🌿 Travel Junk Journals: Turn Your Trips Into Beautiful, Meaningful Keepsakes
I recently returned from my 60th birthday celebration with family in Costa Rica! I was mindful of all the beautiful ephemera around me on a daily basis and held onto it! I felt like actively looking to items to include in my Travel Junk Journal made me even "more present'!
Get your FREE Download: 25 Travel Junk Journal Ideas and Tips by clicking this link!
There’s something kind of magical about travel memories…
The smell of a little market tucked down a side street.
The colors of a sunset melting into the ocean.
The sound of footsteps on cobblestones or sand under your feet.
And yet… if we’re being honest…
Most of those memories end up buried somewhere between 1,000 photos on our phone and a crumpled receipt at the bottom of a bag 🙃
If that sounds familiar — you are definitely not alone.
But here’s the good news…
You don’t need to let those moments fade.
A travel junk journal is one of the most beautiful (and honestly calming) ways to hold onto your trips in a way that feels real, personal, and creative.
It’s not just a scrapbook.
It’s not just a journal.
It’s a little piece of your life… captured in layers, textures, and tiny moments that actually matter.
✨ What Is a Travel Junk Journal?
Think of a travel junk journal as your memory book with personality.
It’s a mix of:
- photos
- handwritten thoughts
- tickets, maps, receipts
- little scraps you collect along the way
- and layered papers, paint, and textures
- packaging
- brochures
There are no rules.
No “right way.”
No pressure to make it perfect.
Just you… your memories… and a few creative supplies.
🌿 Why Travel Journaling Feels So Good (It’s More Than Just Crafting)
Let’s be real for a second…
Creating one of these isn’t just about documenting a trip.
It’s about:
- slowing down
- reliving moments you loved
- giving yourself quiet, creative time
- and turning memories into something you can actually hold
It’s one of those sneaky little forms of self-care that doesn’t feel like “work.”
🧡 How to Start a Travel Junk Journal (Simple & Stress-Free)
No overwhelm here. Let’s keep this easy and doable.
Step 1: Choose Your Journal
- Composition notebook (your favorite for this!)
- Old book you can repurpose
- Handmade or store-bought journal
Nothing fancy required.
I use A composition notebook
You can get a bundle on Amazon (affiliate link) Click the image below.
Step 2: Gather Your Ephemera
This is the fun part…
Start collecting:
- ticket stubs
- receipts
- brochures
- maps
- napkins (yes, really)
- postcards
- packaging
Basically… anything that tells the story of your trip.
Step 3: Prep Your Pages
You can keep it simple or go a little artsy here:
- glue down background papers
- add light paint washes
- use scrapbook paper or printables
This becomes your base layer.
I used a child's coloring placemat for my background
Get your FREE Download: 25 Travel Junk Journal Ideas and Tips by clicking this link!
Step 4: Build in Layers
This is where the magic happens ✨
Layer things like:
- photos
- paper scraps
- tags
- stamps
- fabric or ribbons
Messy = beautiful here.
Step 5: Add Your Words
This is what makes it yours.
Write:
- what you did that day
- how you felt
- funny little moments
- things you don’t want to forget
No one else needs to read it — so just be real.
🌊 30 Travel Junk Journal Ideas
Let’s get those creative wheels turning…
✈️ Before Your Trip
- Packing list page
- Travel itinerary
- Bucket list for the trip
- Map with your destination circled
- “Why I’m excited” page
🌴 During Your Trip
- Daily highlights page
- Food you tried
- Favorite view of the day
- Local words or phrases
- Weather + mood tracker
- Tickets & receipts collage
- Mini photo flip-out page
- Quotes you heard or loved
- A “messy memory” page (real life, not curated!)
- A page just for colors you noticed
🏡 After You Return
- Favorite moment recap
- What surprised you most
- Lessons learned
- Souvenirs page
- “Would I go back?” thoughts
- Photos you didn’t post
- A gratitude page
- Playlist from your trip
- People you met
- A “next trip dreams” page
🎨 Creative Add-Ons
- Envelope pockets for keepsakes
- Fold-out pages
- Washi tape borders
- Hand-drawn doodles
- Layered vintage-style backgrounds
🎨 Easy Mixed Media Techniques (Don’t Overthink This)
You don’t need to be an artist… promise.
Try:
- Watercolor washes for soft backgrounds
- Collage layering with scraps and papers
- Stamping for texture
- Pen details for outlines and journaling
It’s all about playing, not perfecting.
🧰 Simple Supplies You Already Have
You probably have most of this at home:
- glue or Mod Podge
- scissors
- paper scraps
- pens
- old magazines
-
printable pages (your specialty 😉)
Keep it simple. Keep it fun.
💛 What to Include on Each Page (If You Get Stuck)
If you’re staring at a blank page like “now what?”…
Try this formula:
- one memory
- one photo or item
- one layer underneath
- a few handwritten lines
Done. That’s it.
🌿 Start Your Travel Journal Today (Not Someday)
Here’s the truth…
You don’t need:
- more time
- more supplies
- or some perfect creative mood
You just need 15 minutes and a memory.
That’s it.
Because those little scraps?
Those random moments?They’re the pieces of your life that matter most.
And turning them into something you can flip through on a quiet afternoon with an iced coffee…
Yeah… that’s where the magic really lives.
Get your FREE Download: 25 Travel Junk Journal Ideas and Tips by clicking this link!
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🎁 A Little Gift For You
I’ve created a FREE PDF of 25 Travel Junk Journal Ideas to help you get started without overthinking anything.
Just print, cut, layer… and create.
Click the Link Below
(25 Travel Junk Journal Ideas and Tips)
💬 Final Thought
Your travel journal doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to be yours.So go ahead…
Grab those ticket stubs, print those photos, pour your drink of choice……and create something that feels like you.
-teresa XO
PS Don't forget to Get your FREE Download: 25 Travel Junk Journal Ideas and Tips by clicking this link!
