Why I Junk Journal My Trips (And Why You Might Want To Try It Too)
Last week I traveled to Missouri for a family wedding.
Like most trips, I came home with a handful of little treasures:
A boarding pass.
A hotel key sleeve.
A napkin from a restaurant.
A program from the wedding.
A few photos on my phone.
Years ago, most of those little pieces would have ended up in a pile waiting for something crafty or creative to do with them in the near future which ended up not even becoming the FAR future.
Now these mementos end up in my junk journal.
One of the things I love most about junk journaling is that it allows me to preserve memories in a simple, creative way. Not every memory needs a scrapbook. Not every moment needs a perfectly designed photo album.
Sometimes all you need is a page, a little glue, and a few meaningful pieces of paper.
The Magic Is In The Small Stuff
When we think about preserving memories, we often focus on the big moments.
The wedding.
The vacation.
The birthday.
The holiday.
But when I look back through my journals, it's often the tiny details that make me smile.
The coffee shop receipt.
The ticket stub.
The handwritten note.
The brochure I almost threw away.
Those little scraps instantly transport me back to that moment.
That's the real magic of junk journaling.
Creativity Without Pressure
One of the reasons I encourage women to try junk journaling is because there are no rules.
You don't need expensive supplies.
You don't need artistic talent.
You don't need perfect handwriting.
You simply gather things you love and arrange them on a page.
That's it.
Some days my pages are detailed and layered.
Other days I glue down a few pieces and call it done.
Both are perfectly fine.
A Creative Form Of Self-Care
I often talk about creativity as self-care.
Not because we're trying to create masterpieces.
But because creativity gives our minds a chance to slow down.
For an hour, or even 20 minutes, we're not worrying about the laundry, work, appointments, or the endless to-do list.
We're simply creating.
That small creative break can make a huge difference in how we feel.
If You're New To Junk Journaling
If you've ever wondered what all the junk journaling terms mean, I've created a free Junk Journal Glossary to help you get started.
It's a simple guide to common terms you'll hear in the junk journaling world and a great resource for beginners.
You can download The Junk Journal Glossary here.
Watch The Missouri Trip and Wedding Journal Come Together
During this week's Creative Care Friday Live, I sat down and created pages using memorabilia from my Missouri wedding trip.
If you'd like to see how I transform everyday paper scraps into meaningful journal pages, you can watch the replay on my YouTube channel.
Mixed Media Junk Journal Spread
I hope it inspires you to save a few little treasures from your next adventure.
Because sometimes the smallest pieces of paper hold the biggest memories.
Until next time,
Happy Creating,
-teresa XO
