How I Made the Book of Ritz

Quick Answer

The Book of Ritz is a handmade vintage junk journal created from a mixture of locally sourced Pakistani textiles and trims, vintage papers, old wedding invitation envelopes, printable ephemera, lace, and collected paper treasures. I designed it as both a writing journal and a memory keeper, with four signatures, three removable sections, large pockets, interactive elements, and plenty of space for photographs, keepsakes, and personal memories.

In This Guide

• Why I created the Book of Ritz
• The unusual materials that inspired it
• How I built the pockets and removable signatures
• Why I leave so much space for personal memories
• What makes each Trinketz journal completely different

The Story Behind the Book of Ritz

When I first started making journals, I never imagined that the materials around me would become such an important part of what made my work different.

I live in Pakistan, and many of the materials I use are things I find here—local textiles, beautiful laces, trims, papers, wedding stationery and little treasures that may not be readily available to makers in the US or Europe.

That means my journals don’t always look like the vintage journals you might see elsewhere.

And honestly, I like that.

I don’t want every Trinketz journal to look as though it came from the same template.

I want each one to feel as though it has gathered its own little history along the way.

The Book of Ritz is a perfect example.

Making a Journal From What I Already Had

This particular journal grew slowly.

I didn’t sit down one morning with a complete blueprint and make the whole thing in one go. That’s rarely how I work.

I craft in little pockets of time.

• Fifteen minutes here.
• Twenty minutes another day.
• A little stitching.
• A little collaging.
• A pocket made and put aside.

Then another idea comes along.

This journal took me a long time to finish, and by the time I finally opened it again, I would sometimes forget what I had already made.

That is one of the funny things about making journals this way. They become a record of the process as much as the finished object.

The Deep Pink Wedding Envelopes

One of my favourite materials in this journal came from somewhere you might not expect. Wedding invitation envelopes.

I had these beautiful deep pink envelopes that had originally been made for wedding invitations. They were made from thick card rather than ordinary paper, and I absolutely loved the colour.

It was that particular deep pink that made me stop and think: “I have to use these in a journal.” So I did.

I used the envelopes to construct large pockets and sections throughout the journal. I also used the cards from the envelopes to back some of the ephemera. Some pieces were backed with the deep pink card. Others were backed with baking paper, which is another material I love using because of the wonderful sound and texture it gives the page.

This is one of the things I love about junk journaling. Something that was originally made for one purpose can become something completely different.

Four Signatures, Three of Them Removable

The Book of Ritz ended up with four signatures. The first is attached to the journal. The other three are removable.

I deliberately designed them this way because chunky journals can become difficult to write in once they get too full. I wanted this journal to be beautiful, but I also wanted it to be practical.

If it becomes too bulky, you can take a signature out. You can write in it somewhere else. You can add your own photographs or memorabilia. And when you’re finished, you can put it back.

That flexibility is important to me because I don’t want my journals simply to sit on a shelf looking beautiful. I want them to be used.

Pockets Within Pockets

This journal has a lot going on inside.

• Large pockets
• Smaller pockets
• Tuck spots
• Cascading pockets
• Envelopes
• Tags
• Interactive sections

Some of the pockets are almost the full size of the page. And many of them are intentionally left with space for the journal owner to add their own things.

• Photographs
• Letters
• Tickets
• Little notes
• Memorabilia
• Whatever happens to matter to them

I think that is one of the most important things about a handmade memory journal. The maker creates the beginning of the story. The person who owns it gets to continue it.

The Little Things I Love Finding Again

One of the joys of making a journal this detailed is that I forget what I’ve put inside it.

• Pieces of genuine vintage paper
• Vintage book pages
• Urdu text from an old book
• Printable ephemera
• Collaged pieces
• Vintage cards
• Lace
• Handmade trims
• Small charms
• Little pieces that I simply happened to have at the time

I have also used digital artwork in this journal, including pieces from Graphics Fairy and other printable collections. Everything gets layered together until it begins to feel like it belongs. That’s the part I love most.

