Dumpster Fire on Paper

Posted byLisa KercherPosted inUncategorized

4 minute read

“I don’t believe that my life is a dumpster fire, but the world in general sure looks like it some days…”

me

And so starts another art journal update!

I wrote those words in my art journal back in February. After another executive order was signed, wrecking regular people’s lives all over the US. After more facts came out about the UCP healthcare scandal rocking Alberta politics. After the news hit about bird flu being endemic in cattle.

In fact, there was so much bad news in February I kind of crawled under a blanket and ignored stuff for awhile.

And then I crawled back out and worked it out in my journal.

The left page features a flip-up journaling space. All of the orange geometric pattern is using a handcarved stamp from my collection. On the right is some paper I crafted in an art class adhered to an envelope forming pockets for more journaling cards.

JUNK JOURNAL

I don’t call this a “junk” journal, but this seems to be what the junk journaling world calls it! Okay!

“At its core, junk journaling is the art of creating a personalized, hand-crafted journal using repurposed materials.”

  • marthastewart.com

I guess I struggle with the name because I don’t consider any of this stuff junk. Junk is “something of poor quality, trash, something of little meaning, worth, or significance.” (Merriam-Webster) None of the items I use in these books have little worth to me.

In these pages I have used:

  • beer can labels with beautiful geometric art
  • parchment paper from a batch of cookies
  • patterns from cardboard boxes
  • postcard from an online order
  • scratch paper that I tested markers on
  • the back of bank statements
  • a bird feather
  • memorabilia and photos from events in my life
The parchment paper on both sides is glued down just right to form pockets to hide some writing. The only new item on this layout is the Paths for People sticker.

This is the place I document events in my life, work through big feelings, and examine my word of the year. It’s also where I play with paint and stamps and stickers. All the good stuff goes in here.

I only came to art journaling in my 40s and I am so glad! It combines two of my favourite art forms: scrapbooking and mixed media. There aren’t any photos on these layouts, but I include many in these books, printed small to fit on journaling cards or under my favourite flip-ups.

This is also a great way for me to save all the memorbilia I hold on to (hoard), and then feel guilty about later for taking up so much space. It becomes part of the art, literally part of the story I tell about my life.

Journaling cards are a great way to hide your writing AND add more pretty decorations.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Aside from “what’s the point of anything?” this is a great question that deserves a great answer.

I create “junk” art journals like this because I:

  • want to divert perfectly useful and interesting items from the landfill
  • like to play with creative supplies
  • am building a skill through practice
  • want something that isn’t “precious” so I can experiment more freely
  • want to encourage others to try something outside of their comfort zone
  • hope to inspire folks to see “garbage” and “creativity” from a different angle

CREATIVITY AND THE NOT LADYLIKE COMMUNITY

Aside from the odd workshop and quarterly Crafternoon! dates at Ritchie, I still haven’t figured out how to incorporate more creativity into our Not Ladylike Community offerings.

“Creativity is revolutionary and creative protest is power”

I firmly believe that creativity has a huge role to play in the revolution.

Creative people will help tell the stories to inspire folks to take action.

Creative people will help communicate messages and information.

Creative people offer pleasure, joy, colour, vitality that is needed in all spaces.

Creative endeavours advance awareness of social issues.

The next step is actually making change with the creative projects. I guess that’s where I feel stuck.

There is a lot of inspiration out there, but none of it has felt right for me. Surprising no one, I’ve got to re-invent the wheel on this.

How can I use these creative skills that I have been building my whole life to really impact change in my community?

FURTHER READING AND RESOURCES

Eat the Rich sticker and polka dot bookmark by Glitter Dactyl.

Light red “Feb” journaling card by Life Love Paper.

Postcard “nur light” from Dallas Museum of Art.

2024 Word of the Year blog, update #2, update #3

100 Days of Stamp Carving (2017). This was my first 100 Day Project.

Tell A Story: Carve a Stamp, Change Your Life (2017)

100 Days of Carving Patterns (2018)

How to Make a Junk Journal (Martha Stewart)

Craft Revolution

Craftivism: what it is, and some folks who are doing it

Leave a comment