☀️July, Fun in the Sun; Porch Swings & Backyard Picnics☀️
Hello, creative friends!
July always feels like the heart of summer to me. The fireworks may have faded, but the spirit of the season lingers in all the little things; the hum of cicadas in the evening, a glass of iced tea on the porch, backyard picnics, and those quiet moments when the day finally begins to cool.
I miss the days when I had a front a porch swing. There was something magical about gently swaying back and forth as the sun dipped below the horizon. These days, I've traded the porch swing for my back deck, and honestly, it has become its own kind of sanctuary at the end of a long day.
Lately, I've been spending my evenings outside with Daisy. While she splashes in her water bowl, chases ice cubes, and generally creates mayhem with the neighbor dogs, I've been painting little ATC cards and enjoying the simple pleasure of being present. No rushing. No deadlines. Just paint, paper, a playful pup, and the soft glow of a summer evening.
It reminded me of something important: summer invites us to slow down.
We spend so much of our lives looking backward at what was or worrying about what might be next that we sometimes forget to simply enjoy what is happening right now. A quiet evening on the porch. A backyard picnic with family. Watching the fireflies come out. Creating something just for the joy of creating.
In the middle of winter, when it's bitterly cold and gray outside, I find myself wishing for days exactly like these. So this summer, I'm trying to remind myself not to rush through it.
Take the walk. Sit in the sunshine. Read the extra chapter. Paint the page. Eat watermelon on the back deck. Watch the dog play.
Life doesn't always have to be productive to be meaningful.
🌼 This Month's Craft Along
Our July Craft Along printable and digital downloads are available now in the Members Area! Everything for the entire month is included in the download and is yours to enjoy for personal use.
I also occasionally drop surprise goodies into the Members Area; things I'm working on, social media freebies, bonus printables, and other little creative treasures, so be sure to check back often. You never know what might appear!
✨ Creative Prompt of the Week
Create a journal page inspired by your favorite summer memory.
Was it a porch swing at your grandparents' house? Fireflies in the backyard? A family picnic? A summer vacation? Use papers, photos, paint, and words to capture a memory that still makes your heart smile.
Until Next Time...
I hope this week gives you a few moments to slow down and savor the season. Creativity isn't just about making beautiful things, sometimes it's about creating beautiful moments.
So pull up a chair, pour yourself something cold to drink, and spend a little time simply enjoying the summer.
With love and creativity,
Tiffany Paper & Prose Society & StashGenie "I make art to show my soul I'm listening."
🎁 July Feature: Porch Swings & Backyard Picnics
This week's freebie is inspired by the simple joys of summer—the gentle sway of a porch swing, checkered picnic blankets spread beneath shady trees, mason jars of lemonade, and those slow, golden evenings that seem to last forever.
Inside the full collection found on the monthly craft along page, you'll find printable elements designed to help you capture that nostalgic summertime feeling in your journals and creative projects. Think vintage picnic touches, cozy porch scenes, summertime florals, and plenty of pieces that celebrate slowing down and enjoying the season.
Whether you're creating a memory page about your favorite summer traditions, documenting a backyard gathering, or simply dreaming of an evening spent on a porch swing with a good book, these printables are meant to bring a little summertime magic to your pages.
As always, these downloads are available for personal use in the Members Area. And don't forget, I often sneak in bonus graphics, surprise printables like this one.
So pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, settle into a comfy chair, and let's celebrate the beautiful, ordinary moments that make summer so special.
🎨 What's New at JunkJournal.AI?
If you haven't visited JunkJournal.AI recently, we've been busy creating a brand-new home for our growing creative community!
All of our freebies, printable downloads, challenge resources, and special goodies have now been moved into our new Members Area. The best part? Membership is completely free. Simply visit the website and click "Become a Member" to create your account and unlock access to our growing collection of creative resources.
Inside the Members Area you'll find community spaces, exclusive downloads, challenge information, free printable graphics, inspiration, and much more. Throughout the year, we'll also be adding new workshops, virtual events, creative classes, community challenges, and special surprises designed to help you create, connect, and grow alongside fellow artists.
We're building something truly special, and this is just the beginning.
