Junk journaling is sort of like scrapbooking but focuses more on thoughts and memories and doesn’t always revolve so much around photos, unless of course you want it too. It’s “looser” than traditional scrapbooking, it doesn’t always have to have a theme or structure, it uses lots more mixed media with a free flowing style and lots of layers. The main focus is using “junk” paper and ephemera like tags, tickets, map pages, magazine clippings, bits and pieces of anything you find around the house, your crafting space or have picked up along a journey that can be added to a page, it’s a great way to upcycle or recycle! Use these items to make art that evokes feelings, tells stories and capture memories or just play and have fun with them.
If you’ve been spotting those beautifully layered, slightly messy journals all over Pinterest and Instagram and wondering how to start junk journaling yourself, you’re definitely not alone. Junk journaling has become one of the most relaxing and rewarding paper crafts for anyone who loves scrapbooking, memory keeping, and creative upcycling. And the best part? There are no strict rules. No fancy equipment required. No pressure to make it perfect.
If you’ve been searching for how to start junk journaling for beginners, what supplies you really need, or how to make a junk journal from recycled materials, you’re in exactly the right place. Junk journaling is like scrapbooking’s carefree cousin — less structured, more playful, and wonderfully forgiving.
One of the things I love most about junk journaling is how it transforms everyday paper into something meaningful. Old book pages, envelopes, greeting cards, ticket stubs, fabric scraps, wrapping paper, even slightly crumpled receipts — they all become part of the story. Instead of throwing things away, you layer them into pages filled with texture, color, and memories. It’s creative, a little nostalgic, and surprisingly therapeutic.
Junk journaling is also a beautiful way to slow down in a fast, digital world. It gives your hands something to do, your mind space to wander, and your memories a home on paper. Whether you want to create a vintage-inspired junk journal, a travel memory book, a gratitude journal, or simply a creative space to play with paper, getting started is easier than you think.
There’s a very helpful and inspiring article about getting started on your own Junk Journal journey over at Somerset Place by Stampington and Company, click here to check it out.
-Heather
Looking for printable journaling items? Check these out on Etsy.
