Let’s “Junk” Your Nature Journal

My class at Wild Wonder 2024 is all about unlocking your creativity and boosting your nature journaling with unorthodox techniques and hybrid approaches. Because, the only true way to ruin your nature journal is to never start. Or to be so timid you never have fun, experiment, or try anything new. I truly believe that scrapbooking, junk journaling, and art journaling techniques can combine really well with nature journaling and help you out of creative ruts.

Are you planning on taking the class? Scroll down on this page to get to the supplies list and other resources for the class. Didn’t know there was a Nature Journaling Conference this month? Learn more about it here.

How to be prepared for my class

• Get the required supplies. (Optional bonus supplies have an * in front)
• Print the map.
• Find a fresh leaf or two.
• Have some personal ephemera ready.
• Have the other resources ready.
• Be prepared to share your work on Padlet here.

Supplies List

Before you go on a shopping spree: This class is about experimentation and multimedia. These topics can cover LOTS of different art supplies. I will be using many of these during the class and won’t have time to explain the info on all of them. If you are on an art supply budget you can still follow along with the class and creatively try to use what you have on hand. The links provided are amazon affiliate links. I get a small percentage if you buy using these links. It is better if you buy from a local art store but at least with these links you can see what the products look like and how much they should cost more or less. And don’t forget, buying art supplies should not be a surrogate for making art! As long as you are making more art it is all good!

• Sketchbook
  Use whatever sketchbook you normally nature journal with.
  I like a 150 gsm multimedia paper such as the Alpha Series by Stillman and Birn.
• I will also be using the Beta Series by Stillman and Birn.

• Small Sketchbook
  • I like to have a small sketchbook in my pocket for times when I can’t pull out my bigger journal. We will cut pages out of these small books in the class and attach them into our bigger book. Even a small pocket sized notebook with lined paper will work for this.
  • This one has the same paper as my normal sketchbook.
  • This one has toned paper.
  • This one has heavier watercolor paper.

• Adhesives
  • Tombow Mono Multi Glue
    • This is not cheap but portable size for the field and travel.
    • It has two applicator tips.
    • It can be used to create a temporary bond like a sticky note or a permanent bond!
  • *PVA Glue
    • This is the main glue I use when doing large areas that I will paint on.
  • *Mod Podge
    • This is a multi purpose glue and sealer that I use a lot for pressed flowers.
    • You can paint it over a pressed flower or collage items.
  • *Washi Tape
    • You can get more ornamental ones like this but don’t let it replace or clash with your own drawings!!
    • Can be used for a variety of decorative applications
    • If you already have tons don’t buy more!
  • Scotch Tape
    • Ubiquitous and useful. We will use it to attach multiple pages in.
    • Can be used in the field.
    • Can be used for attaching small leaves, etc.
  • *Packing Tape
• Brushes
  • Cheap 1/2″ “chip” brush for spreading PVA glue and/or Mod Podge. Best to get these at a hardware store. They should cost 50 cents or so.
  • *1″ “Hake” style brush for big watercolor or ink washes.
  • *Pentel Brush with Gray Ink Very fun for calligraphy, titles, we will use it for making borders and warmups.
  • *Pentel Aquash to fill with ink. (This is a cheaper option to the above and you can fill with your own ink or even watercolors.
• Paper
  • Isometric graph paper
  • Black paper
  • Other random construction paper can be helpful too.
  • Extra sheets of heavier watercolor paper such as this sketchbook with heavier watercolor paper.
• Other tools
  • Scissors and/or *Xacto Knife
  • *Posca paint pens. I think the 5mm tip is good. Not the pointy one. We will use these to decorate and write on our journal covers. They also work on waterproof paper!
    • Silver or gold
    • Any other bright colors you like. Here is a set of pastel colors.
  • Uniball Signo White Pen The best pen for doing small white highlights like animal eyes, scales, whitewater in streams, waves, etc. This should probably already be in your basic nature journaling kit.
  • *Uniball Gold Pen A beautiful pen to use for meta data, details, and decorations. Looks great on toned paper but also on white paper.
  • Jumbo Correction Pen Another classic nature journaling tool that is in my everyday kit. Similar to the uniball signo white just bigger. In the class we will use this to draw white things we find in nature.
  • *FW Ink Choose from Raw Sienna, Sepia, or Yellow Ochre. These will be used for preparing paper for a fun map look. You don’t have to buy these but could tea stain the paper instead.
  • *Black ink This is the classic cheap one. For filling the Pentel Aquash and painting fun borders.
• Miscellaneous
  • *Portable Sticker Printer.
  • Small Glassine envelopes These are probably best to buy at a local store so you don’t have to buy 50 or 100!
  • *Stamp Pad We are going to use this for making prints from leaves. Fun addition to your kit. You can also try to just paint watercolor or ink on to the back of leaves which can work.
  • *Custom stamp!
    • Make a custom stamp with a message that reminds you to have fun, loosen up, don’t judge your experiments, keep practicing, etc. Mine says “Highly Experimental.” I stamp it on pages where I want to remind myself that my sketchbook is a playground not a display ground.

