Create a Junk Journal Tag with Magazine Images
This tutorial is brought to you by my mom, Kathy Courville of Casablanca Cargo. It’s part of her Upcycled Tag Journal Challenge.
If you’re dipping your toes into the art of junk journaling or love adding creative touches to your journal spreads, today’s tag-making tutorial is the perfect way to inspire your next project.
This week’s challenge? Create a tag using a magazine image!
Video Tutorial
Starting Your Junk Journal Tag Journey
The joy of junk journaling lies in the endless creative possibilities. With this series, I’m making a tag every Tuesday for my tall tag journal.
This week’s prompt, “create a tag with a magazine image,” offers a great opportunity to recycle and add a unique flair to your journal.
I chose a vibrant dragonfly image that I almost overlooked in a magazine, and it’s now the star of my latest tag.
Ready to get started? Grab your supplies, creative ideas, and let’s bring your journal to life.
For more inspiration on how to incorporate unique items into your junk journal, check out this guide on upcycled tea bag ephemera.
Supplies
Here’s a quick list of the materials I used to create my tag, but feel free to experiment with what you already have:
- Blank tag or cardstock for the base
- Magazine images (pick something eye-catching or personally meaningful)
- Glue stick or double-sided tape for adhesion
- Scissors or craft knife for precise cutting
- Tea bag packet or any small embellishments to add texture
- Jet black distress ink for edging and adding a vintage touch
- Stapler (optional, but handy for adding quick elements)
- Brads or decorative fasteners (for functional yet decorative finishes)
Pro Tip: If you’re working with softer elements like thin magazine pages, a strong adhesive or gloss medium will help secure them.
Want to explore other ways to create tags? Visit this upcycled tag journal tutorial for more ideas.
Creating the Tag: Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing Your Base
- Select a base: Use a pre-made tag or cut your own from sturdy cardstock.
- Glue down your magazine image: Secure the image to the tag with glue. While you can cut the image to size beforehand, I find it easier to glue the entire piece and trim the excess later. This ensures a perfect edge.
Tip: Don’t stress about perfection! Slightly crooked edges or uneven trimming add character to your tag.
Decorating Your Tag
- Add layers and textures: I used a tea bag packet to bring an extra layer of interest to my tag. It’s a quick way to include both texture and a bit of upcycled charm.
- Distress the edges: Lightly swipe the sides of the tag with jet black distress ink to give it a finished, vintage look.
Finishing Touches
Sometimes, I’ll use a stapler to secure embellishments if I don’t feel like messing with glue. You can decide whether to keep it simple or embellish with buttons, stickers, or even a short quote. Your creativity is the limit!
Keeping Tags in Place: Tag Stoppers
One challenge with journals is keeping tags where you want them. As you flip through pages, loose tags can slide or fall out.
To prevent this, I made a simple tag stopper using brown packing paper. Here’s how you can do it too:
- Cut a thin strip of brown packing paper.
- Fold it in half and sew (or glue) it to create a stopper strip.
- Attach the strip to your journal page with brads.
This stopper keeps tags secure while allowing them to slide out easily when needed.
For more junk journal techniques, check out how to make a junk journal from a composition notebook.
Adding Pockets to Hold Extra Tags
I wanted extra pocket space for smaller tags or bonus embellishments. Using vellum, I created lightweight, transparent pockets that blend beautifully into a journal. Here’s a quick guide:
- Score and fold your vellum: Measure and score at 2.5 inches for height and 4.75 inches for width.
- Stencil for added flair: I used simple stencils to apply subtle designs to the vellum. This adds visual interest without being overwhelming.
- Secure with tape: Use double-sided tape to attach the pocket to your page. This avoids warping and keeps everything looking crisp.
- Attach a stopper strip: Just like with the bigger tags, I included a stopper strip to keep everything in place.
These pockets bring functionality and style to your journal, providing space for smaller tags and other keepsakes.
Wrapping Up
And there you have it! Adding magazine images to your junk journal tags is such an easy way to repurpose materials while injecting color and personality.
Don’t forget to share your tag creations with me on Instagram (@casablancacargo) or Facebook at Casablanca Cargo. I’d love to see your work and hear about what inspires you!
Happy journaling!
