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Sylvia's Studio

Create a scrap journal



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scrap paper


Whenever I feel stuck creatively, or if I just need a fun challenge, I fill up a scrap journal, usually with poetry and doodles, but sometimes I feel like glueing in stuff, so I do that. 

Creating scrap journals is such a fantastic creativity booster, they never fail to inspire me to keep creating. 

Want to make one too?  

How to get started
  1. save the brown packing paper that companies stuff in packages. The easiest paper to use is perforated, but you can also use the non-perforated kind.
  2. when you have about 20 sheets, tear them all apart on the perforations, stack them all up and then fold fold them up to make a sort of squared booklet, or cut them and fold again for two smaller booklets. Press the fold with a bone folder or ruler or something like that.
     Then either use a pamphlet stitch or a long stapler to bind it. When I use the pamphlet stitch I use variegated embroidery floss. So much fun!
    I usually tend to make several journals at a time, so I have some spare if I need to scrap journal a bit more later. 
  3. Gather your favourite art supplies. Or just one pen if you'd like a bit of a challenge. My best scrap journals were created with just a uni pin 03 fineliner. 
  4. write a title on the front cover. And the date.
  5. Start creating. Add whatever you like. I usually mix poetry or thoughts with doodles or lists of ideas. Whatever comes up goes onto the paper.
If you'd like more of a challenge, set a time limit. For me, the limit is usually a day, as in I have to finish the journal in a day. This pressure I put on myself keeps me creating.  

Things to keep in mind
  1. This is pure play, just for you and can be as messy as you need it to be. 
  2. Perfection doesn’t enter into this. It’s a thing to shake loose your creativity. 
  3. Anything goes. Whatever you want to make on the page, you make. Follow your creative instincts.
  4. Don't overthink. Just create! This is pure freedom!
  5. There are no mistakes.
Need more ideas?Write something to make yourself giggle, make one minute sketches, draw circle art, draw or write with your other hand, as it says above: anything goes! 


As an aside: when you're done with the scrap journal, take note of what you are using the most, it's a great way to discover your favourite ways of creating.

I may film some of my scrap journals next week, let me know if you'd like to see that on Mastodon or via the reply button below. 
artjournal fun