Make Art Journals from Junk Mail

I have to admit, over the years I always get excited about projects that use up junk mail! For some reason the thought of turning rubbish into something sacred really appeals to me! At my old place, homeless people would take bags out of my trash can really often. So I stopped putting mail in the bags to prevent identity theft. My husband bought a paper shredder and we typically save up all our junk mail and then shred it, but the mail tends to pile up for months before we do anything with it.

Enter the world of junk journals! I’ve made them in the past, and recently started saving cereal boxes to make some more. Sometimes people will convert old books into junk journals or art journals, but it is so much fun when you make the book from scratch. My junk journals are typically pamphlet style. I cut up a cereal box to use as the cover, and then use junk mail and book pages for the paper. Fold the cereal box, and then fill with folded paper. Use a needle and thread to attach the pages to the cover. You can collage on the pages, or use gesso or white acrylic paint to prime them for drawing and painting.

Here are a couple junk journals I made in the past! I have a stack of mail and cereal boxes that I’ve collected, and cannot wait to make some more.