Most homes have one drawer that won’t quite close. A takeout menu, a birthday card you couldn’t bring yourself to toss, the ticket from a concert three summers ago, a button that came in a tiny bag with a new coat. Nobody plans that drawer. It fills itself.
A junk journal is what happens when you give that drawer a spine. Junk journaling is making or keeping a book out of reused paper and small keepsakes, like old book pages, receipts, envelopes, packaging, and clothing tags, then layering, gluing, and writing on them however you like. People use junk journals as diaries, memory keepers, travel records, art books, or simply a place to make something with their hands after a day of screens. There are no rules about how a page should look, and that’s most of the appeal.
Below you’ll find what you need, how to make a junk journal without sewing, how to build a page in layers, and 45 junk journal ideas with enough detail to try each one today.
What Is Junk Journaling?
Junk journaling is a hands-on way of journaling where the materials do as much of the talking as the words. A junk journal is usually a handmade or repurposed book with pages of different sizes, colors, and textures. Inside, you’ll find envelopes, pockets, tags, folded papers, and scraps layered on top of each other. The cover might be an old hardback, a cereal box wrapped in fabric, or a store-bought notebook covered in collage.
The “junk” doesn’t have to be trash. Most junk journalers mix things they’ve saved, like receipts, letters, labels, and packaging, with things they’ve bought, such as washi tape, stickers, or printable pages. What matters is that the journal feels like yours.
People use their junk journals in very different ways. Some keep them as diaries with a few lines a day. Others treat them as art books and barely write at all. Many do both, and the journal changes as they do. If you’re curious how this compares with other styles, our guide to types of journaling lays them side by side.
Junk Journal vs. Scrapbook vs. Art Journal
| What’s different | Junk journal | Scrapbook | Art journal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Reused and found paper, packaging, ephemera, plus anything you like | Photos and coordinated scrapbook papers and stickers | Paint, ink, pens, collage |
| The book itself | Often handmade, with mixed page sizes | Usually a store-bought album | A sketchbook or mixed media journal |
| Main purpose | Memory keeping, play, writing, or all three | Preserving photos and events | Visual expression |
| How it looks | Layered, textured, imperfect on purpose | Neat and themed | Wide open |
| Writing | As much or as little as you want | Captions and dates | Often mixed into the art |
What You Need to Start a Junk Journal
You can start with what’s in your recycling bin and junk drawer. Save the shopping for later, once you know what kind of pages you enjoy making.
Free things worth saving:
- Old book pages, maps, sheet music, and calendar pages
- Receipts, ticket stubs, wristbands, and boarding passes
- Envelopes, especially junk mail envelopes with patterned linings
- Food and tea packaging, cereal boxes, and paper bags
- Clothing tags, buttons, ribbon, lace, and fabric scraps
- Greeting cards, postcards, stamps, and handwritten notes
- Pressed flowers and leaves
Basic tools:
- A notebook, old hardcover book, or a few folded sheets of sturdy paper
- Scissors
- A glue stick for paper and a liquid craft glue for heavier pieces
- A black pen and one light-colored pen, like a white gel pen
- Washi tape or masking tape
Nice to have later:
- An ink pad for edges and stamps
- A hole punch and some twine or binder rings
- Double-sided tape for photos
- Watercolors or a little acrylic paint
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How to Build a Junk Journal Page
Most junk journal pages come together in layers, working from the back to the front. This order keeps the page from looking flat and keeps your favorite piece in view.
- Lay down a background. Glue a book page, map, paper bag, or tea-stained sheet over most of the page.
- Pick an anchor. Choose one item as the focal point, such as a photo, a ticket, or a postcard.
- Arrange before you glue. Move pieces around, try the anchor in different spots, and tear a few edges. Snap a photo of a layout you like so you can copy it while gluing.
- Glue from the back to the front. Background first, then medium pieces like tags, doilies, or envelopes, then the anchor on top.
