A Junk journal might sound like a niche hobby, but once you dive in, it’s anything but. At its heart, junk journaling is about turning everyday scraps – think ticket stubs, old postcards, receipts, packaging, washi tape, and magazine clippings into something beautiful, personal, and entirely your own. It’s where creativity meets memory-keeping, and the result is part art journal, part scrapbook, part therapeutic escape.
Unlike traditional journaling, which usually involves neat writing and structured pages, junk journaling is wonderfully imperfect. It’s messy, expressive, tactile – and that’s exactly the point. It celebrates the charm of the worn, the vintage, and the thrown-away. Whether you’re an avid collector of ephemera or someone who just can’t bear to toss a cute cafe loyalty card, junk journaling gives all those bits and pieces a purpose.
Image Credit: Laura Travelbook
What You’ll Need to Start a Junk Journal
The beauty of junk journaling is that there are no hard rules and no need for fancy supplies. Start with a notebook or an old book with pages you’re happy to cover. Some people make their own journals by binding together mixed paper offcuts, but if you’re new, any blank or lightly used journal will do.
You’ll also want:
- Glue or double-sided tape
- Scissors
- A mix of “junk” (think paper scraps, packaging, receipts, tags, old book pages, fabric swatches)
- Pens, markers, or paints for personal touches
- Optional: washi tape, stamps, stickers, and lace or ribbon for embellishment
Most of the magic comes from things you already have lying around like envelopes, flyers, napkins from a favourite restaurant, or even doodles on napkin corners. That’s the point: transforming the everyday into something meaningful.
How to Junk Journal
There’s no wrong way to junk journal, but a few loose steps can help guide the process.
- Gather your materials: Before you begin, collect a small stash of paper bits, materials, and tools. Don’t overthink it, just grab what catches your eye or holds a memory.
- Pick a theme or mood (if you want to): You might dedicate a page to a recent trip, a colour palette, a song you love, or simply the feeling of a lazy Sunday. Or, you can go completely random and intuitive.
- Layer and arrange: Start layering your pieces on the page, playing with texture, colour, and contrast. Overlap items, let things hang off the edge, and don’t be afraid to rip or fold your materials.
- Stick things down: Once you’re happy with your layout, start gluing it all in place. Imperfections only add to the charm.
- Add finishing touches: Use pens to jot down little notes, thoughts, or quotes. Doodle in the margins. Stamp a date. Add stickers or thread. Whatever feels right in the moment.
Image Credit: malulliza
Above all, junk journaling is a celebration of creativity without pressure. It’s a hobby that encourages slowing down, noticing the small details, and expressing yourself in ways that are entirely unique. Whether you journal once a day or once a month, your pages become a reflection of your life – messy, textured, imperfect, and full of soul.
Read more of our Activity Recommendations here.
