank you. Love the paper clip too. Looking forward to part 2
Thank you so much for such a detailed video! Very helpful!
Excellent tutorial. So thorough - and time consuming. But I need to do a few shortcuts for instant gratification. In my 'lazy crafter' version, I use fewer signatures, some staples, fewer holes, larger holes, larger thread/fiber, larger needle, less measuring. Love the headbands and twisted clip tip! tfs
The centre ish .. I love that 💜💜💜
Thanks for this great video. ❤️
THANK YOU FOR NOT CUTTING THE SPINE OFF!!❤❤
Thanks for a great tutorial. Really comprehensive and easy to follow.
this was very helpful, everyone else was not as explanatory as you are, so thank you!!
I just watched your big cutter review (that thing is awesome!), and the journal(?) you created more than rivals anything I've ever seen in a store. You create on a professional level. Watching this as a refresher because, duh, it's been a while and the brain loses things. Also, new info. Mostly, you're brilliant and your teaching style is clear and often humorous 😉. Edit: see? Never saw anyone use cloth on the spine. And yay for not having to go back through hole, which splits the thread more often than not and have to redo it. Annoying. And headbands? Never saw that before, either. Waiting for the torturous embellishing!!!!!
As I said, great video. You made it seem so easy. I botched it up horribly. Try, try again. Thanks so much.
There's no shame in that! Making mistakes is how we learn. I'm glad you will try again =)
Very nice video and end product.
The fact you did this in ONE video! subbed 😊
omg and you do true crime?! WIN
Wow! Thanks for this 😁 What a game changer!! I’ve been using kraft tex to sew the signatures to because I figured it is more sturdy but card and fabric is practically free lol. And using the template card is brilliant!! Also your paperclip hack and using the sewing needle to poke the holes are awesome! You have the best tips; I want to be a Booksmith when I grow up (I’m older than you lol). You totally rock!! Loved this music too! Thanks Nik 🥰
This was very helpful! Thanks📕
Very easy to follow along! I like how you do the binding. It was new to me. Thank you Hugs
Wow. Good work.
That was awesome & inspiring!!
Awesome tips & techniques video. Thank you for sharing with the journaling community
Wonderful instruction...... logical, neat (as always!), with your usual thoroughness in explaining each step as you work thru the process, and, of course, your reliably lovely results. (But, geez..... I really miss the squirrels!!!) I sincerely hope you are feeling well & enjoying lots of great, creative days as spring creeps ever so slowly closer. Take care, be blessed.... and thanks so much for sharing your awesome skills!
Hi Kathy! The squirrels are there, I promise. If I get even the least bit overwhelmed/tired/stressed/hungry/frustrated/fill-in-the-blank, I drop like a stone. Its a balancing act, to be sure. Thank you for asking! =)
I so love your videos!
Fantastic!
Thank you for a wonderful video. Now to get started! You are very gifted. I would love to see the decoration too. Well done. Kind regards.. Kim from Zimbabwe
Excellent tutorial. Thank you.
This was so helpful. Thanks Nik!
So well done. Thank you.
This was a great tutorial! Thank you!
Great video ❣️❣️❣️
Do you also string guitars?
I do not. No self-respecting musician would let me near their guitar! Lol
My brain might just be fried but I went through the steps up until the binding portion. I’m confused because in the video, the length of the manilla card is shorter than the length of the pages but you transfer your sewing hole markings from a template that is the length of a page onto the spine manilla card that is shorter. Let me know if my question makes sense. It’s a little hard to explain in writing
The pink marble paper looks like prosciutto
Right?? I thought so, too. Lol
This is the first I have heard of junk journals what do people use them for?
Hi, for ANYTHING! You can journal in it, make a glue book out of it or do art in it. The "important" part is that you use material (paper) that's been used before. So rather than dumping it as junk, you re-purpose the paper in a kind of journal. Hope it helps!
I think that's the beauty of it, there aren't any rules. They can be used to simply write in or you can go all out and use them as scrapbooks or albums, whatever. =)
I really appreciate your binding methods for using an old book, but for the life of me I cannot see why anyone would want to bind old pieces of scrap junk paper!
Thank you for playing great music and not the cutesy stuff. 😏
ha! anytime =)
what kind of ruler is that at 16:59 ?
I think its a type of quilting ruler, maybe? If you follow the link to my Amazon favorites lists under the video and click on the "Tools" there is a couple of clear rulers on that list, if you want to see more details about them. =)
This was THE most excellent detailed video on binding a junk journal I've seen. But of course, embellish and share with us. That's not boring!! Love ya, Nik!! ♥️ You really make books so neat and tidy and made to last.
I'm love the neat & tidy!!
What an excellent video! Totally enjoyed the details. Thx!!
Great ideas here, even for seasoned book makers. I like how you put fewer pages into each signature, the headbands, using fabric in the spine, and your method to sew in signatures. Food for thought! So generous of you to share these concepts, thank you!
That paperclip hack is GENIUS! Also, GOLD! You make it all look so easy! 🙂
P.S. You're gonna do something with the cover, right? ;-)
Pfft...if I must! Lol Thanks, Hal!
Even your old people need this! This is so different from what I do. I've been making it more difficult for myself. Thanks for sharing!!
You are a wonderful teacher, I always learn something new from you.
this was a wonderful tutorial Nik - very helpful and very enjoyable to watch - i learned so much just now - thank you and be well 🤗
I've watched and saved hundreds of so called altered book videos but I must say I always refer to yours. I love your sense of humor and your patience in explaining what you are doing. BTW all the other videos have been deleted and only yours are kept on hand for fast reference! What a relief it is to clean out the computer!!! You certainly should be called the queen of bookmaking
I love watching you create books and journals. I learn something every single time. What type of double sided tape do you use? Is it archival? Any recommendations? Because the other day, I was going through a journal from a few years ago where I used double sided tape to stick stuff down around my writing. As I was going along, pieces that were taped began to come away from the page and I saw that the tape had completely lost its adhesion and yellowed. A couple of pages even had marks on the pretty side where the tape had seeped through over time. So I would say, when making books and journals, use caution when using double sided tape because it may not have the lasting power and non-yellowing attributes that PVA has.