Not following a recipe. Not reproducing a prototype. Just seeing what happens when one beautiful thing meets another.

Why No Two Trinketz Journals Are the Same

I’ve seen makers create a prototype journal and then reproduce the same design over and over. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I don’t work that way.

No two Trinketz journals are the same. I don’t have a fixed pattern that I follow every time.

• The size changes
• The shape changes
• The papers change
• The colours change
• The interactive elements change

Sometimes I begin with a piece of fabric. Sometimes it’s a beautiful paper. Sometimes it’s an envelope. And sometimes one tiny piece of ephemera becomes the starting point for the entire journal.

I think that is why I sometimes forget what I’ve made. Every journal becomes its own little world.

Making in Little Pockets of Time

I often wish I had hours and hours to sit down and make journals. But that’s not my reality. I make in little pockets of time.

• Fifteen minutes
• Twenty minutes
• A little bit one day
• A little bit the next
• And sometimes weeks go by before I return to something

This journal took a long time to finish because of that. But perhaps that is part of why it feels so personal. It wasn’t made in one uninterrupted burst. It grew alongside my life.

And I think many handmade things are like that. They carry the rhythm of the person who made them.

A Journal That Is Meant to Be Used

When I make a journal, I don’t want it to become too precious to touch.

• I want you to write in it
• Take things out
• Put things back
• Move the ephemera around
• Add photographs
• Keep receipts
• Save letters
• Put your own memories into the pockets
• Make it yours

That is why I deliberately leave empty spaces throughout my journals. The blank spaces aren’t unfinished parts. They are invitations. There is a difference.

A handmade journal should have room for the person who eventually owns it.

You Might Be Wondering…

Why are some of the signatures removable?

I make some signatures removable because chunky journals can become difficult to write in as they fill up. Removing a signature gives you more space to work with and lets you use those pages somewhere else if you want to.

How many signatures are in the Book of Ritz?

There are four signatures in total. The first is attached to the journal, while three are removable.

Can I use the pockets for my own photographs and memorabilia?

Yes. I intentionally left many of the pockets and spaces open so the journal can become a personal memory keeper rather than simply a decorative object.

What makes Trinketz journals different?

I don’t work from a fixed prototype. I use a mixture of locally sourced materials, vintage papers, textiles, lace, collected ephemera and printable artwork, allowing each journal to develop naturally. Because of that, no two Trinketz journals are exactly alike.

Can a chunky junk journal actually be practical?

I think it can, provided the construction allows for flexibility. Removable signatures, large pockets and open journaling spaces can make a chunky journal much easier to use.

Key Takeaways

• A handmade journal can be both beautiful and practical.
• Unusual materials can become the most memorable parts of a journal.
• Removable signatures make chunky journals more flexible.
• Leaving empty spaces gives the owner room to create their own story.
• No two Trinketz journals are exactly alike because each one grows from different materials, ideas and moments.

A Quiet Thought Before You Go

Every time I open the Book of Ritz, I find something I had forgotten making.

• A little pocket
• A piece of paper
• A tag
• A piece of lace
• A photograph-sized space waiting for someone else’s memory

And perhaps that is what I love about handmade journals most. They don’t have to tell the whole story when they leave your hands. They simply have to leave enough room for someone else to continue it.

The Book of Ritz began with papers and envelopes I happened to have around me. But by the time it was finished, it had become something much more than a collection of materials. It had become a little world.

And that’s what I hope every Trinketz journal becomes. A place for your memories to live.

Watch the Full Journal Flip Through

If you’d like to see how all of these pockets, signatures and interactive elements work together, you can watch the original Book of Ritz flip-through.

Create Your Own Vintage Journal World

If the Book of Ritz has you wanting to start collecting your own beautiful papers, ephemera and textures, explore the Trinketz Junk Journal Resource Hub for more inspiration and resources.

And if you’d like to explore the digital side of junk journaling, the Trinketz Kit Builder can help you develop cohesive vintage-inspired themes and prompts for creating your own digital journal kits.

Explore the Trinketz Kit Builder