If you've ever wished there was one book that could answer every junk journaling question you've ever had — from what even is a junk journal to how do I find my style to how do I actually bind this thing — this flip-through is worth your time. I wrote Treasure Book Making: Crafting Handmade Sustainable Journals because it's the book I needed when I started, and it didn't exist. So I spent over a year writing it, taking more than 10,000 photographs, and trying to put everything I know into one place.
What we cover
This video is a sneak peek and flip-through of the published book — I walk through all four parts, show the layout and photographs up close, and give you a feel for the kinds of projects and topics covered. If you've been wondering whether the book is right for you, this is the place to start.
What you'll learn
What the book covers across its four parts, including:
- Part 1 — terminology, themes, and styles: what distinguishes a junk journal from an art journal, glue book, smash book, mini album, scrapbook, or traveler's notebook; exploring styles like shabby chic and steampunk; and how to actually use a junk journal once you've made one
- Part 2 — getting started with materials you already have at home, the anatomy of a book (head, tail, hinge, groove, fore-edge, end papers), cover options, signature assembly, paper dyeing recipes, and binding techniques including tab binding, case binding, long stitch, and Belgian binding
- Part 3 — step-by-step project instructions for hardcover books, envelope books, soft cover books, removable page journals, booklets, notepads, and more (including a tissue box junk journal and a gift bag junk journal)
- Part 4 — how to find your style, understanding the creative cycle, overcoming creative blocks, frequently asked questions including how to sell your journals, and journaling prompts
How the project sections are structured — each project opens with a full-color photograph of the finished result, followed by detailed written and photographic step-by-step instructions, and closes with ideas for taking the project further or adapting it to your own needs.
How to navigate the embellishment and creative additions chapter — covering practical elements like tags (what they are and how to actually use them in a journal), page tabs, closures, journaling spots, and card writing, with photographs throughout to use as reference when you're mid-project and wondering what to add next.
What paper dyeing looks like in book form — I share actual recipes and show how the technique sections are laid out, so you can see the level of detail before you commit.
How the style and creative block chapters work — this isn't a brief pep talk; it's a real exploration of the creative cycle, what being stuck in a rut actually means, and what you can do about it. These chapters are in the book because every maker I know has needed them.
A look at my personal completed junk journals — the book closes with photographs of journals I've made and actually used (the ones I didn't sell), so you can see what the projects look like as a living, used body of work.
Tips & gotchas
You don't have to order online — you can request the book through your local bookstore, and it's worth trying your local library too. If you're outside the US, keep in mind that release dates vary by region: Australia, the UK, and Europe are about a month behind the US release, so if it doesn't seem available yet where you are, it's on its way.
The book had a strong first printing — it sold out and went into a second print run quickly, which does affect availability in some regions at certain times. Worth ordering sooner rather than later if you've been thinking about it.
What's inside at a glance
271 pages, over 600 images, and more than 20 projects spanning the full range of handmade book types. The philosophy throughout is the same one I bring to my videos: you don't need to go out and buy special supplies. The book is called Crafting Handmade Sustainable Journals for a reason — the whole approach is built around using what you already have, repurposing what most people throw away, and making something genuinely beautiful from it.
It took me over a year and more than 10,000 photographs to put together. Most of those photos didn't make the cut — but the 600-plus that did are there because they earn their place on the page. I wanted the instructions to be detailed enough that anyone could follow along and arrive at the same result they see in the photographs. That was the goal from the start, and it's what I held onto through every difficult stretch of writing it.
And if you're just starting out and feeling overwhelmed by terminology and options and the endless question of what is my style, Part 1 alone might save you months of confusion.
