The Ultimate Guide to Junk Journaling

The Ultimate Guide to Junk Journaling

So… I recently discovered junk journaling and oh my gosh, you guys – I’m OBSESSED. I’ve always been that person who hoards random paper bits. Old concert tickets, birthday cards, flowers from bouquets that my husband gave me, receipts that capture memories.. I could NEVER throw them away. They felt like little pieces of my memories. But they’d just pile up in my old shoe box, whispering, “Do something with us.”

Then one day, I saw a TikTok of someone turning a journal into this insanely cool journal filled with collage pockets and doodles. My brain went !!! Turns out, there’s a whole world of people who turn “junk” into art journals. No fancy supplies, no rules -- just glue, scissors, and whatever random stuff you’ve saved. I tried it that same night… and fell headfirst into the crafty rabbit hole.

If you’ve ever looked at a gum wrapper and thought, “This could be art,” junk journaling is your calling. Let me show you how to start!

What Even Is Junk Journaling?

It’s like scrapbooking. You take anything and glue it into a journal. Ticket stubs, magazine cutouts, lace from your grandma’s sewing box, that weird sticker from a banana… Mix it with scribbled thoughts, quirky stickers, or poetry. It’s messy, personal, and 100% yours. No pressure to make it “pretty.” Just fun.

How I Started (Spoiler: It’s Simple)

Step 1: Find Your Journal “Bones”

Grab anything with pages. Seriously.
Thrifted book with weirdly yellow pages? Perfect.
Half-used notebook buried in a drawer? Yes.
Staple printer paper together? Go!

Step 2: Raid Your Life for “Junk”

Time to pillage your cabinets, car, and that drawer full of chaos. Collect:

Paper bits: Receipts, tickets, postcards, cute napkins, that one love note from 2015.
Textures: Fabric scraps, ribbon, lace, even that shopping bag you “saved for art”
Tools: Glue stick, scissors, markers, washi tape, a stapler if you’re feeling spicy.

Step 3: Glue First, Think Never

Open your journal. Pick a page. Now attack it.

Collage mode: Layer a receipt, a magazine cutout, and a shred of fabric. Glue wildly.
Pocket party: Fold a postcard into an envelope, tape it in, and tuck a secret note inside. Boom!
Doodle dump: Scribble a quote, paint blobs, stamp random shapes. No skill required.

Step 4: Embrace the Hot Mess

Your first page might look like a toddler did it. Good.

Smudged glue? Texture.
Torn paper? Edgy.
Accidentally glued the page shut? “Experimental pocket.”
Perfection is boring. Messy is magic.

Step 5: Keep Going

Flip to a new page. Repeat. Try:

Theme a page: All blue things. Memories from summer. Things that smell like your childhood etc.
Mix mediums: Stitch paper with thread. Write over paint. Glue a seashell. Why not?
Add YOU: Journal a rant, a poem, a grocery list. It’s your brain on paper.

Step 6: Celebrate the Chaos

When you’re done, flip through it. Smile at the weirdness. That coffee-stained page with the smeared ink? Art. The ticket stub from that terrible movie? A story. You just turned clutter into a time capsule. You’re a wizard!

Why You’ll Love It Too