In a couple of blog posts in 2017, I mentioned that I wanted to learn how to make junk journals. This is a show and tell of my junk journal making progress. I will post today’s free image in a separate blog post.
My granddaughter, Ashley, loves Sherlock Holmes.
In the fall of 2017, Ashley and I watched Nik the Booksmith’s Sherlock Holmes YouTube video together:
We were both in awe of Nik’s incredible work and I secretly dreamed that I could learn how to make a junk journal similar to Nik’s Sherlock journal – as a surprise gift for Ashley.
Shortly after Ashley and I watched Nik’s video, I learned that Nik had a Booksmither’s course available to purchase. I thought that if I could learn to make a junk journal from start to finish, something even remotely similar to the brilliant work Nik does, the course would be worth every cent.
I decided to take the plunge and purchased Nik’s course. Nik’s well detailed, step-by-step instructions, on video, were exactly what I needed to gain enough confidence to attempt to create my first junk journal. I watched the video course from beginning to end – two or three times, took notes, gathered my supplies, then followed the steps, detail by detail and I did it! It was an exhilarating experience to see my dream come true. Thank you Nik! 
I presented Ashley with the Sherlock Holmes junk journal as a Christmas gift. She was shocked and delighted! 
I have since purchased a few of Nik’s other courses and have been pleased to learn more junk journal making skills. I am currently working on two sewing themed junk journals, applying the skills I’ve learned in Nik’s courses. These pictures show my progress on my (unfinished) sewing journals. 
I have plenty more pieces of ephemera to add to the sewing junk journals, including these designs from Screech Owl Studios. I will also add one of the small booklets I made into each journal. 
Nik’s courses are available on teachable.com here. The first course I enrolled in, to learn to make Ashley’s Sherlock journal is Nik’s “Adventures in Booksmithing” course. The course teaches how to make a junk journal (tome) from front to back. Nik offers a complimentary door class for those enrolled in the booksmithing course.
Nik also offers a variety of free junk journal and crafting videos on her YouTube channel, including a recent five part series titled, A Beginner’s Guide to making Journals”. This is the first video of the series:
I used a variety of scrapbooking papers and supplies from my regular crafting stash, which includes: Tim Holtz, Graphic 45, 7 Gypsies and others. The Sherlock Holmes themed scrapbook paper that I used for Ashley’s journal is by Graphic 45. For the sewing journals, I am also using a beautiful digital sewing kit that was kindly gifted to me from ScreechOwlStudio. Thank you Yvonne! 
The image is linked to ScreechOwlStudio on Etsy.
thank you so much for sharing! that cover alone is fabulous, not to mention the entire journal. 🙂 her expressions in the photos are priceless!!! can’t wait to see more that you share as you complete other journals!
I am slowly working on my first one…. it’s a slow task, but fun.
Thank you, Jennifer. 🙂 I’m excited for you that you are working on your first journal! 🙂
Love the journal you did. I too take Nik’s courses. She is amazing.
Thank you, Val. I agree with you, Nik is amazing. 🙂
Such gorgeous journals! I hope you’ll make a flip through video of your next works <3
Thank you Stefania. I would love to do flip throughs but I’m too shy for YouTube. 🙂
I’ve always known you were an artist, Julie. I love Olde Design Shop and now, so does my daughter! She just began her second junk journal. I am not surprised at your amazing work on your first junk journal and I hope you share your finished sewing journals with your fans.
Beautiful work and I loved seeing the delight on your granddaughter’s face.
Aww, thank you, Robin, for your sweet comment! I’m delighted to hear that your daughter is making junk journals and that you both love my Old Design Shop. 🙂
Fabulous work, Julie, I love your creations! Thank you for sharing and for the link back to my shop 🙂
Thank you, Yvonne. It’s an absolute pleasure to work with your gorgeous designs! 🙂
Fantastic job!!! Oh my gosh I have been following you for a bit now because of all the amazing images you share with us …. because I too make journals. I also followed Nik’s course so that I can make her style journals now too. So this is cool to see a post about it. Did ya join the FB group too? I made a post in the group about your very blog! I hope people came.
Hopefully will see you on Nik’s FB group! Again… amazing job on the journal. Your daughter looks so happy!
Thank you Carrie. 🙂 I did join the FB group and although I don’t visit the group regularly, I love seeing everyone’s work when I do stop by. I also love that the members of the group are so helpful. One of the questions I had was what kind of glue to use for the metal parts when I was constructing the door on the Sherlock journal. A couple of people quickly responded with the exact information I needed.
