Have you gotten caught up in the new trend that is sweeping scrapbooking and crafting circles? Decorative planners are extremely hot right now! Over the last few years Filofax has seen a major upsurge as more and more people go back to diaries and paper planners (I am one of them). The spin off from this is decorative planning: using stamps, stickers, washi tape and other craft supplies to pretty-up planners. And now several scrapbooking companies have made the crossover and released their own lines of planning products. It was probably bound to happen as decorative planning overlaps with pocket page scrapbooking in many ways. Both trends include date products, washi tape, and the use of small icons and alphabets. Here are some of the companies now producing planning products that you can buy along with your scrapbooking supplies

We-R-Memory-Keepers

1. Webster’s Pages

Seen above are Webster’s Pages line of Color Crush Planners. You can choose to purchase a planner kit, which includes a planner, 2015 monthly and weekly pages, dividers and more

or you can purchase planners, dividers, and planning pages separately.

2. Cocoa Daisy

Cocoa Daisy, a scrapbook kit club, now has a planner kit you can subscribe to, or purchase on a monthly basis.

Includes:

32 double sided daily to do pages
1 double sided March tab page
5 double sided week in review pages
NEW: 5 double sided weekly overview pages
1 3×5 Exclusive notepad
1 5×7 Exclusive planner sticker sheet
White ring reinforcer stickers
We Are Memory Keepers watercolor washi tape in Denim
Exclusive Cocoa Daisy Charm
Poppin paper clips, 2 each Lime & Pool Blue
Poppin Lime Green pen
American Crafts DIY Shop “To Do List” self-inking stamp

3. Simple Stories

From Simple Stories comes the Life Document Planner System. Each piece of the system can be purchased separately, so you can mix and match binders, planning pages, stickers, sticky notes and more.

4. Heidi Swapp

Heidi Swapp has the Memory Planner System. It’s a true combination of planning and scrapbooking. The binder kit includes monthly planner pages, dividers and journal pages. You can purchase refill packs, as well as coordinating embellishments and papers.

5. Becky Higgins

Becky Higgins has also introduced 6×8 planner pages and dividers to the Project Life System. Choose from primary, bold and watercolor designs.

So, have you tried out decorative planning yet?

Let me guess.

You’ve been admiring junk journals online. Watching flip-throughs. Zooming in on stitched spines and layered pages. Thinking, “I want to make one of those.”

But then you sit down and realise… you don’t actually know where to begin.

Not decorate one.
Not add ephemera.
Actually make one.

If you’ve been searching for:

how to make a junk journal
junk journal tutorial for beginners
step by step junk journal guide
how to assemble a junk journal
how to bind a junk journal

This is your complete, from-start-to-finish guide.

No overwhelm. No fancy tools. No craft-room perfection required.

Just paper, thread, and a little courage.

What Is a Junk Journal (Before We Start)?

A junk journal is a handmade book created from recycled, repurposed, or everyday materials.

It often includes:

Old book pages
Scrap paper
Envelopes
Greeting cards
Magazine clippings
Tea or coffee-dyed paper
Fabric scraps
Printable junk journal pages

It’s imperfect. Textured. Layered. Personal.

And every single one looks different.

That’s the beauty of it.

Step 1: Decide on the Size

This is where beginners often stall — thinking there’s a “right” size.

There isn’t.

If you want easy? Fold regular A4 or letter-size paper in half. That’s a perfect beginner size.

Other popular junk journal sizes include:

A5 (half of A4 folded)
Traveler’s notebook size
5×7 inches
6×9 inches

Start simple. You can always experiment later.

Step 2: Make or Choose a Cover

You don’t need specialty chipboard or bookbinding supplies.

You can use:

Cereal box cardboard
Brown paper bags
Amazon shipping boxes
Old greeting cards
File folders

Cut to size. Fold in half.

If you want it sturdier, glue two layers together and let dry under books.

That’s your cover sorted.

Step 3: Gather Your Pages

This is the fun part.

You want a mix of paper types for texture and interest.

Look for:

Old paperback book pages
Lined notebook paper
Scrapbook paper scraps
Sheet music
Magazine pages
Printable junk journal pages
Tea-dyed or coffee-stained paper
Ledger pages

Mix thin and thick paper. Plain and patterned.

Variety gives your junk journal depth.

Step 4: Create Signatures

Fold each page in half.

Stack 4–8 folded sheets together.

That stack is called a signature.

For beginners:

1 signature = simple journal
2–3 signatures = fuller journal

Don’t overstuff them yet. Junk journals grow over time.

Step 5: Bind the Junk Journal

Now we turn loose pages into a book.

You have several easy options:

Pamphlet stitch
Three-hole saddle stitch
Binder rings
Ribbon tie binding
Glue spine method

If you’re new, the pamphlet stitch is ideal.

How to do it:

Place your folded signature inside the cover.
Punch three evenly spaced holes along the fold.
Stitch through the holes (middle ? bottom ? top ? back to middle).
Tie securely.

That’s it. You’ve just bound a junk journal.

Step 6: Add Pockets and Tuck Spots

This is where it starts looking magical.

You can create pockets from:

Envelopes glued on three sides
Scrap paper rectangles
Folded page corners
Paper bag pieces

Slip in:

Handwritten notes
Tags
Quotes
Ticket stubs
Receipts

Hidden elements make junk journals interactive and layered.

Step 7: Age Your Pages (Optional but Beautiful)

If your paper feels too bright or modern, aging it instantly softens the look.

You can:

Brush strong black tea across pages
Dip paper in cooled coffee
Lightly ink edges with brown distress ink

Tea creates a soft golden warmth.

Coffee gives deeper antique tones.

Even lightly crumpling paper adds character.

Step 8: Decorate Simply

You don’t need elaborate embellishments.

Start with:

Twine wrapped around the spine
Fabric scraps
Buttons
Dried leaves
Handwritten journaling

The key is layering — not perfection.

Leave blank space for writing later.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Trying to make it look “perfect.”
Overstuffing signatures before binding.
Using very thin paper that tears easily.
Buying too many supplies before learning the basics.

Start small.

Let your skills grow naturally.

What You Actually Need

You need:

Paper
Thread
Glue
Scissors

That’s enough to make a junk journal.

Everything else is optional.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Junk Journal?

Your first one?

Maybe an afternoon.

Your second one?

Probably quicker.

Once you understand the steps — fold, stack, bind, layer — it becomes intuitive.

Why This Guide Makes It Simple

Most tutorials show a finished journal and say, “Isn’t this pretty?”

This guide walks you through:

Planning
Cover creation
Page selection
Signature building
Binding
Layering
Aging
Decorating

From start to finish.

That’s how you remove confusion.

And when beginners feel confident, they stay.

Final Thoughts

Making a junk journal isn’t complicated.

It’s folded paper and thread.

It’s layers and texture.

It’s permission to be imperfect.

Start simple.
Bind one signature.
Glue down a page.
Add a pocket.

Your first junk journal doesn’t need to impress anyone.

It just needs to exist.

And once you make one?

You’ll start seeing potential journal pages everywhere.