Junk Journal July: my 7th Make Nine finish for 2026

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. 

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. 

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?

“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.  

“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.

“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.

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

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.

“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!

Make Nine 2026 tracker, August 2026.

Pop-up bookmaking and Make Nine finish #5

I recently returned from a week-long studio intensive on Dimensional Books. It was a fabulous workshop with the funny and talented Beauvais Lyons, Chancellor’s Professor and Divisional Dean for Arts and Humanities at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and hosted by Shakerag Workshops.

Remembering paste-up, mechanicals, and rubber cement

For me, the workshop was reminiscent of my early career working in design studios and commercial printing companies (all good memories) doing paste-up using an X-acto knife, Rapidograph pens, and rubber cement—although with the pop-ups, we used glue sticks. 

Professor Lyons showed workshop attendees an abundance of pop-up folds and cut-outs. It was a paper-lover’s dream!

Various pop-up examples.

The paper engineering aspect—using parallel and angled folds and cuts—was intriguing and provided myriad artistic and narrative possibilities for books, folios, and cards.

Beauvais Lyons showing a complex pop-up from a published book.

Examples, demonstrations, and inspiration galore

The workshop was jam-packed with pop-up exercises and dimensional book projects, including accordion and carousel book formats. In addition, Professor Lyons showed examples, videos, and slides of his work and work of other professional artists in the field of dimensional books. Workshop attendees did not lack for inspiration! The mess on the work table is proof of this.

Productivity and the mess on the work table.

Each day’s work was displayed in the common area for students in our class, as well as students in other studios, to see what we were learning and doing.

Daily discussions about work in progress.

There were demonstrations for many of the paper structures. This one is about the floating planes, a versatile and useful pop-up that accommodates different shapes and asymmetrical as well as symmetrical layouts.

Demonstration of the floating plane pop-up.

A carousel book example (top view).

As the week progressed, we spent more time in the studio after class time… trying to soak up as much information and accomplish as much as possible on our projects.

My table mate, Lauren, working on her carousel book.

At the end of the week, the work tables were filled with samples and projects.

Show and Tell of my projects at the end of the week.

My finished accordion book, Chill and Grill (below), is a mixed media piece with pop-ups, collage, and watercolor.

“Chill and Grill” accordion artist book (front cover).

“Chill and Grill” inside panels with pop-ups.

I also have a piece using the carousel format and a collection of pop-up folding examples and test pieces that I can use for reference.

Make Nine 2026 Bookmaking prompt

For this year’s Make Nine Challenge, I included a “Bookmaking” prompt… and I’m happy that the inclusion of this topic has been realized. This Dimensional Books workshop has opened the “book” (wink, wink) for so many paper, mixed media, and creative possibilities. I’m excited to continue the exploration.

Below is my 2026 Make Nine tracker as of mid-June…

Make Nine Tracker, June 2026.

… showing the Bookmaking prompt fulfilled.

Make Nine 2026, Bookmaking prompt.

Workshop Friends are the Best!

Here are fellow classmates, Becky and Lauren, who shared this wonderful experience with me. We’ve had several workshops together over the years and it’s always a fun time to reconnect with these multi-talented artists.

From left: Becky, Lauren, and me.
Dimensional Books workshop 2026