Especially the quality time one....!!
How To Start Junk Journaling
If you have ever scrolled through social media and admired those thick, textured, vintage-looking journals bursting with pockets, lace, and ephemera, you might be tempted to think you need an expensive shopping spree to get started.
The secret the crafting community doesn't always tell you? The best junk journals are made from literal trash and everyday items.
Junk journaling is all about repurposing, sustainability, and creative expression. If you want to dive into this addictive hobby without breaking the bank, here is your step-by-step guide to building a gorgeous journal using supplies you likely already have around the house.
Step 1: Hunt for Your "Junk" (Free Ephemera)
Before you buy a single craft supply, look around your home. The foundation of any good junk journal is free, discarded paper. Keep an eye out for:
Old book pages: Damaged paperbacks, old dictionaries, or foreign-language books give your pages a wonderful vintage texture.
Mail and packaging: Envelopes (especially with interesting inner security tints), brown packing paper, cardboard boxes from online orders, and junk mail flyers.
Paper goods: Sheet music, old maps, expired calendars, greeting cards, ticket stubs, and grocery receipts.
Tip: Start a designated "treasure box" or shoebox. Whenever you see a pretty napkin, a cool postage stamp, or a textured paper bag, toss it in!
Step 2: Find or Make Your Cover
You don't need to buy a blank leather notebook. You can upcycle sturdy materials to form your cover:
The cereal box method: Cut the front and back panels off an old cereal box, cracker box, or shipping box. They provide the perfect sturdy cardboard base.
Cover it up: Wrap your cardboard pieces in decorative gift wrap, brown grocery bag paper, or fabric scraps using a simple glue stick or double-sided tape.
Step 3: Gather Minimalist Tools
You only need a few basic household tools to assemble your book:
Scissors or a craft knife
A glue stick or a simple tape runner
A ruler and a pencil
A needle and strong thread (like embroidery floss or heavy-duty sewing thread) for binding.
Step 4: Assemble Your Signatures (Pages)
In junk journaling, a "signature" is just a small bundle of folded pages nested together.
Take 4 to 6 sheets of mixed paper (a mix of book pages, lined notebook paper, and brown paper).
Fold them all in half together to form a booklet.
Make 2 or 3 of these small booklets. This is much easier to bind than trying to sew a massive stack of paper all at once.
Step 5: Bind Your Journal
Don't let bookbinding intimidate you! The 3-hole pamphlet stitch is beginner-friendly and holds everything together securely:
Nest your page signatures inside your decorated cover.
Open the journal to the exact middle fold of the first signature.
Use a needle or a pushpin to poke three holes along the center crease (one in the middle, one near the top, and one near the bottom).
Thread your needle and sew in-and-out through the holes, tying a secure knot on the outside or inside of the spine. Repeat for any other signatures.
Step 6: Decorate and Fill Your Pages
Now comes the fun part! You don't have to fill your journal linearly from front to back.
Layer textures: Glue down a piece of old sheet music, slap a postage stamp on top, and add a ripped piece of a brown paper bag.
Make pockets: Glue down three sides of an envelope to the page so you can tuck secret notes, tags, or pressed leaves inside.
Just start writing: Write your thoughts, paste in photos, or use it as an art diary to test out paint, ink, and stamps.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of junk journaling is that there are no rules. Your pages don't have to look like a Pinterest board; they just have to be a reflection of your creativity.
Have you tried junk journaling before, or are you gathering supplies for your very first book? Let me know in the comments below!
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