TOP 8 REASONS TO MAKE YOUR OWN SKETCH AND ART JOURNALS

1. Because a "smash journal" can be made almost entirely from free, recycled materials. If you ruin a page, so what? That paper was destined for the landfill before you rescued it anyway!
2. Because you can close it up, put it on a shelf and know it is safe and secure. No one will see your work unless you decide to show them- it can be your secret.
3. Because you are sensory being. You can flip through the pages, feel the weight of the book in your hands, the crinkling sound the pages make as you flip through them, the way the tissue paper sounds different than the paper bag pages and how the sound of the blank pages differ from the papers that have been altered.
4. Because you can flip to a new page at any point and begin again, even if the previous page isn't "done"; Because you can put it away and go back to it later to look at it with fresh eyes, continue to work on it or leave it undone.
5. Because it provides a record of your progress, of your creative journey. And even if it is really bad in the beginning, you can look forward to seeing your improvements as you go.
6. Because it will provide reassurance even on the inevitable "bad" days. Your journal will hold evidence of all your little successes (and that is enough to propel you forward). 
7. Because you can design your journal to meet your own personal needs: You can custom design it to hold paper of any size and format, weight, texture, composition, or quality.
8. Because you can work on individual sheets of paper or canvas and selectively fill my journal with your work after-the-fact; You can choose the pieces that represent anything- for example, to illustrate your progress with a particular medium, or to show how your personal style has evolved.

Here's a photo of the "smash journal" I use to help spark my creativity when I hit my creative blocks. If you want to make one for yourself, check out my project overview below. To view the full video project click here (coming soon).

This "smash journal" was so simple to make. I only used a couple of purchased items (some cardboard for my spine and 2 screw posts so that I could easily add and remove fresh paper signatures) and I also found substitutions that will allow anyone to make this from 100% recycled/repurposed materials.

TOOLS & MATERIALS

All you need is a brown paper bag, something stiff for your spine (either cardboard, chipboard or a paint stirrer), some string and a couple of basic tools, like a paint of scissors, an awl (or drill) and a sewing needle. Optionally, you'll also want to have your art supplies to decorate the cover. I used craft paint in 2 colors and a couple of inexpensive stamps, but you could keep it simple and use a plain brown bag, or a printed bag from your favorite store. You can download the full supply list here.

 

THE PROCESS

Step 1: Prepare your covers

I started by taking a single bag and cutting it down the middle to create the front and back covers for my journal. I trimmed off the bottom of the bag because it was folded, glued and bulky, but used almost everything else. Your bag will likely have some deep creases that form the corners of the bag, and the easiest thing will be to trim 1/2" along the outside of those folds all the way around (3 sides).

Then you can glue down those 1/2" strips to finish of the edges.  I used double sided tape, but glue stick would work fine too. Optionally, you can add a liner to the inside of the covers before gluing down the edges using rectangles cut from another paper bag like I did. At the end of this step you will have two rectangles of brown paper, each with 3 finished edges and one raw edge (and possibly handles as well).

*NOTE: If you do this, the size of your journal will be defined by the dimensions of the bag itself. You can make the journal taller by flattening out the existing folds and adding new folds closer to the edges at the top and bottom. To make it even taller or wider, you could use a single bag for each cover.

Step 2: Make the Spine

Just like in the body, the spine will become the backbone of your journal. It will be help to hold the front and back covers together, and provide a place to secure your signatures, or individual sections of paper fill. For my project I make my spine by gluing several layers of chipboard together and then punching a few holes for the decorative stitching. I also add 2 holes (at the top and bottom) for my screw posts. These posts will hold the elastic bands that secure my signatures in place.

STEP 3: Attach the Covers

You will need to glue the spine to your covers. I used a film adhesive for this. Place the edges of the covers together, center the spine and align it with the top and bottom edges before pressing it into place.  Next, transfer the holes in the spine through to the covers and add the decorative stitching. If you have screw posts, you can install them here. (Optionally, you can omit the screw posts and secure your signatures by running your rubber band completely around the spine.)

STEP 4: Make your signatures

Measure your journal to see what size paper will fit. The height of your paper must fit between the screw posts and the width can be up to twice the width of the closed journal. I then folded my papers along their centers, stacked them together and then stitched them into a signature using a pamphlet stitch.

STEP 5: Bringing it all together

Lay your open signature on top of the open journal, lining up the centers. Stretch a rubber band over the top and bottom screw posts to secure your signature in place. You can add multiple signatures at once, or swap them out as you fill them up.

Your journal is ready to use or to be wrapped for gifting.