What Exactly is Junk Journaling? (The Wildly Creative yet Oddly Organized Craft You Need to Try Today!)

To me, junk journaling seems to be the perfect balance of chaos and order. While the creative possibilities are almost endless, there are limitations: namely, the two covers of your journal, whatever form they take.

So, what exactly is junk journaling? Junk journaling can be any combination of journaling, scrapbooking, collage, or just about any art that can be applied to paper.  The journals themselves can be commercially made or handbound, made from exquisite papers, reclaimed scraps, or old books.  Embellishments range from vintage ephemera, lace, found objects, photos, writing, magazine clippings…anything you can stick on a page.

An artful collection of “junk” ready to be arranged

Is there a difference between “junk” journaling and “art” journaling?

The answer to this is largely a matter of opinion; the phrases are often used interchangeably, though “art journal” may suggest a volume in which the creator includes more drawings, paintings, and so forth.  “Junk journal,” as the name implies, is more about all the “junk” and is perhaps more of a collection of found items.  However, arranging junk might be considered an art in itself!

This journal is essentially a collection of scraps and clippings I found interesting!

Why junk journal?

There are as many reasons to keep a junk journal as there are junk journalists!  They can be used like traditional journals or diaries to record musings and events of the day, or as a space to write poetry or prose.  They can be used as planners.  A gardener might create a junk journal to keep record of the season’s produce, a fashion designer might keep track of fabrics and designs, or a mom might use a junk journal as baby’s scrapbook.  Or, it can simply be a place to collect bits of things that inspire you.

In addition to being a fantastic way to keep records of the things you love, the creative act of journaling can be relaxing, educational, and therapeutic.  Journaling is such an accessible and free-flowing art form, and therefore can be less intimidating for beginning artists.  Because of its more casual nature, it invites more experimentation with techniques and materials…not to mention, more opportunities for discovery!

…the creative act of journaling can be relaxing, educational, and therapeutic. 

People from all walks of life may find value in keeping a junk journal or art journal.  The more you allow yourself to dive into the process, the more you learn and the more inspired you become.  And on days when inspiration alludes you, flipping through an old journal can be just the thing to ignite your creative fire.

What do I need to start?

Embarking on your journaling journey doesn’t require a huge budget, but like many hobbies, it’s easy to quickly end up spending too much on all the fancy products and papers.  With a little bit of resourcefulness, though, you can create beautiful journals for pennies (or at least a couple bucks!)

As the name implies, junk journaling can be done with actual junk–people often save things that might otherwise be thrown away, which gives it great potential to be an eco-friendly hobby! Interesting packaging and wrappers, labels from items you purchased, postage stamps, seed packets, photos from catalogs, quotes from magazines…anything and everything that intrigues you is fair game for your junk journal.

A tote full of junk just waiting to be made into something beautiful!

You can start with something as simple as a spiral bound notebook, create your own journal, or purchase one from other artists or a commercial brand.  It’s really up to you!  

The one guideline I would mention is that you should pay attention to the binding–more specifically, the density of the pages at the binding.  For example, something like a hardbound sketchbook may not have a lot of give in the spine, so if you’re filling it with more paper, photos, etc., it will fan out Journals made specifically for junk journaling often have enough space so that they remain an even thickness, even when you’ve filled them with all your paper treasures.

I have the supplies, but how do I really start??

Just start.  Sometimes this is easier said than done, but don’t be afraid to “fail”…even if your first (or second, or third, or fifteenth!) page does turn out exactly as you envisioned, that’s okay!  It is truly all about the process, and the more you practice, the more satisfied you’ll be with your results.  

If you need inspiration, check out blogs like this one, look around on Pinterest or Youtube, or find some journaling groups on facebook.   

It is truly all about the process, and the more you practice, the more satisfied you’ll be with your results.

What adhesives to use?

