Junk Journal Prompts: Creative Ideas to Inspire Your Pages

Colleen McCarthy
Aug 22
4 min read

Updated: Sep 29

Have you’ve ever opened your junk journal and wondered what should I put on this page?

Instead of staring at a blank page, try using a junk journal prompt. A prompt is a simple idea or question that can be a starting point for your page. Prompts can spark inspiration and help you get started.

What is a Junk Journal Prompt?

A junk journal prompt is a simple idea, question, or creative challenge that helps you decide what to put on your new journal page or scrapbook spread. It can act as a spark that gets you started when you’re staring at a blank page.

Prompts can be writing-based (like “list your favorite childhood memories”), art-based (like “make a collage in your favorite color”), or mixed-media prompts (like “glue in a ticket stub and decorate around it”).

They’re especially helpful when you:

Feel stuck and don’t know what to create.
Want to try new page layouts or junk journal spreads.
Love collecting pretty journals or aesthetic diary ideas but need inspiration to fill them.
Use your junk journal for daily reflection, memory keeping, or smash journaling.

Junk journal prompts are a great way to unlock your creativity and explore different themes. They can help you turn your journal into a reflection of your personality, memories, and imagination.

Finished page in my Seattle travel themed junk journal.

50+ Junk Journal Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

Creative Journal Prompts for Everyday Pages

Write down three things you’re grateful for today.
Sketch or collage your outfit of the day.
Record a quote you heard this week that stuck with you.
Collect the colors you see outside your window in scraps, doodles, or paint.
Write about your morning routine in list form.
Glue in a receipt and jot notes about the day’s little details.
Document your favorite song on repeat right now.
Record today’s mood with doodles, colors, or stickers.
Make a “day in the life” spread with small notes about each hour.
Paste in a grocery list or to-do list and decorate around it.

Aesthetic Diary Ideas for Pretty Journals

Create a mood board of your dream home.
Collect images and words that describe your current aesthetic.
Design a spread using only your favorite color.
Write a letter to your future self.
Make a page inspired by your favorite season.
Draw or collage your dream outfit.
Create a “favorites” spread (book, movie, food, scent, etc.).
Collect floral illustrations, stickers, or pressed flowers.
Make a spread inspired by the ocean or sky.
Layer lace, ribbon, and soft tones for a romantic look.

Themed Junk Journal Spread Prompts

Travel spread: paste in tickets, maps, and photos.
Holiday memories spread (Christmas, Halloween, etc.).
Create a gratitude journal page for November.
Design a spread all about spring blooms.
Collage your favorite cozy things for winter.
Make a vision board for the year ahead.
Collect handwritten recipes from loved ones.
Dedicate a page to your pet (photos, paw prints, or notes).
Document a recent adventure or day trip.
Create a seasonal playlist and decorate with doodles.

Smash Journal Prompts for Creative Collage

Paste in random magazine clippings and let the theme emerge.
Collect and glue down receipts from a single day.
Add scraps of wrapping paper from a recent gift.
Use ticket stubs and write about the event.
Collage business cards or flyers you’ve collected.
Smash together packaging from your favorite snacks.
Create a spread using only black-and-white clippings.
Layer bold words and phrases cut from magazines.
Mix doodles and ephemera for a playful look.
Build a messy, overlapping collage just for fun.

Reflective Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery

Write about your biggest dream.
Record a challenge you’ve overcome.
Create a list of affirmations and decorate around it.
Journal about a place that makes you feel safe.
Write down five things that inspire you right now.
Reflect on your happiest childhood memory.
Make a page about your role model.
Write a list of things you’d like to learn this year.
Capture your “word of the year” in a creative spread.
Journal about your perfect day from start to finish.

Bonus: Fun Junk Journal Page Ideas

Make a spread inspired by your favorite book.
Document your skincare or self-care routine.
Create a collage of your favorite foods.
Decorate a spread with pressed leaves from outside.
Collect washi tape samples in one page as “swatches.”

Tips for Using Junk Journal Prompts

Start Small

You don’t have to complete a full spread every time. A single doodle, short list, or collage element inspired by a prompt still counts.

Mix Writing and Art

Some prompts work best as journal entries, while others shine as visual spreads. Try combining both, like writing a list surrounded by collage or watercolor.

Choose What Inspires You

Not every prompt will click, and that’s okay! Skip the ones that don’t fit your mood and focus on the ideas that spark joy.

Use Prompts for Page Layouts

Prompts can guide more than just your theme. They can inspire your junk journal spreads, pretty journal layouts, and aesthetic diary pages.

Don’t Overthink It

Prompts are meant to spark your creativity, not limit it. Feel free to interpret them loosely or let one idea lead to another.

Create a Prompt Jar

Write prompts on slips of paper and toss them in a jar. Then pick one at random whenever you’re stuck. It’s a fun way to surprise yourself!

Repeat Prompts in New Ways

The same prompt (like “today’s mood”) can look completely different depending on your colors, supplies, or style. Revisit your favorites often.

Your junk journal is a place for creativity, reflection, and play. Prompts are the perfect way to keep your ideas flowing. They can inspire aesthetic diary spreads, layered junk journal pages, or smash book collages. Whatever your style, prompts can make sure you never run out of ideas for your books.