Start Your First Junk Journal: Supplies & Ideas for 2026

Bottom line: Junk journaling is the most rewarding paper craft you can start with minimal investment. An old book, a glue stick, and a collection of found papers are enough to create your first journal. This guide covers everything from supplies to binding to page inspiration.

---

Junk journaling has become one of the most popular paper crafts on social media — and for good reason. Unlike bullet journaling, which demands precision, or scrapbooking, which can feel overwhelming, junk journaling is intentionally imperfect. The aesthetic is layered, textured, and personal. There are no rules.

If you’ve been watching junk journal videos on TikTok or Pinterest and wondering where to start, this guide is for you.

What Is a Junk Journal?

A junk journal is a handmade book filled with collected ephemera — old letters, ticket stubs, vintage book pages, postcards, fabric scraps, and decorative paper — arranged into visually rich spreads. The “junk” in the name refers to the materials, not the result. Well-made junk journals are beautiful, tactile objects.

Junk journals serve many purposes: art journal, memory keeper, creative outlet, or simply a place to experiment with paper and texture. Some people use them as daily journals. Others create themed journals for travel, seasons, or specific projects.

Beginner Supplies: What You Actually Need

The junk journal community loves elaborate supply hauls, but you truly need very little to start. Here’s the essential list:

Supply	Purpose	Beginner Recommendation
Paper stack	Pages for your journal	Mixed paper pack or repurposed book pages
Cover material	Protects pages	Cardboard from cereal box or kraft cardstock
Binding	Holds pages together	Waxed thread + needle, or binder rings
Adhesive	Attaches ephemera	Glue stick (acid-free)
Scissors	Cutting paper and fabric	Sharp craft scissors
Bone folder	Creasing and smoothing	Plastic or wooden bone folder
Ephemera	Decoration	Found objects, printables, vintage paper

Estimated total for starting: $15–30 if you buy supplies. Less than $5 if you source materials from around your home.

Where to Find Ephemera (Free and Low-Cost)

Building an ephemera collection is half the fun of junk journaling. Here are the best sources:

• Thrift stores: Vintage books, sheet music, maps, postcards, old letters — typically $0.50–$3 each
• Your home: Old greeting cards, ticket stubs, receipts from meaningful trips, wrapping paper, shipping tags
• Friends and family: Ask for their old letters, postcards, and paper memorabilia they’re ready to part with
• Printables: Free junk journal printables are abundant on Pinterest, Etsy (free listings), and craft blogs
• Nature: Pressed leaves, flowers, and seed pods make beautiful additions
• Fabric scraps: Old clothing, lace trims, ribbons from gifts

Pro tip: Start a designated box or bag for ephemera collection. Every time you find something interesting, add it to the box. When you’re ready to create, you’ll have a curated stash to work from.

Binding Your First Journal: Three Beginner Methods

Method 1: Pamphlet Stitch (Simplest)

1. Fold 5–10 sheets of paper in half to create a booklet
2. Open to the center and mark three holes along the fold
3. Thread a needle with waxed thread
4. Sew through the holes: enter the center hole from outside, then each end hole, then back through the center
5. Tie off securely. You have a journal.

Method 2: Ring Bound

1. Punch holes along the left edge of your paper stack
2. Insert binder rings or jump rings through the holes
3. Add a cover made from cardstock or cardboard
4. Advantage: you can add, remove, and rearrange pages freely

Method 3: Japanese Stab Binding

1. Stack your pages and cover together, clamped at the edges
2. Mark holes along the spine edge (usually 4–5 holes)
3. Sew through the holes in a pattern — running stitch or figure-eight
4. This creates an exposed spine that lies flat when open

Page Ideas for Your First Junk Journal

Stuck on what to put in your journal? Here are 12 page ideas to get started:

1. About this journal page — Title, date, intention for the journal
2. Favorite quotes — Layer handwritten quotes over vintage book pages
3. Pocket page — Sew or glue an envelope onto a page to hold loose ephemera
4. Seasonal spread — Dried leaves, seasonal colors, nature imagery
5. Travel memory — Ticket stubs, maps, postcards from a trip
6. Color palette page — Swatches of paper, fabric, and paint in a single color story
7. Gift tags and labels — Create detachable tags using cardstock and string
8. Book list — Track books you’ve read with vintage library card aesthetics
9. Nature pocket — Pressed flowers tucked into a paper pocket
10. Mood board — Images and colors that reflect your current mood or season
11. Hidden journaling — Write behind flaps and tuck spots for private reflections
12. Signature page — A spread dedicated to a person, place, or memory

Junk Journal Styles to Explore

• Vintage style: Sepia tones, aged paper, floral imagery, classic typography
• Whimsical: Bright colors, playful imagery, stickers, unexpected elements
• Nature-inspired: Earth tones, pressed botanicals, landscape imagery
• Minimalist: Clean layouts, limited color palette, lots of white space
• Seasonal: Dedicated journals for spring, summer, fall, or winter themes

Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

• Using too much adhesive: Less is more. A thin layer of glue stick is usually enough. Wet glue warps thin paper.
• Overloading pages: A few well-placed elements are more visually striking than cramming every space.
• Skipping the cover: Your cover protects your work. Even a simple cardstock cover makes a difference.
• Forcing a theme: Let your materials guide the theme rather than forcing materials into a predetermined theme.
• Comparing to experienced journals: Your first journal won’t look like a seasoned creator’s hundredth journal. That’s the point.

Final Verdict

Junk journaling is a low-cost, high-reward craft that improves with practice. Start with found materials, bind your first journal with a simple pamphlet stitch, and fill it with whatever ephemera speaks to you. The only rule is that there are no rules.

---

Prices and availability subject to change. This article contains affiliate links. Verto earns a commission on purchases made through these links.