Photo courtesy of PATTI HINES
The inside of a junk journal that Patti Hines created for a friend.

MIFFLINTOWN — After eight years of making junk journals, Patti Hines thought it was about time she shared her gift with others from scratch, step by step.

What started out as a hobby has now become a class at the Juniata County Library, showing the different ways you can make a junk journal and the steps involved.

“I watched lots of tutorials on YouTube to learn how to do it,” said Hines, a library volunteer and member of the Friends of the Juniata County Library.

“The themes can be broad – whatever you like,” Hines added. “It’s really about the aesthetic. I’ve made them for friends and relatives on all sorts of topics.

Hines made a junk journal for a cousin who loved pink pigs and a journal for another relative who was crazy about roller-skating.

“I collected all sorts of stuff for them,” Hines explained. “Once you do it, it all kind of comes together.”

She collected magazines and books filled with printed images or items that she could use to fill the journals’ pages.

“I’ll tell you one thing, ‘You never look at paper the same way again,” Hines laughed. “It could be scrapbooking paper, a pretty Kleenex box with a pretty print on it or pictures from a magazine. You can also make them with blank spaces, too, where people can journal in them.”

The premise behind a junk journal is to provide its owner with a creative way to document memories, express creativity and preserve cherished keepsakes using a combination of materials – including scrap paper, notes, photographs, fabric scraps and much more.

Whether you’re a seasoned journaler or new to the concert, the “Junk Journaling Workshop” from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the library, located at 498 Jefferson St., Mifflintown, will guide you through the fascinating world of junk journals, explain what they are and inspire you to capture life’s moments in a truly unique and artistic way.

Hines and Christine May, a circulation assistant at the library, talking about junk journaling one day and May wanted to know more about the subject. Hines brought in a journal for May to see, and the idea of holding the workshop eventually came to fruition.

“There was a huge time when everyone was scrapbooking,” Hines said. “When that phase was over, people had all these supplies – paper, paper rounder and special scissors – and didn’t know what to do with them, so someone came up with the idea of journaling.”

Journalers can even make their own covers for their journals, using the hard covers and spines from old books. “People are able to re-use that book as your journal and decorate the cover,” she added. “A journal can be any size.”

And shape.

Hines is excited about teaching the workshop because she like to meet new faces from the community. “I’m originally from Mercer County,” Hines explained. “Back there at that library, we had paper parties. I’m not a teacher, but I’m hoping to share all the different things that I’ve learned with the people that sign up.”

Hines and her husband, Kirk, have lived in Port Royal for more than two years.

While would-be journalers can bring favorite or popular images to the workshop, Hines plans to offer some of the materials she’s collected over the years.

“People can pick whatever papers they like,” she explained. “I have things that range from sheet music that nobody uses any more to images from magazines.”

As a library volunteer, Hines finds materials from donated books that can’t be used in library as well as library books that are too far in disrepair to be salvaged. They provide perfect material for junk journaling.

“I’ll look at some books and go, ‘Oh wow, these have beautiful gardening photos'” Hines said. “That’s the kind of recycling I do. They’re old books that nobody wants and can be used for journals.”

The cost of the workshop is $20. Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. Signups are only available at the front desk; payment is also required at that time.