The choices of available adhesives can be just about as overwhelming as everything else in the world of journaling!  My two go-tos are Aleene’s Tacky Glue (available here: https://amzn.to/2HdNdGM) and Scotch Adhesive Roller (available here: https://amzn.to/2TLwbEI) .  Various brand of tape dots and Yes! Paste are other options popular among junk journalists.  Regular school glue sticks are a good option for some papers, as long as they’re not too glossy…I’ve found they don’t work too well on things like slick magazine pages.

Washi tape is a popular option for affixing photos, notes, and more. It’s a decorative tape, similar to masking tape, and available in tons of widths, colors, and patterns.  It’s also very repositionable so you can move items around if you decide you don’t like their placement.

How can I attach items without gluing or taping?

If you have more delicate items, such as vintage photos, and you don’t want to put adhesives on them, you can use pockets, corners, or clips to attach them in your journal.

Though there are pockets out there available for purchase, it’s easy to make them yourself!    They can be as simple as a rectangle of paper glued around the edges, but you can also make them as elaborate as you want.  Some people attach them by sewing, add embellishments, or multiple layers.

Pockets are also great for items that can’t be easily attached by glue, and they’re ideal because you can always change what’s in them!

You can also purchase (or make!) corners that hold down your photo or other rectangular items.  

Things like paper clips or bull clips are also a fun and decorative way to fasten items.

One of my blank journals, ready to be embellished

Potential uses for a junk journal…

As mentioned in the about section, junk journals can serve just about any purpose your imagination can conjure.  These are just a few specific examples.  I’d love to know, what do you use your junk journal for?  Is it on this list or something completely different?

  • Commonplace Book – Commonplace books are something people have been making for centuries.  They contain basic knowledge of every kind like weights and measures, formulas and equations, poems, quotes, prayers, recipes, etc.  The practice has continued, but perhaps the name has become lost.  
  • Knitter, crochet, or weaving journal – Fiber enthusiasts might save sample swatches, yarn bands, and dyeing experiments, as well as notes on patterns and finished photos of their work.
  • Fashion Design Notebook – Similar to the fiber journal, aspiring and experienced sewists can benefit from keeping fabric swatches, measurements, ideas for embellishments, sketches and pattern notes.
  • Garden record – Growing a garden is always a different adventure each time!  A junk journal can help you remember when you planted, what you harvested, and also serve as a place to keep landscape designs and beautiful flower photos.  As mentioned earlier, it’s a great place for pretty seed packets, too.
  • Family scrapbook – Record your family’s adventures and note moments that matter…keep everything from photos and portraits, tickets stubs, cards and invitations, pressed wildflowers passed to you by little hands, and other precious everyday things.
  • Baby book – Similar to the family scrapbook, but this one’s all about baby, of course!  
  • Travel log – When you go on that special trip, you need a place to safely keep all the ephemera you collected along the way!  Ticket stubs, that interesting napkin or menu, postcards and more can be tucked away, with snapshots from your latest adventure. (If your journal is travel size, throw it in your bag and jot down your impressions about your journey along the way!)
  • Mood board/book – If you’re like me, you see lots of inspiration everywhere.  You need a space to put it all!  Reserve a journal just for things you’ve collected that create a certain mood.
  • Recipe/cookbook – Special family recipes–and new concoctions!–deserve to be properly recorded.  This can be artfully done as you create your own, one-of-a-kind cookbook, complete with delectable photos and maybe even some cool vintage food labels…
  • Fitness journal – Whether you’re embarking on a fitness plan for the first time or wanting to grow in you established routine, setting aside a special journal to track progress and collect motivation can help you stay on track.
  • Wedding planner – A journal could be used to record your special day, and/or used as a way to plan for it–collecting inspiration for your dress, cake, decor, and invitations, jotting down venue possibilities, and so on.
  • Artist’s Portfolio – If you work in another art discipline, why not artfully keep track of your works?
  • Documentation for a special collection – Do you collect dolls, tractors, buttons, stamps, shoes, cameras, books, or, well…anything?  Why not devote a journal to that special thing?

If you’ve already begun your junk journal journey, I’d love to know how it’s going! What are your favorite ways to journal?

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