What household items can be used in a junk journal?

You can use almost any paper product! Popular items include cereal boxes (for sturdy covers), tea bag wrappers, clothing tags, envelopes, maps, and even clear plastic windows from pasta boxes to create pockets.

How do you make random junk look cohesive on a page?

To make disparate elements feel like they belong together, try sticking to a single color palette for the spread. You can also use techniques like coffee staining papers to give everything a unified vintage look, or use washi tape to bind edges together.

Are Junk Journals Actually Junk?

Q: Are junk journals really made out of junk?

Yes, in the best way! Junk journaling is the art of upcycling everyday items like shopping bags, receipts, junk mail, and packaging. Instead of throwing these items away, you use them to create beautiful, texture-filled pages.

Colleen McCarthy
Oct 20
4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Are junk journals really made out of junk? It depends what you consider junk! Everything from shopping bags to wrapping paper is so beautifully designed that I never want to throw it away. Finding pretty pictures and patterns on everyday packaging is one of the things that inspired me to start junk journaling.

Start saving that black and white tissue paper from Sephora. Keep the ribbons that your pajamas were tied with. Look at the flyers that come in your junk mail. You'll find cute pictures and words that you can cut out and glue onto your pages. When you look at things with your journal in mind, you'll be amazed at how many things you'll find to collect.

Upcycled junk journal page featuring a collage of everyday items: a receipt, a bookmark, and a paper napkin ring. — For this journal page I used a receipt, a bookmark, a word cut out of a brochure and the paper ring from the napkin at a restaurant.

Paper for Junk Journaling

Paper is everywhere. Old book pages, envelopes, maps, catalogs, magazines, and wrapping paper can all be used to create layouts in your journal. You can turn an envelope into a pocket. You can tear book pages to use as backgrounds.

Pretty tissue paper can be layered behind a photo or tag. Even receipts and ticket stubs can add little touches of real life to your pages.

Old book pages for backgrounds or layering.
Envelopes turned into pockets or flip-outs.
Tissue paper and wrapping paper as soft layers.
Maps, catalogs, or magazine pages to make collage pages.
Receipts, tickets, and tags for little accent pieces.

Collect Paper Bits and Pieces

When I was traveling in China I collected all the usual stuff like receipts, tickets, and brochures. One day I stopped at a cute little restaurant and lo and behold: under my plate was the prettiest paper placemat I'd ever seen.

It was a flat lay collection of vintage ads with Chinese writing and drawings. I never ate so carefully in all my life. After I finished I slipped the paper placemat into my purse.

Later I cut out all the little ads and glued pieces from it into my travel journal. The pictures were nicer than most of the stickers I had bought! Ever since then, I keep my eyes peeled for any kind of paper stuff I might be able to use in my junk journals.

Travel themed junk journal spread using found ephemera including hotel key holders, tickets, and vintage ads from a placemat. — In this travel journal I used tickets as well as the paper holder from my hotel keycards, stickers and vintage ads that I cut out from a paper placemat.

Packaging Pattern and Color

Product packaging is full of texture and character. Cereal boxes are sturdy enough to make covers, tags, or bookmarks. Tea bag wrappers are perfect for layering. Ribbon from a gift box can become a page tab.

Even the clear plastic window from a box can be used to make peek-through pockets or overlays. A little cutting and glue can turn “trash” into something useful.

Cereal boxes for covers, tags, or bookmarks.
Tea bag wrappers for layering.
Ribbon or twine from packages as tabs or ties.
Clear plastic windows from boxes for peek-through pockets.
Product labels to add texture and interest.

Reuse Fabric and Ribbon Scraps

Fabric adds warmth and depth to a journal. You don’t need to buy any. Old clothing, curtains, lace, or ribbons can be cut into strips and sewn or glued onto your pages.

There's lots of ways to add fabric to your journal. A small piece of lace on the edge of a tag can give it a soft vintage feel. A frayed strip of fabric can become a beautiful page tab. These little details make a big difference.

Old clothing, pillowcases, or curtains cut into strips.
Lace or ribbon as borders or tabs.
Frayed fabric edges to soften a page.
Fabric scraps sewn or glued onto tags and pockets.

Revive Everyday Office Bits

Some of the most ordinary items can work well in a junk journal. Sticky notes, index cards, business cards, and even old calendar pages can be layered or used as journaling spots.

Paper clips can hold small pieces in place. Paint chips can be turned into color swatches, pockets, or tags. Don’t be afraid to mix clean modern paper with vintage scraps.

Sticky notes and index cards as journaling spots.
Paint chips for color swatches or tags.
Old calendar pages for backgrounds.
Business cards to layer under photos or notes.
Paper clips and safety pins to hold small pieces.

Making it all Feel Like it Belongs

When you’re mixing different kinds of materials, it can help to stick to a single color palette or plan a simple design for your pages. You can also give everything a quick tea or coffee stain to make it look more unified.

A little washi tape or stitching can finish off edges and make the page feel complete. These small touches tie all the random bits together.

Build Your Own Scrap Box

If you want to make upcycling part of your journaling routine, keep a small box or basket in your craft space. Drop little paper bits, packaging, and fabric scraps in it as you find them. When it’s time to craft, you’ll have a treasure box of supplies waiting for you.

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