Last month, I participated in Junk Journal July 2026 and am counting this art journaling experience as fulfilling my “Online Challenge” prompt for Make Nine 2026.
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| My junk journal for Junk Journal July 2026 Challenge. |
Developing the prompt list
This year, I couldn’t find a good list of JJJ [Junk Journal July] prompts, so I gathered ideas from various sources and composed 31 prompts myself; publishing them for other participants to use as well. For me, the prompts serve as the inspiration framework for the month-long art practice and it reminded me of the 8 years I facilitated my ATC [Artist Trading Card] swap from 2009 - 2016.
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| Junk Journal July 2026 page with prompts. |
Favorite pages
Following are just a few of the pages and spreads in this summer’s Junk Journal. “Black and white” is a simple prompt but can lead to a dramatic composition. This page started with a a collaged checkerboard background a base page of lines. A slow drawing from one of my sketchbooks was added in the foreground. This page came together easily. Who doesn’t like a graphic black and white composition?
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| “Black and white” prompt. |
Trying unfamiliar supplies added another layer of discovery to the challenge. This page is the response to the “Soft pencil, slow line” prompt and uses a Stabilo Woody pencil which has a soft lead that is water reactive.
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| “Soft pencil, slow line” prompt with Stabilo Woody and watercolors. |
The “Fun art supply,” and “Unexpected” prompts also allowed for experimentation. Stepping outside my usual art supplies and experimenting with some new-to-me art materials, these pages were fun to work on while learning the properties of the supplies. The Distress Crayons, a set of water-soluble crayons, were in my art toolbox for a few years and got pulled out for this prompt.
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| “Fun art supply” prompt with Distress Crayons, Stabilo Woody, and water. |
A bottle of walnut ink is a relatively new addition to my art supplies. It was combined with watercolor and the Stabilo Woody on this page.
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| The “Unexpected” prompt uses watercolor, walnut ink, and Stabilo Woody pencil. |
The “Patriotic” prompt was especially timely this year, coinciding with America’s 250-year Semiquincentennial. This prompt gave me an opportunity to use the abundance of America 250 marketing pieces that were readily accessible.
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| “Patriotic” prompt on July 4. |
Interactive, 3-dimensional page spreads
This Junk Journal also became a place for three-dimensional paper structures. Along with my usual art-journaling fare—drawing, watercolors, hand lettering, collage, layering, and textile samples—I incorporated several pop-ups to create moveable, interactive elements. The summer workshop I took on dimensional book structures was a great influence and resource for these spreads.
This is the still photo of the “Pop-up/Tuck spot” and “Botanicals” interactive spread.
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| A 2-page spread of “Pop-up/tuck spot” and “Botanicals” prompts. |
Adding 3D elements transforms the journal from a collection of art journal pages into an interactive and playful book. This spread, for “Hand written” and “Folded layers” prompts, features a no-sew blizzard book with note cards (love letters) inserted into the folded signatures. The blizzard book is aligned with and pasted into the gutter of these two pages.
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| “Hand written” and “Folded layers” prompts. |
The final JJJ prompt was “Celebrate.” This 4-page spread was created to celebrate textiles.
Although more thought, testing, time, and a bit of reverse engineering were involved with making the pop-up pages, this Junk Journal offers an invitation to open, pull, move, unfold, flip, and explore the elements found within its pages.
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| Pop-up spread for the “Celebrate” prompt. |
Why I like the Junk Journal Challenge
Thirty-one prompts mean opportunities to make something, try something new, play with cool art supplies, or simply see where an idea would lead. As with past junk journals, some pages came together quickly, others are experiments in materials, structure, or composition. Together, they document a month of creative practice and creative play.
Images of all my Junk Journal July 2026 pages and prompts can be found on my IG page, @veronica.fiberantics.
Make Nine finish #7
This Junk Journal July is the 7th finish for Make Nine 2026.
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| “Online Challenge” prompt for Make Nine 2026. |
This journal joins my growing collection of seven junk journals. This one, made with 7 signatures (including the cover), and coptic bound, has many more open canvases ready for further art and creative explorations!
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| Make Nine 2026 tracker, August 2026. |
