DIY Junk Journaling

Junk Journaling Ideas & Inspo

A Creative Way to Document Life’s Little Moments

Junk journaling is more than just a hobby—it’s an art form that allows you to celebrate the beauty in the ordinary, the memories in the small moments, and the joy of creating something uniquely yours. In essence, it’s about taking scraps, vintage papers, and found items, and transforming them into an artistic, meaningful journal that tells the story of your life.

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just beginning to dip your toes into the world of junk journals, this DIY guide will help you get started and inspire you to create pages filled with personality, whimsy, and nostalgia.

Setting the Scene for Your Junk Journaling Experience

Before we dive into the ideas and techniques, let’s set the atmosphere for your junk journaling session. Junk journaling is a deeply personal and meditative activity, so create an environment that encourages creativity and reflection.

Music to Get You in the Mood: Playlist Here

Snacks and Drinks:

• Tea or Coffee – The classic drink for any crafting session. Opt for something calming, like chamomile, or go for a rich dark roast.

• Comfort Food – Treat yourself to a handful of chocolate or fruit, or even a slice of homemade bread.

Set the Vibe: Surround yourself with materials that inspire you, whether it’s old postcards, dried flowers, or meaningful trinkets. This tactile connection to what you’re working on will help guide the creative process.

Materials You'll Need for Junk Journaling

1. Journal Base: You can either buy a pre-made journal with blank pages or create your own using old papers, envelopes, and ephemera.

2. Keepsakes: This is the most important piece of making junk journaling a sentimental memory collection of your life! Collect receipts from stores, menus from restaurants, peel labels off of coffee cups, keep movie stubs and plane tickets. Basically, become a hoarder!

3. Vintage Papers: Old books, magazine cutouts, maps, letters, and receipts are perfect for adding character to your pages.

4. Fabric Scraps: Use old clothes or fabric remnants to create texture.

5. Stamps & Ink Pads: These help you create patterns or sentiments.

6. Embellishments: Buttons, paper clips, washi tape, and stickers can all add little touches to your journal.

7. Glue Stick or Mod Podge: For sticking papers down without making them soggy.

8. Pens and Markers: Get some colored pens, markers, or calligraphy pens to add your personal touch.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Junk Journal

1. Choose Your Journal Base:
   Start with a blank canvas. If you want a handmade feel, take old book pages, envelopes, or even scrapbook paper, and bind them together with string, twine, or even sewing for a rustic look.

2. Decide on a Theme (Optional):
   While junk journals are naturally eclectic, having a loose theme can guide your creative choices. You could center your journal around:

   • Travel: Collect tickets, postcards, and maps from your travels.

   • Seasons: Capture the feel of each season with colors, textures, and ephemera.

   • Personal Growth: Use inspirational quotes, affirmations, and memories to document your journey.

3. Gather Your Materials:
   Find things that hold meaning to you. This could be a collection of:

   • Postcards from friends and family

   • Old magazine cutouts

   • Scraps of fabric or ribbon

   • Handwritten notes or letters

   • Pressed flowers

   • Photos that capture key moments in your life

Creative Page Ideas for Your Junk Journal

1. Memory Lane Page: Layer your photos with a snippet of a song lyric or a meaningful quote that connects to the memory.

2. Mixed Media Collage: Try a color palette—like a page of all blues and greens for a calming effect, or reds and golds for a nostalgic and warm vibe.

3. Gratitude Page: Add an envelope on the page and place small notes inside it that list things you’re thankful for—open it months later for a delightful surprise.

4. Nature-Inspired Pages: Make a page for each season, documenting the changing flora around you.

5. Ticket Stub & Ephemera Page: If you’ve gone to any concerts, museums, movies, or events recently, collect your ticket stubs and other ephemera to create a memory board page.

6. Journaling Prompts Page

• "What’s something new you learned this week?"

• "If today were a color, what would it be and why?"

• "What’s a song that brings back memories?"

7. Dreams and Aspirations Page: Use a page to write down your future hopes, dreams, and goals. Use vision board elements, like magazine cutouts of things you want to manifest in your life

8. Colorful Scrapbook Page: Use bright markers to create a whimsical, colorful layout with layers of paper and bits of fabric.

9. Travel Journal Page: Incorporate pieces of your travels—whether it’s a map, a postcard, or a simple sketch of a place you visited. Add some journaling about what that place meant to you.

10. Personal Reflection Page: Create a page that reflects your emotional growth or changes. You could use colors to represent how you’ve felt throughout the year, or simply write about a lesson you’ve learned and how it’s shaped you.

Behind the Scenes: Resources For The Project

• Etsy: Check out vintage paper packs, ephemera, and printable journaling supplies.

• Amazon: For essential supplies like glue sticks, stamps, and washi tape.

• Thrift Stores: Look for old books, magazines, or photos to repurpose into your journal.

• Instagram: Follow junk journal artists and creators for new techniques and styles.just as sentimental for them.

• Pinterest: Check out kpcreativex on pinterest for inspiration and ideas