- Add something that moves. A pocket, a flap, or a tip-in makes the page interactive and gives you a place to hide extra writing.
- Write. Write directly on the page, or, if the background is too busy, write on a scrap or journaling card and glue it down.
- Finish the edges. Ink the edges, draw faux stitches, add a strip of washi tape, or stamp a date.
Here’s what a finished page from idea 1 might include.
Example:
Background: the back of a paper grocery bag, torn to fit the page.
Anchor: a coffee shop receipt with 7:42 a.m. printed at the top.
Supporting pieces: a bus ticket, the tag from a new pair of socks, and a strip of yellow washi tape.
Something that moves: an envelope pocket holding that morning’s to-do list.
Writing: “Coffee before the dentist. Bought socks because mine had a hole in the heel. A completely ordinary Tuesday, and I want to remember it.”
45 Junk Journal Ideas
Each idea below says what to do, not just what to call it. Pick by what’s on your table or what you’re in the mood for.
| If this sounds like you | Go to |
|---|---|
| You want to fill a page today | Ideas 1-10 |
| You want pockets, flaps, and surprises | Ideas 11-18 |
| You need a background or texture | Ideas 19-25 |
| You’re making or redoing a cover | Ideas 26-31 |
| You want a theme for a whole journal | Ideas 32-37 |
| You’d like something to write about | Ideas 38-45 |
Junk Journal Page Ideas
These pages give you a reason to pick up the journal and a clear idea of what goes on the page. Most use the paper you’ve collected in the last week. They’re a good place to start because each one tells you what to save.
- A one-day page. Save every bit of paper that passes through your hands in one day, like receipts, a bus ticket, a sticky note, and a tag. Glue them down in the order you got them and write one line beside each about what was happening. The day decides what goes on the page, so there’s nothing to plan.
- A single-color page. Choose one color and collect scraps in only that color from packaging, junk mail, and magazines. Limiting the palette makes mismatched scraps look deliberate. Leave the page open for a few weeks and keep adding as you find more.
- A single-anchor page. Pick one item you care about, like a ticket stub, a photo, or a postcard, and build the page around it. Layer two or three scraps in matching colors behind it. Write the story behind the item on a paper strip and tuck it under the anchor so only the edge shows.
- A receipt diary. Glue a week of receipts in a row and color in the blank parts with markers. Write the day of the week above each one. Many printed receipts fade over time, so photocopy any you want to stay readable.
- A clothing tag diary. Save the paper tags from new clothes and write on the back where you first wore each item or why you bought it. Punch a hole in each tag and string them together on twine, or keep them in a pocket on the page.
- A then-and-now page. Glue an old photo of a place or person next to a recent one. Underneath, list three things that have changed and one that hasn’t.
- A gratitude grid. Draw nine squares and fill each with a small scrap from something you were glad about this week, like a ticket corner, a candy wrapper, or a sticky note. Write one word under each square. Our gratitude journal prompts help if you want to write more.
- A what’s-in-my-bag page. Empty a bag or coat pocket onto the table. Trace a few items, like your keys or a lip balm, fill the outlines with patterned scraps, and glue in any paper you found at the bottom.
- A weather week. Give each day a strip of paper in a color that matches its weather, such as blue for clear skies, gray tissue for rain, and yellow for sun. Add the high temperature and one thing you did. After a month, the page becomes a striped record of the season.
- An ugly page. Use only the scraps you like least and make a page you don’t expect to be pretty. It takes the pressure off the rest of the journal, and the result is often more interesting than you’d guess.
Pocket, Flap, and Tuck Spot Ideas
Interactive pieces turn a flat page into something you open, pull, and unfold. They also add storage, so you can keep more on a page without crowding it. Each of these needs only paper, scissors, and glue or tape.
- An envelope pocket. Glue the back of an old envelope flat to the page with the opening at the top. Cut a small half-circle notch at the top center so your fingers can reach in. Slip in notes, photos, or tags.