Howdy! The tape I use is on my Amazon favorites under "booksmithables". The AJ Sign World brand is advertised as acid-free, but I don't recall if the other brands noted that or not. 🤔
Love the review on this. I make several art journals, and then while I fill them... boom forgot how to make the basic book... again. 😊 I hope you are well and thank you for sharing.
We made this and we're so excited about getting all the signatures attached in the same day that we stayed up until 2:30 am! Ty, for making this look so easy!
I’m not a ju jo novice anymore but I found this video extremely useful - refreshing the method. Thank you so much, Nik. My fingers are itching now to make one, too.
Your work is always creative and professional at the same time! It's a great mix! Thank you
Excellent tutorial as ever. Love how meticulous you are, thanks Nik. x
Always pick something up in your videos. I was interested in your reason for the stitch method you used.
Thank you. I now see all the things I did wrong on my first junk journal. When I do my next one, this will help me tremendously.
This is one of the best illustrations I have ever seen to do a junk journal. I have been watching your channel for several years and love how detailed and precise you are. (Way better then I am) The piece if fabric and folder paper makes it so smooth and professional looking. I do have an old book cover I will be using soon to do this. Thank you so much this is amazing. As are you.
Wow, thank you!
I appreciate these clear and concise directions with a great video. Thanks so much!!
No MBA in accounting. It's generally chartered accounting. Always love using old ledger papers in my jj. And tax legislation too. It helps that I have a lot of those to use up from my day job 😂
and this is why I pay someone else to do my taxes, I'm rubbish at even knowing the terminology! Lol
I’ve been making junk journals for about a year now. I learned so much from your video. I was struggling with the number of signatures and using an odd number makes so much sense in making the math turn out right. Also I couldn’t figure out how to not have the stitching go through the spine. Thank you! Thank you!
It would never be torture to watch you embellish it!!! I love this idea. I would !I've to make some journaling books for my daughters!!!!
I love this! Better to learn these techniques from a Booksmith than a Junk Journaler.
I agree, however there are plenty of people who don’t want that level of learning. (I’ve talked to several) Sometimes, they don’t want the complexity. I agree with you, however, because there are some good book binding techniques she brings into her junk journal creations. I use some of them myself.
loved the paperclip idea hugs Donna
I have been watching hundreds of videos on how to make a Junk Journal and have never seen such an easy explanation/tutorial on the method as yours. You have a new subbie 💕Thank you so much😌
You are so welcome!
You made that look so easy! Thank you!
You were my first teacher of JJ and got me addicted...so I’m watching again and see you’ve got a new technique or two which I like. Best tutorials as always!
I was so excited to see a video from you regarding Junk Journals. I have missed them! I have always thought that you had the best videos on how to make journals and your creativity/artistic ability to create an interesting/beautiful cover was so cool to watch and see! Yay for a new Junk Journal viedo from you -- hoping for more!!
Clear, concise, and educational - as usual! Thank you.
Been making books and working with paper for many years. This is a sweet video! I’m gonna try my first junk journal. Looks like I can use your video to create other kinds of books, too. A big THANK YOU.
Great tutorial with clear instruction. So easy to follow. Could I use Tyvek instead. of cloth?
Hi Nina! I don't see why not, if it goes with your aesthetic, I say go for it!
this is the best tutorial on how to do this ive ever seen! THANK YOU!!!
Another home run by the master of bookbinding ⭐️ By the way your videos are never a torture, but educational as well as entertaining. Have a great weekend ☀️
So interesting, I had never heard of junk journaling. Or what signatures mean in books
Aha! I need this video!
💯❤💫Enjoyed, Have a great day 🙏💜🕯
I found the sewing in the signatures quite helpful
Might sound dumb, but what is the point of junk journals?
Pardon my ignorance but why is it called a junk journal?
Always good to see your process, Nik! And for me, you don't need to speed things up, I will gladly watch you do the whole thing in real time and listen to you chattering away! Just sayin'! ❤️
This is beautiful and up cycling. You can save and be creative at the same time. Thanks for sharing ☺️😊
I’m a new subscriber. I love your method and how you explain everything! Will be starting this for a group of journals for a few projects such as a garden journal, a vintage photo journal for my parents anniversary, and many others. I’m so excited. Love your work! Also love the fact you don’t use the typical stock music most videos do that are super annoying. Thanks so much.
I love how you break everything down to basic steps. I recently started using books instead of making my own covers and its another adventurer. As always thanks for the great video.
I only use old book covers and try to theme my books in terms of topic and colours...adds to the fun!
Yeah!!!!
Wow, thank you, Nik! I have been wanting to do a spine like this but couldn't wrap my brain around how to do it. Thanks for figuring it out for me. 🤔
I have been wanting to make a junk journal but all the videos I have seen just confused me. This is the best tutorial! I can't wait for my local librarys book sale! Thank you for this!
Thank you so much for this tutorial.
Looking at this vid for the 2nd time because it’s so good!🦌💌❤️📚
I love this book! Great tutorial! It looks awesome! TFS.
Just got this in my feed 😊 Have never ever heard of junk journals. 🤔😢
Oh Sharon, this could be a whole, new world! They are a lot of fun to make and people love to get them as gifts. They make excellent scrapbooks, journals, commonplace books, memorandas, etc. =) I've got a just a few hundred videos about them, so I might be biased.😄