✨ Join once. ✨ Access all the freebies. ✨ Connect with fellow creatives. ✨ Check back often—new resources and creative adventures are being added all year long!
We can't wait to create with you.
✨ Inside My Journal This Week: Birthday Journals for Two Special Little People
One of my favorite things about creating printables is seeing how they come to life once they're cut out, layered, and tucked into a journal.
This month, I've been spending quiet evenings out on the back deck working in my July journal while Daisy plays in the yard. I've been using the Porch Swings & Backyard Picnics printables to create pages filled with soft summer colors, little pockets, and reminders to slow down and enjoy the season.
I've included a few photographs of my pages throughout this newsletter to hopefully spark some inspiration for your own projects. Sometimes all it takes is seeing an idea used in a different way to get your creativity flowing.
I'd love to encourage you to do the same, don't worry about making perfect pages. Print the pieces, cut them apart, mix them with supplies you already have, and make them your own. The beauty of journaling is that no two books ever tell the same story.
I hope these pages inspire you to capture a few of your own summer memories this month.
✂️ On My Craft Table
This month, my craft table has been completely taken over by a very special project. At the end of July, my niece and nephew will be coming to visit me here in Kansas City to celebrate their birthdays. They're in second and third grade now, and they are just the sweetest little humans.
Last year I made a Care Bears-themed junk journal for my sister and apparently it made quite an impression because these two adorable kiddos have now requested journals of their very own!
My niece immediately knew what she wanted:
🦄 A Unicorn Journal!
So, naturally, I've gone all out. Think rainbows, magical lands, castles, fairy cottages, mermaids, and all the whimsical unicorn goodness I can fit into one journal.
My nephew's request was a little trickier.
🐶 Puppies... and Cars.
At first, I wasn't quite sure how those two things could possibly go together, but after a little brainstorming, I think I've created something absolutely adorable. There are puppies riding in sports cars, dog garages, adventures, maps, and interactive pages designed especially for him.
One of my favorite things about making journals for children is watching their imaginations come alive. I love creating pages that invite them to play, explore, and tell stories of their own.
I've included a sneak peek below of the journals in progress, and I can't wait to see their faces when they open them. Sometimes the most meaningful projects aren't the ones we create for ourselves, they're the ones we make for the people we love.
And honestly? I may be having just as much fun making these journals as they're going to have receiving them. 💜
Print What You Want, When You Want It
Have you ever sat down with a precious hour to create, only to realize you're missing the one thing you need to finish your page?
Maybe it's the perfect sticker. Maybe it's a vintage label. Maybe it's a pocket, tag, or piece of ephemera that would tie everything together.
So you stop creating and start searching.
You dig through drawers. You browse online shops. You add things to your cart. You wait for shipping. And somewhere along the way, the creative spark that brought you to your craft table starts to fade.
That's exactly why I created StashGenie.
Instead of buying more supplies you'll eventually store away and forget, StashGenie helps you create exactly what you need in the moment.
Need a sheet of strawberry-themed labels? Done.
Vintage Paris ephemera? Done.
A set of hot air balloons for your Sisterhood Shuffle page? Done.
Because your creativity shouldn't have to wait for the mail.
Create Supplies as Unique as Your Projects
One of the things I love most about StashGenie is that no two creators work the same way and no two journals should look the same.
When you create with StashGenie, you're not choosing from the same clip art packs everyone else is using. You're creating pieces designed specifically for your project, your style, and your imagination.
Want cottagecore mushrooms? Victorian butterflies? Steampunk ladies? Vintage recipe cards? Coffee-loving Strawberry Shortcake stickers?
Create them. Print them. Use them.
Your Printer Is Your New Favorite Craft Supply
Think about how much money we spend collecting supplies "just in case" we need them someday.
With StashGenie, you can create and print what you need when inspiration strikes. No waiting. No hunting. No buying another pack because it contains one image you like.
Just open StashGenie, describe what you're looking for, and print your creations right from home.
Less searching. More creating. More finishing projects. More joy.
Because the best craft supply isn't the one collecting dust on a shelf—it's the one that helps you create something beautiful today.
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