Nature Journaling Supplies

These are supplies you should already have. Please try to use materials that you already have. If you do not have these basic nature journaling supplies yet you can look at my list below but you should also watch my video about choosing nature journaling supplies here.

• Main drawing tools I will be using
  • Fude Demanen Fountain pen. This is the big green one with the cool nib.
  • I use these zebra brush pens. You can see me review them here along with some other supplies.
  • I also use these brush pens from Tombow.
  • When I need a pencil I use this.
• Watercolor
  • I use the John Muir Laws watercolor palette.
  • These Winsor and Newton watercolor palettes are decent and very affordable.
  • These are the waterbrushes I recommend. I almost never use traditional brushes anymore. I basically use the “large” size for everything.

Personal ephemera

• This is stuff you can’t just buy. Following are some examples. You won’t need much for the class, it is up to you. If you have a mixed pile of at least some of the following you will be fine.
  • Ticket stubs
  • Parking tickets
  • Postcards
  • Old envelopes
  • Maps or brochures
  • Old magazines or newspapers
  • xrays, ekg readings, other medical printouts

Nature items and Pressed Flowers

• You need at least one or two real leaves for the class even if they are from a house plant.
  • Ideally leaves should not be too succulent or too delicate. They should be Goldilocks right in the middle. Fairly thin, complex leaves that would be a pain to draw are good choices.
  • Fern leaves are good choices. Cactus would be a challenging choice.
• Press Plants or Flowers. If you have them that is great bring them. Since this is something not everybody will be able to bring or have in advance I will not focus too much on this part. It is a bit too specialized and I want the class to be as accessible as possible for the average person. If you are really into pressed plants like I am please bring whatever you have.
• You can see more about pressed plants and nature journaling in this video.

Print this map

Here is a map that you can download and print for use in the class. If you have a map of a local park near you that will also work. Don’t get too attached to it because we will probably be ripping it up…

Do you already practice these techniques?

I want to see your scrapbooking nature journal experiments! Share them here!

What is the difference between Scrapbooking, Art Journaling, and Junk Journaling?

Art journaling, scrapbooking, and junk journaling are all creative ways to preserve memories and express oneself, but they differ in focus and technique:

• Art Journaling combines visual art with writing in a journal, allowing for expressive and often abstract entries through painting, drawing, and mixed media. It’s more about personal expression and creativity rather than documenting specific events.
• Scrapbooking focuses on preserving memories by combining photos, memorabilia, and decorative elements in a structured layout. It’s typically more organized and thematic, aiming to tell a story through carefully designed pages.
• Junk Journaling involves repurposing various discarded materials like old book pages, envelopes, and scrap paper to create a unique, eclectic journal. It emphasizes creativity with found objects and often has a vintage or DIY aesthetic, blending artistic elements with practical recycling.

Massive List of Techniques

Here is a big list of a bunch of different techniques that combine nature journaling, scrapbooking, and junk journaling. If you have techniques that are not on here. Please add them to the padlet.

• Make a pocket
  • Envelope method
  • Construction Paper method
• Collecting materials
  • tickets, receipts
  • labels, wrappers, etc
  • stickers
  • sticky notes
• Pre-Made materials
  • Cut outs: arrows, mini-me’s, stars
  • Printed materials
  • photos
    • copy shop or home printer
  • sticker printer
  • resume paper
  • maps
  • tea stained paper
  • graph paper
  • colored paper
  • pre-pressed plants
  • other ephemera
• Pasting in/Taping in
  • Somethings already have stickers
  • Food and beverage labels
  • Airline stubs
• Pages from other sketchbooks or journals
• Folding, cutting, and three dimensions
  • cutting windows
  • cutting silhouettes on pages
  • Fold out pages
  • pages on pages (cutting and taping multiple pages from other journals)
• envelopes
• Decorating your cover
  • paint pens
• Paper preparations
  • washes
  • borders
  • weathering
• Pressed Plants and Animals
• Spore prints
• Stamps and Prints
  • leaf printing
  • custom stamps
    • warning, highly experimental
    • other messages for your inner critic

Do you already practice these techniques?

Share your work with the community in the “Padlet” below!

I want to see your scrapbooking nature journal experiments! Share them here! https://padlet.com/marley339/art-journaling-scrapbooking-with-marley-8xabz50ytnfkb5ws

Do you still need more help getting started with nature journaling?

Regardless of your experience, we got you right here. Below are links to some super resources for beginner nature journalers.

Are you just getting started with Nature Journaling?

Here are tips and motivation for beginners.

Need help choosing supplies?