- A tuck spot. Cut a triangle or strip of scrap paper and glue it down along two or three edges, leaving one side open. Slide a photo or journaling card under it. Put one in each corner of a page for an old-photo-album look.
- A paper bag page. Fold a paper lunch bag flat, then glue its bottom to the journal’s center fold. The bag becomes a sturdy page you can decorate on both sides, and its open end is a deep pocket for a stack of tags.
- A tip-in. Attach a postcard or greeting card along one edge with washi tape so it flips open like a door. Write on the page underneath, so the writing only shows when someone lifts the card.
- A belly band. Cut a strip of paper about two inches wide, wrap it around a single page, and glue the ends together at the back. It holds tags, photos, or a folded letter without glue, so you can swap them out later.
- A waterfall. Cut four or five cards of decreasing size and stack them along one edge of the page, each attached with a small paper hinge so they flip up one at a time. Give each card a photo or a line of writing.
- A window. Cut a square hole in a page and glue clear plastic from a toy box or snack package behind it. You get a peek at the page underneath and a frame for a pressed flower or a tiny note.
- A floating pocket. Clip a small envelope or zip bag to the page with a binder clip or paper clip instead of gluing it. You can move it between pages or change what’s inside. Glassine envelopes work well for confetti, sequins, or pressed petals.
Background and Texture Ideas
A background covers the blank page, sets the color, and makes everything glued on top look more finished. Texture gives the page something to touch. These use supplies from the kitchen, craft, and recycling bins.
- Tea or coffee staining. Brush cold coffee or a damp tea bag across plain paper and let it dry flat overnight. If it curls, press it under a heavy book once it’s dry. Uneven stains look best, so don’t try to make them even.
- A printed background. Glue an old book page, a map, or sheet music across the page. The page instantly looks started, and you can write over the print with a white gel pen.
- Crumpled paper bag. Crumple a piece of a brown paper bag tightly, smooth it out, and glue it down. It ends up soft, with a leather-like texture. Rubbing brown ink over the creases makes the texture stand out.
- Inked edges. Rub an ink pad, or a brown marker smudged with your fingertip, around the edges of pages and scraps. New paper looks older, and a mix of scraps looks like it belongs together.
- Household stamping. Dip bubble wrap, the end of a cardboard tube, a fork, or a mesh produce bag in paint and press it onto the page. You get patterns without buying a single stamp.
- Napkin layers. Peel the printed top layer off a paper napkin, lay it on the page, and brush a thin coat of watered-down glue over it. Layer two or three for a faded, see-through pattern.
- Faux stitching. Draw small, even dashes around the edge of a scrap or page with a fine-liner. It looks like sewing without a needle, and it pulls a busy page together.
Junk Journal Cover Ideas
The cover is the first thing you see each time you pick up the journal, and it takes the most wear. Make it sturdy first and pretty second. Cardboard, old hardbacks, and fabric all hold up well.
- An altered hardcover. Use an old hardback book as both cover and base. Remove every third or fourth page so the journal can still close as it fills, then cover the front with a paper bag, a map, or fabric.
- A cereal box cover. Cut the front and back panels of a cereal box, leaving a spine wide enough for your pages. Wrap the printed side in fabric or wrapping paper and fold the edges to the inside.
- A fabric cover. Glue an old shirt, a tea towel, or a piece of denim over a cardboard cover. Add a jeans back pocket on the front to hold a pen or a few tags.
- A postcard collage cover. Glue postcards or ticket stubs over the front, overlapping the edges, then cover the whole thing with clear packing tape to protect it.
- A map cover. Wrap the cover in a map of the place the journal is about, or somewhere you’d like to go. It’s an easy fit for a travel journal.
- A simple closure. Glue a button to the front cover and wrap a loop of string around it, tie a ribbon around the spine, or stretch an elastic hair tie around the whole book.
Themes for a Whole Junk Journal
A theme makes it easier to decide what to keep and gives the journal a story from cover to cover. It doesn’t need to be strict. Think of it as a direction rather than a rule.
