Junk Journaling for Beginners: How to Start Your First Book

If you've ever found yourself with a postcard that you want to save, a ticket from a special day, or a bit of ribbon that's too pretty to throw away, you're already half way to being a junk journalist!

Junk journaling is a creative way to turn your everyday treasures into something beautiful. You can use your book to capture memories, express your feelings or just have fun with pretty paper.

What is a Junk Journal?

A junk journal is a book where you store all the bits and pieces from your daily life. Things like catalogs, postcards and string can become art once they're arranged in your junk journal.

A junk journal can become a record of your days. If you like to write, you can even use it as a spot to journal. If you're not a writer, you can fill your book with images, stickers, tags and other ephemera.

You can hand make a book from old pages, ledgers, envelopes or scrapbook paper. Or you can buy a notebook, sketch book or a special sturdy book for mixed media.

Stack of my Favorite Handmade Junk Journals

Is a Junk Journal the Same as a Scrapbook?

Although they have things in common, junk journaling and scrapbooking each have a distinct style.

Scrapbooks usually have a polished look. They center around photographs and matching papers, stickers and ephemera. The main purpose is to preserve memories in an organized, decorative book.

Junk journals often look more casual and artistic. They center around random, found items and can be made with less planning. The purpose of a junk journal is creative expression while also preserving memories.

Why Would You Make a Junk Journal?

People make junk journals for all kinds of reasons. I love it for the creative freedom. It's just so much fun to stick and glue things into place. Some other reasons for junk journaling could be:

• Creative pursuits are perfect for relaxation or stress relief.

• It's a fun way to organize tickets, receipts and other ephemera from your daily life.

• It's a nice way to  document and share trips, anniversaries or special events.

• Your book can give you a private place to journal about feelings.

Do You Write in Your Junk Journal?

Some people use their book as an actual journal and write about their ideas and feelings. Others prefer not to. If you'd like to include writing but still keep it private, you can always add envelopes or pockets to tuck away pages that you've written on.

How to Start Your First Junk Journal

If you're new to crafting, you might need to get a few supplies before you can start junk journaling. If you've already got some basic scissors, glue and paper you can get started today!

Start by picking out a book. You can use a sketchbook, a journal, or even a plain old notebook. If you're ready to get started, just use whatever you've got on hand.

If you'd like to do some shopping, you can look for a sturdy book that will hold up. You'll be adding lots of bits and pieces with glue or stickers.

If you're only going to use paper, glue and stickers, a sketchbook will work great. If you'll be adding paint, look for a mixed media book.

Supplies for Junk Journaling

To get started, it's best to have a few things on hand. Start with what you have, then expand your art supplies from there. Some basic things to start your journal with include:

• A book to become your junk journal

• Junk or ephemera to put in your book

• Glue (I use a plain old glue stick for papers and Aileen's tacky glue for ribbons or buttons.)

• Pens and markers

• Scissors

Optional Supplies:

• Paper cutter

• Decorative papers

• Stickers

• Washi tape

• Ink pads

Journal Page in Progress

Where to Find Junk for Your Journal

Start by looking at your fridge! If you're like me, you've got a bunch of tickets, photos and flyers stuck to the door. A junk journal is the perfect place to store all these little mementos.

Next, look around your house. And start gathering stuff when you're out shopping or doing errands. Once you start to look, you'll be amazed at how much cute and pretty junk you can find for your new journal.

10 Things to Put in Your First Junk Journal

• Photographs

• Postcards

• Tickets

• Catalogs

• Maps

• Place mats

• Wrapping paper

• Greeting cards

• Fabric scraps

• Ribbons or string

Junk Journal Ideas & Inspiration for Beginners

Starting a junk journal can feel a little overwhelming at first. With so many pages to fill, where do you even begin? The good news is that junk journals don’t have rules. They’re all about creativity and personal expression.

Using junk journal prompts is one of the easiest ways to spark ideas and get your first pages flowing.

Here are a few beginner-friendly ideas to try:

Gratitude List

Write down three things you’re thankful for today and decorate the page with stickers, washi tape, or magazine clippings.

Favorite Quote Spread

Choose a quote you love and build a simple collage or layout around it.

Daily Snapshot

Record one detail from your day (what you ate, a song you heard, something you saw) and illustrate it with doodles or scraps.

Color Theme

Pick a color you love and create a page using only materials in that shade.

Memory Page

Add a photo, ticket stub, or receipt and journal a few lines about what it means to you.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating a space for inspiration, play, and self-expression. As you try more prompts, you’ll discover your own favorite styles of junk journal spreads, pretty journals, and aesthetic diary ideas that make the process fun and personal.

Simple Tips for Beginners

1. Don't try to make it perfect!

2. Start simple - concentrate on making one page at a time.

3. Let your personal taste guide you. Choose the colors and styles that you love.

4. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to do it. Have fun gluing all your treasures into your new book!