31 Day Junk Journal Challenge: Day 27- Use Postcards

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Junk Journal Challenge: Use Old Postcards

Postcards are a fantastic addition to any junk journal, whether they're collected from vintage stores, personal travels, or thrift shops. They carry a sense of nostalgia, history, and personality that can really elevate your journal pages. This challenge encourages you to repurpose old postcards in creative ways, turning them into a central or decorative element on a themed page.

Why Use Old Postcards in Your Junk Journal?

  1. Historical Charm:
    Old postcards often carry historical or vintage designs, featuring illustrations, photographs, and even handwritten messages. Incorporating these into your journal adds depth, texture, and a story to your pages, allowing you to capture a moment in time.

  2. Instant Focal Points:
    Postcards often come with colorful images, unique typography, and interesting designs, making them an instant focal point for your journal page. They act as visual anchors around which you can build the rest of the design.

  3. Personal Storytelling:
    Whether it’s a postcard you received from a loved one or one you’ve collected on your travels, these items carry personal meaning. Writing about the memories tied to a particular postcard gives your journal a deep, emotional connection to your life story.

  4. Versatility:
    Postcards can be used in a wide variety of ways, from serving as a decorative element to adding a meaningful memento. You can use postcards as journal backgrounds, tuck them into pockets, or even create a flip-out feature. They fit into almost any theme and style of junk journal, from vintage to travel-themed journals.

Steps for Using Old Postcards in Your Junk Journal

  1. Choose a Postcard:
    Start by selecting a postcard that fits the theme of your journal page. If you’re making a travel journal, choose a postcard from a place you’ve visited. If you’re creating a vintage-inspired spread, pick an antique postcard with beautiful designs or old photography. The color scheme, image, or sentiment of the postcard should guide the rest of your design.

  2. Decide How to Incorporate It:
    There are many ways you can include a postcard in your journal:

    • Background: Use the postcard as the backdrop for your page. You can layer other papers on top of it or simply let the postcard shine through.
    • Interactive Element: Attach the postcard to your page in such a way that it flips open, revealing extra journaling or images on the reverse side. This adds an interactive, hidden element to your spread.
    • Pocket: Turn a postcard into a pocket by cutting the edges or folding it slightly. You can slip smaller memorabilia inside, such as ticket stubs, receipts, or photos.
    • Collage Piece: Include a postcard as part of a collage with other ephemera, such as magazine clippings, fabric, or buttons. Use it as a visual anchor within the collage.

  3. Embellish and Add Personal Touches:
    Once the postcard is in place, you can embellish it further to match the rest of your page. Add stickers, washi tape, or stamps around the edges for extra texture. You can also add a handwritten message, a travel story, or a memory tied to the postcard to personalize the spread.

  4. Write a Story or Journal Entry:
    Postcards often carry messages, and this is a great chance to reflect on the message or memory the postcard evokes. Write about your travels, the place the postcard represents, or a memory tied to it. You can also add a quote or personal note to enhance the theme. For example, if you’re using a beach postcard, jot down a memory of a sunny trip.

  5. Layer with Other Elements:
    Layer the postcard with other materials such as old book pages, tickets, stamps, or fabric. This adds texture and depth to your journal page. By layering different elements, the postcard becomes a part of a larger, richer story.

Creative Ideas for Using Postcards in Your Junk Journal

  1. Travel Journal Page:
    If you’re working on a travel-themed junk journal, collect postcards from your trips and use them to document your adventures. A postcard from a city or country you visited can be the focal point of your page, while you can add ticket stubs, photos, and journaling about the experience. It's a perfect way to reminisce about your travels and keep memories alive.

  2. Vintage Postcard Spread:
    For a vintage-inspired spread, you can use old postcards featuring historical landmarks, antique illustrations, or vintage typography. Pair them with faded book pages, lace, and hand-stamped designs for a nostalgic feel. You can even add quotes about time or travel to enhance the vintage theme.

  3. Mail Art-Inspired Page:
    Create a mail art-inspired spread using a collection of postcards, envelopes, and stamps. Decorate your page with stamps from different countries, and use postcards as the central element of your design. You can add a bit of journaling in the space around the postcards or write a letter as though you’re sending it to yourself or a friend.

  4. Personal Storytelling:
    If you’ve received postcards from family, friends, or loved ones, incorporate these into your journal. Write a story about the connection you share with the person who sent it, or reflect on the memory associated with the postcard. These personal connections can make your journal much more meaningful and sentimental.

  5. Postcard Pockets:
    Use postcards as pockets or tuck spots in your journal. You can attach a postcard to a page and slide in a small letter, ticket, or memento, creating an interactive space in your journal. It adds a fun surprise element for anyone flipping through your pages.

  6. Themed Postcard Collection:
    You could create a section of your journal dedicated to a themed collection of postcards. For example, collect postcards from different national parks or vintage postcards of animals. Use these postcards as your inspiration for journaling and embellishments throughout that section of your journal.

Additional Tips for Using Postcards in Your Junk Journal

  1. Consider the Postcard’s Age and Condition:
    If you’re using vintage postcards, they may be delicate. Be gentle with them, or consider scanning them before attaching them to your journal to preserve their original condition. You can also use photocopies for a more durable version if you don’t want to sacrifice the original.

  2. Alter the Postcard:
    Don’t be afraid to alter the postcards! You can add new elements like washi tape, stamps, or paint. Or you can cut or tear them to fit the size of your journal page or create unique shapes. Postcards are meant to be repurposed and given new life in your journal.

  3. Use Postcards for Hidden Messages:
    Postcards can also be great for journaling hidden stories. You can glue a portion of the postcard down and leave the other part loose, so it can be lifted to reveal a hidden message or photo tucked behind it. This creates a sense of intrigue and keeps your journal interactive.

  4. Repurpose the Reverse Side:
    Many postcards have space for messages or addresses on the reverse side. You can either preserve the original writing or cover it with your own journaling or designs. The reverse side can also be used for more pictures, ticket stubs, or pressed flowers to enhance your page.

Using postcards in your junk journal is a wonderful way to add personal flair, historical intrigue, and even a touch of wanderlust. Whether you’re preserving travel memories or adding a vintage touch to your journal, old postcards can easily become a standout feature. The creative possibilities are endless—combine them with other embellishments, photos, and journaling to tell a more complete story or capture special moments from the past.

To start your junk journal adventure head here!


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