Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cereal Box Art Journals

I have collected cardboard packaging for a couple years, mainly for the warm brown interior than for the funky graphics (although Yogi teas and other tea companies have gorgeous packaging), but have only just now found an outlet for my obsession. Cereal box art journals! Cindy Ericsson at Christian Paper Artists was inspired by a blog post she discovered about a Teesha and Tracy Moore workshop and in just 3 days 17 women signed up for the one-on-one swap Cindy offered to host. Here's what I came up with for my journal(s)- because I couldn't make just one.


You can tell I don't consume beautiful, organic foods, but art can be made from anything and this is one project that literally defines "Trash to Treasure", because I invested in no materials. I literally salvaged things that would have been thrown out. Fifty years from now, this packaging will look quaint and the journal will be a time capsule. I used a cereal box for a base and sewed other packaging on top, using the largest zig zag stitch on my sewing machine and managed to not break a needle in the process- sewing through as many as 3 layers at once!

Interior pages are made up of grocery bags (sturdy and will hold up to paint and glue), pages from an atlas (also sturdy) and pages from a carpet salesman's book (huge pages with measurement conversion tables, graphs and floor plans). I bound the whole mess by pounding holes into my stack of paper through the spine of the cover with a hammer and nail (I do not own a Gator punch or hoity toity Japanese screw punch- ha ha) and sewed it (literally with a carpet needle) with vintage fish line (the weight of waxed linen and the strength of a Spartan).
These are so fun to make and the posssibilities are only limited by the materials- which are abundant. ha! I hope to make a lunch bag journal using an onion soup box for the covers (they are about the right dimension) and everyone I know will eventually get one of these, whether they want one or not! heehee Now go rifle through your pantry, finish up the cereal remnants and make some art!

12 comments:

Cindy Ericsson said...

I love what you've done! And I always feel like a rock star when I see my name on your blog, my friend! I'm glad you had fun with this. I'm still working and hoping to get pictures today.

Linda Jo said...

I shoulda known there would be inside pages here. hee hee Looks great!!! yeah, I'm saving little things for a little bitty one now. I take great comfort in knowing there are one of these from you in my future! And when will Cindy start a blog!!!

Lorrie said...

This is great, Nathalie! Mine is almost finished, too, but all these great ideas make me want to keep going on and on.

I guess I can always make more!

Lorrie

Anna said...

extremely cool! you are an amazing artist who could make something amazing out of virtual anything!! thanks for the "awe"some inspiration.... xo anna

hehee... my word verification word is " drohippe" sooo close to "go hippie" LOVE IT!

Jeanie said...

These are delightful! I love them, and they look fabulous!

beth said...

how totally fun and fabulous !!!
now I want to go make one, too !!!

Donna said...

Another FUN Idea sweetie!!! Happy day to you!!hughugs

~*~Patty S said...

OK, I'm getting really itchy now to round up some of what I have stacked and saved and make myself a junk journal. Yours is fab Nathalie!!!

Ashlyn said...

These little journals are just PERFECT! I want to make one right NOW! I have rice crisps that are almost done....and tea bags....and betty crocker cake mix box...mac-n-cheese....oh I'm so excited!!!!

Thanks for an awesome idea!!
Here's hoping I can work my sewing machine. LOL
Hugs, Ashlyn

~*~Patty S said...

I just wrote this note to Linda:
OK, I couldn't wait another minute, I've started a little one. I opened my Trader Joe Calcium Chews and the box was much too good to throw away. I thought it might be a notebook to carry in the car for jotting notes and such. Love what you're making, thanks to you and Linda, I've been bitten :) Sorry I kept calling them junk journals, wonder where I got that? Of course, 'junk' is very high on my list of good things!

Margaret said...

Thank goodness I finished the tags before I saw this idea otherwise you'd never have got them!! just brill, I love what you've done! such a great use of all those boxes that seem to accumulate

Cindy Leaders said...

Oh, I peaked! I feel like I've been snooping in the Christmas presents. :) :) :)