Thank you so much for mentioning my blog in the group. 🙂
WOW! I am very jealous. Your books are awesome. I have made journal books, but nothing like this. Someday, when time allows, I’m going start on the real thing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Christine. 🙂 A big journal is like a bunch of little ones put in a larger cover. If you already make little journals, you can make a big one! 🙂
Beautiful. Love your daughters reaction. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Karen. 🙂
I’m not sure what I Love more, the books or the photos of your daughter. 🙂
Sorry, I meant your GRAND-daughter. 🙂
Thank you Amy. 🙂 I’m so glad I was able to capture Ashley’s expressions.
What a stunning gift for your granddaughter Julie, so beautifully made, and I love your sewing journals in progress too. Just want to say thank you for all the free ephemera you have been sharing, it is fantastic for making journals and cards. I also love the coffee dyed floral paper that I purchased from your Etsy shop. Happy journal making…
Thank you for your kind words Gail. I also appreciate the feedback on the coffee dyed floral paper. Thank you for being one of my lovely blog readers and Etsy customers. 🙂
Julie your Sherlock one came out beautiful and your new projects your sewing ones look splendid, beautiful craftsmanship indeed! So nice to see you posting here again, we all enjoy seeing what your up to and enjoy your posts.
Thank you, Linda. That is very kind of you. Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
AMAZING!!! SPECTACULAR!!!! I can see why your granddaughter almost fell off the couch with screaming delight! lol Oh what an excellent job you did… and it’s your first tome! Salsa is all I can say. Well done. Beautiful.
Aww, thank you, Karen, for your generous compliment. 🙂
I had never heard of these journals, I really need to watch the videos you linked to, to see more about them. The one you made for your granddaughter is just amazing!
Thank you Julie. 🙂 I find Nik’s videos fascinating to watch. And there are many other junk journal makers who do flip throughs of the journals they’ve made on their YouTube channels.
I had not heard of junk journals but this is so cool, I love what you did with yours!
Thank you very much, Connie. 🙂
This is absolutely gorgeous! She obviously loved it! Beautiful work! I hope to eventually make one of these journals!
Thank you KT Fit Kitty. 🙂 It’s such fun to make these journals. I would love to know if you make one.
I have been eyeing Nik’s courses and wondered if they would help me. It looks like the classes are worth the time and money! You really made her eyes light up with that present!
Just found you and will start following along for some inspiration.
Welcome to my blog, Kathy. 🙂 I don’t regret any of the money I’ve spent on Nik’s courses and I’ve learned so much from them. Before Nik’s courses I wanted to learn how to make junk journals. Now I can confidently make junk journals. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your beautiful journal. Nik’s courses are the bomb!!! I visit your blog often but had missed this post. I have made numerous journals. I usually give them away to friends and family. The vintage part of the family love them. The younger ones look impressed but really don’t get why I spend so much time on making a journal. I cannot explain my love for ephemera and using it to make a journal. I cannot afford to travel. Making a journal is a wonderful journey in itself. I can travel the world on my computer. Journals enable me to “share” the trip. I worked at Borders Books for ten years. The joy of touching books every day. I lived near the many old book shops in Concord, Ma. My home is full of books. Making my own papers and using the old books and ephemera is pure joy. Thank you so much for all that you share. Hugs. Cheryl
Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing your wonderful comment. Your family and friends are incredibly fortunate to receive gifts of handmade journals from you! Perhaps some of the younger family members will catch on as they grow older.
Working in a book shop would be a dream job and living near many old book shops would be like icing on the cake! It’s delightful to know that not only do you have a house full of books but that you find pure joy in using them for your papers and ephemera for your journals! Lovely! 🙂
Julie
Love, love, love!!! Fabulous! I can totally understand Ashley’s response upon receiving such a beautiful and heartfelt gift.
Aww, thank you, Rebecca. 😊
Your journal is gorgeous!! The colors, the theme are all so perfectly executed considering it’s your first JJ. I recently found Nik’s free videos and like you, I got the confidence to attempt my first ever JJ this week. I am so grateful to her wonderful free videos. Having seen yours as well and read your endorsement of Nik’s paid classes, I may consider purchasing the JJ class as well. Your site, your work are all inspiring. Thank you sooo much for your unbelievable generosity in sharing these wonderful vintage images! PS: I am a Canadian too, living in the US for the last 2 decades.
Thank you, rk, for your kind comments on my first junk journal. I’m thrilled to know that you have the confidence to attempt your first JJ! I’d love to know how it’s working out, or how it turned out! It makes me happy to know that you are inspired by my work and my site. 😊