Earth Day Recycled Notebook

Hi everyone! Every day is Earth Day so here is a super easy, recycled junk journal notebook that is fun to make. Start with my Mini Album, Accordion die set that doesn’t require anything fancy for binding. There are also lots of additional shapes in the die set to allow for more creative fun. This junk journal notebook uses recycled papers as the pages. I gathered used envelopes, vintage maps, paper grocery bags and even an old plastic business card holder from a planner long gone. So before you throw out that used envelope, die cut some pages for your junk journal and feel good about saving the planet! Happy Earth Day!

Supplies

Gather supplies. i-crafter products we used:
Mini Album Accordion
Hello World
Animal Mini Envelopes
Doily
Paper Orb
i-Brush Blender Brushes
i-Grip Flat Head Reverse Tweezers

Additional Supplies:
Die cutting machine
Adhesives: liquid and dry
Distress Paint: Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint
Distress Ink: Tea Dyed
Washi Tape: Tim Holtz, Idea-ology
White card stock: 80 lb., 216 gsm {Neenah or equivalent}
Bakers Twine
Bead
Instax photos {optional}
Sewing machine {optional}

The main pieces to make the junk journal are the Page Spread, Single Page, Spine and Stick

Die cut seven Spines and 10 Sticks. You can choose to have more or less pages

Spines have crease lines. Fold in half first. Then fold each long edge back to the center fold to create an accordion fold. Lay them out starting with an upward “W” then a downward “M”. Repeat.

Adhere the last upward flap of the first Spine to the back of the first downward flap of the second Spine

Adhere the first upward flap of the third Spine to the last downward flap of the second Spine

Repeat until all Spines are attached

Using recycled materials, die cut 10 Page Spreads, 6 Single Pages and various shapes included with the die set

ASSEMBLY

Each Page Spread has a slit in the middle

Place the slit over the raised Spine

WINDOW ENVELOPE PAGE SPREAD

Adhere the words “You & Me” on the window of the right page

Insert the Stick into the Spine to secure the Page Spread in place. Repeat for all pages

FRONT COVER

Die cut a Single Page out of an old map. Tear along the right edge and adhere. Secure the flap with washi tape. Die cut 3 globes out of the Hello World set and adhere into a stack. Trim off the globe stand. Adhere the Earth on the cover

RECYCLED CARD STOCK PAGE SPREAD

Adhere a die cut globe from the Hello World set. Apply Distress Paint in Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint

The set also includes dies that cut negative shapes to embellish pages

PAPER BAG PAGE SPREAD

After applying Distress Paint, adhere a photo or ephemera and embellish. We used Instax instant photos

POCKETS

Die cut several Pockets. Fold back along crease lines on both sides and bottom

Adhere Pocket. Embellish with washi tape. Adhere the word Adventure. Insert photo into pocket

DAY PLANNER PAGE SPREAD

Add journaling throughout the junk journal. Adhere a tag to the center Spine. Apply Distress Paint

Die cut the edge of a Single Page using the notebook edge die included with the set. Adhere the Single Page to the Page Spread

To die cut odd sized pages like this plastic business card holder, overlap the center blade on the Page Spread die and die cut

PLASTIC BUSINESS CARD PAGE SPREAD

Apply Distress Paint on left page. Insert the business card holder page to the Spine like other Page Spreads

POCKET PAGE SPREAD

Fold up along the bottom of the paper to be cut

To avoid die cutting the bottom of the Pocket Page Spread, overlap the bottom blade along the folded bottom so it does not cut the paper

After die cutting, stitch along both sides and around the slit in the middle for added strength

CEREAL BOX SINGLE PAGE

Adhere to the center Spine as an extra page

TEAR-RESISTANT MAILER FOLDED POCKET PAGE SPREAD

The folded pocket is on the outside of this Page Spread. Attach a separate small pocket on the inside. {Note: Tyvek is the brand name for the tear-resistant material used in large postal envelopes}

Behind the window, apply Distress Paint and adhere a photo

FOLDED POCKET MAP PAGE SPREAD

Sew up the sides of the pockets

Adhere a Single Page on the right page

MINI ENVELOPE

To create a small envelope from the Animal Mini Envelope die set: die cut the two pieces, fold all crease lines, fold in the two sides and adhere the lower center flap, adhere the top flap to the top tab

PAPER BAG SPREAD

Adhere a small envelope to the left page

TEAR-RESISTANT PAGE SPREAD

Note that tear-resistant envelopes will self-distress when exposed to a heat gun. I inked the wrinkles for a distressed look.

DOILY PAGE

Die cut a Doily out of a Priority Mail envelope. Trim along one side and adhere to the Spine

Embellish the left page with a world globe. Right page is part of the Padded Mailer Page Spread

PADDED MAILER PAGE SPREAD

Adhere a tag to the Spine to create an extra page. Apply Distress Paint

FINISHING

Apply Tea Dyed Distress Ink along the edges of the pages using the i-Brush Blender Brush

TASSELS

Die cut five tassel shapes from the Paper Orb die set. Adhere the solid tops to make a long strip. Fold a piece of bakers twine and adhere to the back of the top end and, using the i-Grip Reverse Tweezers, start rolling, ending with a bit of adhesive to hold closed. Add a bead, optional, to the twine to finish

BACK COVER

Die cut a Single Page out of an old map. Tear along the left edge and adhere. Secure the back flap with washi tape

If desired, you can continue to add pages before securing the flap on the back of the junk journal. The Mini Album, Accordion die is versatile enough to make a travel journal, memory book or little books for children to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed this recycled junk journal project. Happy crafting!

-Lynda