This July, I’m taking the Junk Journal July Challenge. It's 31 days of art journaling, mark making, practicing my hand lettering, and collaging with paper and fabric scraps. I have participated in this Challenge twice before—both times with the January version, Junk Journal January—in 2023 and 2024. It’s a fun recycling and artsy, month-long exercise.
"An hour of art making is cheaper than therapy. |
My Junk Journal
My Junk Journal this time is a no-sew, accordion book block. It's made with various papers and cardboard from the recycle bin (aka "junk"). I like to use discontinued fabric sales materials as they are always so colorful and have interesting textures and designs. The format of my July 2024 journal is square (8” x 8”). so it's easy to photograph the pages for IG social media posts.
Art journal for Junk Journal July 2024. |
Accordion folded, no-sew journal. |
The Challenge and the prompts
The Challenge, coordinated by @megjournals and @getmessyart, offers daily prompts that can be used for inspiration and direction. They can be followed… or not. (I usually follow the prompts.)
This year, a lineup of art journal crafters have created videos showing how they interpreted one of the daily prompts. So, you can see 31 different artistic styles of art journaling through the page each has created.
The prompt for Day 1 was “spark.”
Day 1 journal spread for Junk Journal July 2024. |
To get into the practice of hand lettering, I found a great quote by Robin Williams.
"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." —Robin Williams |
I'm letting that little spark of madness cultivate my art journaling this month.