Toilet Paper Roll Tags for a Junk Journal

Toilet Paper Roll Tags for a Junk Journal
Hello and welcome to the Porch! So, right now (spring 2020) we are in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, and for a few weeks it was almost impossible to find toilet paper. Anywhere. Suddenly all anyone was talking about was toilet paper, toilet paper, toilet paper. It got a little scary.

So, I decided to issue a crafting challenge on my Facebook Group (Not a member? Join the fun here!). The challenge was to turn all this toilet paper negativity into something positive by creating a craft project from toilet paper rolls. This is my own answer to the challenge. I hope you love it!

I began with two toilet paper rolls, one of which I cut up into little pieces and stared at for about half an hour. Then I cut it up some more and threw the the pieces away. LOL! Attempt 2 meant I was down to just one TP roll, so I had to break into an almost-empty paper towel roll and cut it to size. This gave me 3 toilet paper-sized rolls which I proceeded to smash flat.

Flattening My TP Rolls
Getting them flat was a challenge all on its own. I used my bone folder which helped a tad, but those suckers still wanted to pop back up into their roly poly roundness. So, I used the old dollar bill method. You remember? When your dollar bill wouldn't fit in the pop machine so you'd drag it along the edge of a table or some other flat, hard surface until it straightened out? Yep. That's what I did.

Next, I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo Color and inked the edges of my TP rolls.

And I decided I would attach them to a journal page. This one is from my Faded Roses Journal Kit in my Etsy shop.

Making the Pockets for the Tags
Using that same printable kit and my Rose Ledger Cards, I found some pretty ephemera pieces and cut them to fit on top of my TP rolls. I rounded the corners using my corner rounding punch and inked the edges as well.

Then I sewed the ephemera pieces onto my TP rolls. I had planned to leave one end open to slide the tag into but quickly realized I would need some very skinny tags to fit inside the TP rolls or behind the ephemera pieces, so I came up with a new plan....

My new plan was to sew zig-zag style up the left edge to attach the TP rolls to my junk journal page. Then I also sewed zig-zags to attach in between the TP rolls, securing them to the journal page and also creating the "pocket" that the tag would slide into. I know. It's confusing. So, the tags don't actually fit INSIDE the TP rolls, they fit BEHIND them.

Making the Tags
I used more ephemera to create some horizontal tags. I just cut them to size and cut off the corners to make a tag shape.

Then I used my eyelet punch to add some holes and finished the tags off with some distress ink and a little sari silk ribbon.

All Finished!
For a final finishing touch, I added a bit of pearl bead trim. And that was it. After all that work, I was pooped. :)

"Mysterious Woman" Junk Journal from My Porch Prints

*Contains Affiliate Links

Mysterious Woman Journal 
She walks in beauty like the night...
This stunning journal was made using the "Mysterious Woman" Journal Kit from My Porch Prints on Etsy. It's pages are filled with dark beauty and images that evoke feminine mystery: a key, a mirror, a tea set, a dress form, scissors, clocks & more!
Be intrigued...

Some items used in this journal:

MYSTERIOUS WOMAN JOURNAL KIT

TIM HOLTZ KEYHOLES

CHARMS

BULB SAFETY PINS

CHEESECLOTH

CHIFFON FLOWERS

SARI SILK RIBBON

I used cheesecloth inside the front cover and a black chiffon flower. For the tags, I used cheesecloth, twine, lace & sari silk ribbon.

Some of the pages are coffee-dyed copy paper. I cut them to 5x7, dipped them in a tray of coffee and then set them individually on cookie sheets and baked them at 300 for a few minutes.

The binding is a simple twine binding. I added charms using a chain & bulb safety pins (see links at the top).

See a video flip-thru on YouTube

Want to make your OWN junk journal?
JUNK JOURNAL TUTORIAL

Summer Garden Journal Cover Tutorial

Ah summer! The warm breezes, the smell of green growing things, the lazy buzz of insects. Capture your own little slice of summer in this Summer Garden Journal Kit!

Here is a quick tutorial on how to make the cover of this journal.

You will need:

• Cardboard Box
• Scissors, Glue, Paintbrush
• Lace if desired
• Summer Garden Journal Kit from My Porch Prints on Etsy
• Summer Garden Mini Books, if desired
• Green Leaf Ribbon, if desired

Cut Your Box

The journal pages in this kit are 5x7 inches. So I cut my box slightly larger than the pages and added a 2-inch spine as shown.

Print Papers
To cover the outside of the journal, you'll need to print 2 sheets (8.5x11) of the printable papers that come in this journal kit. You could also use your own paper if you like. Cut off the white edges and overlap the papers slightly, then adhere them together with glue, using a brush to smooth the glue before attaching.

Glue the paper to the outside of your journal cover using glue & a paintbrush to smooth it.

Smooth the paper, working from the center of your spine to the outside edges of your cover, pushing the air bubbles out. Don't worry if it's a little wrinkly. These will usually work themselves out as it dries.

Flip your cover over and cut off excess paper and the corners as shown. Leave a border of 1/2 to 1 inch as shown.

Also, cut triangular notches on either side of your spine.

Apply glue, using a brush to smooth, and fold the flaps over as shown.

Once all the flaps are folded, print 2 more sheets of printable papers and glue them together like before.

Place the seam in the center of your journal inside the spine. This will help to hide it.

Fold the paper at the edges of your journal and then cut where the folds are.

Again, smooth your glue with a brush on the inside of your journal cover and then place your paper over the glue, smoothing from the spine outward toward the journal edges.

When glue is dry, gently fold up the sides of your journal, working slowly to stretch the papers and create creases.

Your Journal Cover
Next, cut out your journal covers & spine. Attach them as before, using a brush to smooth out the glue and then gluing the papers to the front & back covers and spine as shown.

If desired, use lace to cover the spine. Attach with glue.

And that's it! You have a completed journal cover. Now you can add your pages & embellishments.

Get this Garden Mini Book in my Etsy shop. 

Want to make a tassel like this one? Here is a video tutorial to show you how.
And here is a video tutorial for how to make this garden journal.