Raise your hand if you have a ridiculous amount of paper tucked away somewhere in your craft room or on your desk where you collect your mail. 

🙋♀️ Old scrapbook paper.

🙋♀️ Pretty junk mail.

🙋♀️ Brochures from vacations.

🙋♀️ Book pages.

🙋♀️ Wrapping paper scraps.

🙋♀️ Tags, envelopes, greeting cards and little bits of paper that are way too cute to throw away.

You know the piles I'm talking about.

You don't necessarily have a plan for them. But throw them away?

Absolutely not. 😂

Because we creative people look at a pretty piece of paper and think:

"I know I can do SOMETHING with this."

Well, my friend, you absolutely can.

You can turn all those random papers, scraps and little treasures into something beautiful, useful and completely unique.

It's called a junk journal.

And if you've been wondering what a junk journal is, what you put inside one and how to make your first junk journal, grab yourself an iced coffee and your pile of paper.

We're talking junk journals today!

So...What Exactly IS a Junk Journal?

This is one of the things I love most about junk journaling:

There really aren't any rules. Yes- I said it - NO RULES! 

Like art journaling, there isn't one official definition of what a junk journal has to be.

Traditionally, a junk journal is a handmade journal or book created using a mixture of found, recycled, repurposed and decorative papers.

Instead of buying a perfectly matched stack of brand-new paper, you might use things like:

• Junk mail
• Old book pages
• Scrapbook paper
• Envelopes
• Paper bags
• Maps
• Brochures
• Magazine pages
• Sheet music
• Wrapping paper
• Greeting cards
• Tags
• Receipts
• Calendar pages
• Printable papers
• Coffee-dyed or tea-dyed paper
• And whatever else you find in your paper stash!

Basically, one woman's junk is another woman's craft supply.

I'm pretty sure whoever originally came up with that saying was a crafter. 😂

The different papers are folded, layered, decorated and usually bound together to create a handmade book.

But that's just where the fun begins.

What Do You DO With a Junk Journal?
Anything you Want- 

I create them FOR the journey and not necessarily for the finished journal. 

Seriously.

Your junk journal doesn't have to be a traditional journal where you sit down every night and write about your day.

Although it certainly can be.

You can use a junk journal as a:

Memory keeper — Save photographs, ticket stubs, postcards, notes and little reminders of special days. I have great themed kits for this! 

Creative journal — Paint, collage, stamp, doodle and experiment without worrying about creating a masterpiece.

Travel journal — Save maps, brochures, receipts, photos and little bits and pieces from your adventures.

Gratitude journal — Write down the simple things that made you happy that day.

Seasonal journal — Create one for summer, Christmas, Halloween, fall or another favorite season.

Scrapbook — Add photos and memories without worrying about traditional scrapbook layouts.

Art journal — Use the pages to experiment with paint, markers, collage and mixed media.

Everyday journal — Write lists, thoughts, quotes, recipes, ideas or whatever happens to be on your mind.

Or you can make one simply because playing with paper makes you happy.

That is a perfectly good reason.

Why I Love Junk Journaling

For me, junk journaling isn't just about making a pretty book.

It's about the process of creating it.

There is something incredibly satisfying about sitting down with scissors, paper and glue and turning a pile of scraps into something beautiful.

You don't need to know how to draw. I can't draw!

You don't need expensive supplies. Scissors, paper and glue

You don't need a perfectly organized craft room. I created a workstation here:

And you definitely don't need to be "artistic enough."

You just start.

Cut something.

Tear something.

Glue something down.

Add another piece.

Make a pocket.

Tuck something inside.

And before you know it, you've spent an hour creating instead of thinking about your to-do list.

That is creative self-care.

Sometimes we don't need another complicated project.

We just need a little time to make something with our hands.

The Best Part? Imperfect Is BETTER

If you're someone who tends to get caught up in making everything perfect, junk journaling might be exactly what you need.

Crooked edge?

Leave it.

Torn paper? I love torn edges! 

Even better.

Wrinkled page?

Texture!

Glue showing?

We're calling that mixed media. 😂

Junk journals are supposed to look collected, layered, handmade and loved.

There is something very freeing about that.

You're not trying to make every page match perfectly.

You're simply creating one little piece at a time.

Progress over perfection. Always.

If you want to Know How to Make a Junk Journal for Beginners- Grab my FREE Download!

Okay, so now you're thinking:

"This sounds fun, Teresa, but how the heck do I actually MAKE one?"

It's much easier than it looks.

Where I  break it down for you! 

 

What If You Don't Have Enough "Junk"?

This is where printable junk journal papers are wonderful.

You can mix printable pages with all the recycled papers you've collected.

Printables are especially helpful when you want your journal to have a particular theme, color palette or style.

I offer full printable junk journal kits and paper bundles that you can download, print and use with the supplies you already have.

And one of my favorite things about digital paper?

You can print it again.

Used your favorite page?

Print another one.

Want to make another journal?

Print another set.

Want to cut one page into tags, pockets and embellishments?

Go for it.

Printable papers mixed with found and recycled materials give you the best of both worlds.

Junk Journaling Is Perfect for You If...

You might fall in love with junk journaling if:

• You have lots of unused scrapbook and craft paper.
• You save pretty junk mail and brochures because you hate throwing them away.
• You look at packaging and think, "I could make something with that."
• You love paper crafting.
• You enjoy making books and journals.
• You want to learn simple bookbinding techniques.
• You're always looking for new creative projects.
• You want to use what you already have.
• You enjoy recycling and repurposing materials.
• You want a relaxing creative hobby without a lot of rules.
• You'd like to use creativity as a little escape from everyday stress.

And especially...

You want to create simply because creating makes you feel good.

You Don't Need Another Hobby. You Need Creative Time.

Okay, maybe you do need another hobby.

I'm clearly the wrong person to talk you out of craft supplies. 😂

But junk journaling is about more than accumulating another pile of stuff.

It's an opportunity to slow down.

To sit with your scissors and glue.

To use your hands.

To stop worrying about whether what you're making is "good enough."

To turn ordinary scraps into something meaningful.

Some days you might spend two hours working on your journal.

Other days you might have 15 minutes and glue down one piece of paper.

Both count.

Those tiny creative moments matter.

Want to Learn More About Junk Journaling?

If you're ready to dive deeper into junk journaling, you don't have to figure everything out alone.

I create printable junk journal kits, paper bundles, projects and tutorials designed to make getting started easier — especially if you're new to paper crafting or you're staring at your supplies wondering what to make with all of it.

And if you'd like even more projects and a creative community to make them with, you can also join Sarina and me inside the Junk Journal Hive.

Inside the Hive, we share six creative projects each month, along with downloads, inspiration and a community of people who understand why throwing away a pretty scrap of paper is practically a crime. 😉

Because crafting is even more fun when you have people to share it with.

Your First Junk Journal Starts With One Piece of Paper

Don't wait until you have all the perfect supplies.

Don't wait until you understand every bookbinding technique.

And please don't wait until your craft room is organized.

We could be here awhile. 😂

Grab some papers.

Find a piece of cardboard for a cover.

Get your scissors and glue.

And start playing.

Your first junk journal doesn't need to be perfect.

It just needs to be yours.

Create. Relax. Enjoy.

Have fun creating!

-teresa XO
Teresa's Spot for Creativity