- A recipe journal. Fill it with handwritten family recipes, food packaging, and old grocery lists. Add envelope pockets to hold recipe cards you’re still testing.
- A reading journal. Keep library slips, bookmarks, and favorite lines from books, with a page or two for each book you finish. Our reading journal prompts help with the writing.
- A travel journal. Give each trip its own bundle of pages with maps, tickets, menus, and receipts. Add a line or two about each place so the details don’t fade into “we had a nice time.” Our travel journal prompts pair well with it.
- A nature journal. Use seed packets, plant tags, pressed leaves, and crayon rubbings of bark or leaves, with notes on where and when you found them. Our nature journal prompts give you more to write.
- A fandom journal. Make a journal for a favorite book series, show, or band, with ticket stubs, fan art, merchandise tags, and quotes.
- A shared journal. Start a traveling junk journal where each person fills a few pages and mails it on to the next, or host a night where friends bring scraps to trade and work on pages together.
Junk Journal Prompts for Writing on the Page
Some days the scraps come easily, and the words don’t. These junk journal prompts give you something to write on a tag, a card, or straight across a background. A sentence or two is plenty.
- What did I keep today, and why didn’t I throw it away?
- Which item on this page will mean the most to me in ten years?
- What does this receipt say about the kind of day I had?
- Who gave me this, and what do I remember about that moment?
- What’s something small I want to remember about this season of my life?
- What color was this week, and why?
- What do I want more of next month?
- What did I make today, even if it wasn’t on paper?
If you want to write more than a line or two, our journal prompts for creativity go further.
Junk Journal Terms Worth Knowing
Tutorials tend to use the same handful of words. Here’s what they mean.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ephemera | Paper items made for short-term use, like tickets, receipts, labels, and postcards |
| Spread | The two facing pages you see when the journal is open |
| Signature | A small bundle of folded pages bound into the journal together |
| Tuck spot | A paper corner or strip glued on two or three sides to hold a loose card or photo |
| Any pouch on a page that stores ephemera, often made from an envelope | |
| Belly band | A strip of paper or ribbon that wraps around a page or journal to hold things in place |
| Tip-in | A card or piece of paper attached along one edge so it flips open |
| Folio | A simple journal or insert made from one large folded sheet, often with pockets |
| Fussy cutting | Cutting carefully around an image, such as a flower from a magazine |
| Inking | Rubbing ink around the edges of paper to make it look older |
| Cluster | A small, layered pile of embellishments, like a tag, a button, and a strip of lace |
| Flip-through | A video that shows a finished journal page by page |
| ATC | Artist trading card, a small card that’s usually 2.5 by 3.5 inches |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between junk journaling and scrapbooking?
Scrapbooking usually focuses on photos and specific events, with coordinated papers and a neat layout. Junk journaling uses reused and found materials, mixes page sizes and textures, and is meant to look layered and imperfect. A scrapbook is mostly for preserving memories, while a junk journal can be for memories, art, writing, or play.
Are there any rules for junk journaling?
No. You can use real junk or bought supplies, write a lot or nothing at all, and work in any order. The only practical guideline is to leave enough room in the binding for the layers you add, so the journal still closes.
Do you have to write in a junk journal?
No. Some junk journals are almost all collage, and the scraps tell the story on their own. If you do want to write, a date and a single sentence on a tag is enough to remind you later why a page matters.
What do you do with a junk journal when it’s full?
Most people keep it on a shelf and flip through it now and then. Some give finished journals as gifts or swap them with other junk journalers. Others keep an open-ended journal for years, tucking new things into its pages.
Do I need to sew to bind a junk journal?
No. You can start with a notebook or an old book, or bind folded pages with a long-arm stapler, binder rings, ribbon threaded through punched holes, or an elastic band around the spine. Simple stitching is worth learning later if you enjoy it, but it isn’t required.