Chicago, Chicago Travel Junque Journal with Tamiko

Hey Hey good people, Tamiko here on the blog!!  Can you believe it's the end of August already?  (smile) As many of you know I love to make books/journals. I know among all my hoarded supplies there is enough for a journal of any kind.  Today we create a junque journal. Now what's a "junque" journal? Well the term "junque" means to rummage through findings. They don't need to be all matchy matchy and the collection  can be rather eclectic! Today's junque journal has a Chicago theme and if I am lucky I can complete it later with pictures of a few of my favorite places and foods and send it to my friend in India. Let's check out how I made the outside of the junque journal today.

 

Supplies:

• Helmar Premium Craft Glue
• Helmar Super Tac Glue
• Canvas
• Chipboard/Cereal Box
• Paper Cutter
• Scissors
• Stickers- Chicago Themed
• Watercolor paints and Brush
• Squegee
• Misc, blank papers for inserts
• Hemp/Twine/Thread

I collect chipboard, in the form of old cereal boxes or frozen food boxes or in this case.. the packaging of paint pallete. If you have ever made a simple book with chip board you know all you really need is a measurements of the front and back covers and a spine. I chose to do a book that was 5x7 with a 1 inch spine. I can often reinforce the sturdiness of the book by just doubling the boards used. I used Helmar Super Tac Glue to put the layers of board together.  Then I used the Helmar Premium Craft Glue for the spine. I find that the  Super Tac Glue is very fluid and  adheres quickly. There is a VERY THIN LAYER, between the boards.   I choose the Craft Premium Glue for the spine because of the thickness and flexibility needed bending back and forward.

 

 I then cut my canvas to size and decorate the primed side with simple watercolors. You can use acrylics too if you like. While the canvas is still wet, I adhere it to board using Super Tac Glue. I take the glue and with catalyst tool or a squeegee of some sort I spread the glue across the board and place it against the canvas.  I then smooth the canvas against the board with the squeegee to force out any air bubbles. The half inch space (sometimes I feel like I should have figured more like an inch maybe)  that I leave around the outside, beyond the board covers the edges. I used the Helmar Craft Premium glue again to secure the edges.  I also took cardstock and covered the inside of the book, remembering to cut the page a 1/4 of an inch within the cover, so there would be no overlap.

 

I created a flag of the city of Chicago tacked that to the front with Craft Premium Glue.  I had some Chicago themed dimensional stickers I had been hoarding and while I deconstructed them by removing some of the bulkiness (from the layers and foam tape), I still finally used them! (Yay me!) and again used the same glue to adhere the paper stickers to the canvas.  I folded some blank papers to create a a few signatures on the inside of the journal. I used the hemp cord to secure them loosely to the journal cover and knotted the outside. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this junque journal and go check out the glues mentioned in this post and other great products from Helmar USA !!

Comments

[Suzanne Franin]

Very cool and such a great idea x

[Sharon d. Estes]

Wow this sounds like fun. Always enjoy your Helmar Blog.

[Tamiko McCurry]

Thanks. Should be even more fun filling it.. :)

[Tamiko McCurry]

Thanks Jean!

[sandee]

I love the idea of making a junque journal of where you live along with your favorite places to send to someone in another country, that is too cool!!

[Jean Marmo]

Such a fun journal. Love all the details!