Little Golden Book Junk Journals: Flip Throughs & Ideas
Little Golden Book junk journals were on my “to-make” list for a while. I’d seen various crafters making them and they looked like a lot of fun to work on.
I wasn’t wrong. I had an absolute blast making two Christmas-themed Little Golden Book journals earlier this year.
One tells the story of “The Night Before Christmas” while the other one tells the story of “The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas”.
In this blog post, you’ll find video flip throughs of each of them alongside photos and more information about the “making of”. If anything, I hope you find plenty of inspiring ideas for your own projects.
My Little Golden Book Junk Journals
“The Night Before Christmas” Junk Journal Flip Through
Watch my video on YouTube to see a flip through of my “The Night Before Christmas” Little Golden Book junk journal.
The “Making Of”
The Night Before Christmas is one of my all-time favourite Christmas stories (or poems). I probably have The Santa Clause (my all-time favourite Christmas movie) to thank for that.
So, when I decided to try making a Little Golden Book junk journal, this book was first on my list to find.
Repurposing the book cover was a fun challenge – from removing the gold foil along the spine without damaging it to making my own spine and beyond.
The story pages inside are beautiful too; so vintage-looking, yet bright and colourful at the same time, so I knew I had to keep them intact as best as I could.
I had a lot of fun matching my papers to the storybook pages while making lots of my own festive and fun ephemera to go in each of the pockets and tuck spots.
If you’d like to see exactly how I made this Little Golden Book journal, then I have a three-part video series on my YouTube channel to show you the process from practically start to finish. I hope you enjoy the videos.
“The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas” Junk Journal Flip Through
Here’s the flip through video of my “The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas” Little Golden Book junk journal.
The “Making Of”
Once I’d decided to make some Little Golden Book junk journals, I knew I wanted to make at least two of them. I find making multiples of things is a great way to learn!
While searching for Little Golden Books on eBay, I found “The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas” and knew this was the one for me. I mean, come on, how cute is this cheeky little puppy?
While “The Night Before Christmas” features a lot of traditional Christmas colours and images, this book has that as well as wintery, snowy pages.
So this was a fun contrast to match my papers and ephemera with. I love working with winter themes!
The Verdict
Would I make more Little Golden Book junk journals? Possibly.
While I had a lot of fun making these journals and I love how they turned out, I’ve decided to focus on nature themes for my journals going into 2023.
Themes such as florals and botany, forests and woodlands and winter rather than Christmas are much more up my street as they say.
Still, I developed a lot of skills from making these Little Golden Book journals, particularly on how to repurpose book covers (no matter what size spine they have).
So this definitely opens up a world of possibilities for my future projects. Watch this space!
Discover More Creative Journal Ideas
- 21 Junk Journal Cover Ideas To Inspire You
- 10 Junk Journal Page Ideas To Inspire You
- 15 Junk Journal Tags & Journal Cards To Inspire You
- 10 Easy Junk Journal Pockets: Ideas & Tutorials
- Easy Junk Journal Embellishments: 20+ Examples & Tutorials
- 8 Ways To Use Junk Journal Embellishments (With Examples)
- 10 Junk Journal Binding Ideas & Tutorials To Inspire You
- 19 Hidden Journaling Ideas To Keep Your Writing Private
- 35+ Types Of Junk Journals You Can Try Making
- 14 Creative Things To Do In A Journal Or Notebook
- How To Keep Pressed Flowers In A Journal (7 Easy Ideas To Try!)
- 17 Fun & Festive Christmas Junk Journal Ideas
- 52 Junk Journal Prompts To Help You Write In Your Junk Journal
- Join My Free Facebook Group
- Check Out The Mahalo Clubhouse Membership
Junk Journal Toolkit
📦 What do I need to get started?
If you’ve got paper, glue, scissors and something to bind your pages with (like a needle, thread and an awl or pokey tool), you’re good to go! Check out my essentials vs. nice-to-have supply list for more info.
🤯 I’m overwhelmed by tutorials and ideas. Where should I start?
Start with my free Mini Junk Journal Masterclass. It walks you through the process step-by-step. Even though it focuses on a mini journal, the same tips apply to any size journal.
❓ I don’t understand the terminology. Can you help?
Absolutely! My A–Z Junk Journal Glossary breaks down all those confusing terms and acronyms. Jargon be gone!
🪡 How do you keep your binding neat?
I use my bookbinding cradle to line up my holes and avoid punching too far through the pages. Smaller holes give a neater and more secure binding, and I use this thin upholstery thread for a cleaner finish.
🧵 Do I need a sewing machine?
Not necessarily! A basic sewing machine is helpful for making fabric-covered journals, but strong fabric glue can work just as well. If you stick to paper-based journals or folios, you don’t need one at all. I like the sewn look and making fabric-based journals, so I personally use a simple machine (similar to this) that’s lasted me over 10 years – it’s a trusty part of my toolkit.
🖼️ What digital papers do you use?
I use a mix of my own designs and other favourites. You can see examples here. New to digitals? Check out my mega bundle for a big saving on some of my designs or sign up for my Mahalo Clubhouse membership to get brand new digitals sent to you every month.
📜 What’s the best paper for printing digitals?
I use this 100 GSM Presentation Paper for vibrant and high-quality prints.
🖨️ What printer do you recommend?
I love my Epson Ecotank. It’s affordable, reliable and the ink lasts ages. I used to spend £30 a month on ink – now I refill just once or twice a year for under £30. While I haven’t used it myself, some other crafters recommend the HP Instant Ink program.
🖇️ What glues do you use?
My go-tos are Collall All Purpose, Cosmic Shimmer and Beacon 3-in-1. Here’s how I use each one.
📖 What books are best for junk journaling?
I love using second-hand nature and botanical books. Here are some great titles to look for next time you’re thrifting.
