What Is Junk Journaling? (A Beginner’s Guide to This Cozy Creative Hobby)

If you’ve been down the Pinterest rabbit hole lately, chances are you’ve stumbled across something called junk journaling. Or maybe you saw someone flipping through a gorgeously layered handmade book filled with vintage paper, lace, and dried flowers –  and thought, wait, what even is that?

That was me too, the first time I came across it. And honestly? It’s one of the best creative rabbit holes I’ve ever fallen into.

So let me break it down for you — what is junk journaling, what goes inside one, and why so many people (including me) are completely obsessed with it.

What Is Junk Journaling?

A junk journal is a handmade book created mostly from recycled, repurposed, or “junk” materials. Think old book pages, paper bags, cereal box cardboard, vintage receipts, fabric scraps, tissue paper, and anything else that might otherwise end up in the trash.

The word “junk” doesn’t mean it looks messy or low-quality — quite the opposite, actually. Junk journals are often incredibly beautiful, layered, and intentional. The “junk” just refers to the humble, everyday origins of the materials used to make them.

I will say that junk journal is part art project, part scrapbook, part personal diary 

How Is It Different From a Regular Journal or Scrapbook?

Great question! It can feel like a blur at first, so here’s a simple way to think about it:

A regular journal is mostly about writing where you write your thoughts, your day, your feelings. The pages are usually blank or lined, and the focus is on the words.

A scrapbook is typically about preserving memories. Collecting photos, ticket stubs, captions. It’s more documentation than creativity.

A junk journal is somewhere in the middle, but with way more freedom. You might write in it, sure. But you also layer papers, add pockets and tags, sew fabric scraps onto pages, tuck in little envelopes filled with vintage ephemera, and create something that feels more like a piece of art than a notebook.

The biggest difference? There are no rules. 

Nothing has to be perfect. In fact, the more layered and “imperfect” it looks, the better.

What Goes Inside a Junk Journal?

This is where it gets really fun. A junk journal can hold almost anything ! Here are some things you’ll commonly find inside one. For a more complete breakdown, this post on what to put in a junk journal covers 75 ideas to collect and use.

Here are some things you’ll commonly find inside one:

Papers and pages:

Old book pages, dictionary pages, sheet music, vintage maps, brown paper bag pages, tissue paper, kraft paper, and scrapbook paper scraps. These form the base of most junk journal pages.

Ephemera:

This is a fancy word for small decorative paper pieces . Ephemera can be things like vintage postage stamps, old receipts, seed packet labels, playing cards, tags, and die cuts. 

Ephemera adds that beautiful layered, collected-over-time feel.

Pockets and envelopes:

Most junk journals have little hidden pockets tucked between pages, holding folded notes, mini cards, or extra ephemera. It makes the journal feel like a treasure chest.

Handwriting and journaling:

Some people use their junk journals as actual diaries. Others write quotes, poems, or little observations. The writing weaves in between the art layers and makes it deeply personal.

Natural elements:

Dried flowers, pressed leaves, twigs, feathers — these add texture and a lovely organic quality to the pages.

Fabric and textiles:

Lace trims, ribbon, burlap, old buttons, and even bits of vintage doilies find their way into junk journals. These tactile elements make flipping through the pages an experience in itself.

What Kind of Person Makes Junk Journals?

Honestly? All kinds of people. But if any of these sound like you, junk journaling might be your thing:

You love vintage aesthetics -old paper, aged textures, cottagecore vibes, or dark academia moods

You hate throwing things away and always think this could be useful for something

You want a creative outlet but feel intimidated by “real” art

You enjoy slow, quiet hobbies – the kind where you sit at a table with tea and lose track of time

You want a journaling practice that feels more playful and less like homework

One of the most beautiful things about junk journaling is that it attracts both creative/artistic people who love making beautiful things, and reflective people who want a meaningful place to process their inner world. 

Do You Need to Be Artistic to Start?

Not even a little bit.

This is probably the biggest myth about junk journaling, and I want to squash it right now. You don’t need to know how to draw. You don’t need a design eye. You don’t need expensive supplies or a perfectly curated aesthetic.

Junk journaling is built on the idea that everything has beauty, even a torn grocery bag or a crumpled piece of tissue paper. The layers, the textures, the mix of old and new all comes together in a way that looks intentional even when it isn’t.

The “skill” in junk journaling is really just: collect things you love, layer them together, and see what happens. That’s it. The more you do it, the more your own style starts to emerge naturally. If you’re still feeling hesitant, this guide to junk journal ideas for beginners is a great place to ease in without feeling overwhelmed.

Where Do the Supplies Come From?

Here’s what makes junk journaling so accessible. You don’t need to go shopping. Most of your best supplies are already around you:

Cereal boxes and cardboard packaging – covers and structure

Brown paper bags -warm, kraft-toned pages that look gorgeous aged

Old magazines and catalogs – images, colors, and texture

Envelopes – pockets and decorative elements

Wrapping paper scraps -patterned background layers

Old books from thrift stores -pages, covers, and that beautiful aged paper smell

Once you start looking at household “trash” through junk journal eyes, you’ll never throw anything away the same way again. For a full breakdown of every supply you might need, this guide to junk journal supplies 101 is incredibly helpful.

And if you love the idea of making your own materials from scratch, this post on DIY junk journal supplies has some really fun and creative ideas.

That said, if you want a head start with beautiful, ready-to-use materials, printable junk journal kits (like the ones in my Etsy shop!) are a great shortcut. Especially if you want cohesive, themed pages without hunting for supplies. You can even grab a free 3-page sampler from my botanical kits to try before you commit.

Is Junk Journaling the Same as Art Journaling?

They’re close cousins, but not quite the same.

Art journaling tends to be more paint-and-drawing focused. It leans heavily into visual art techniques like watercolor, sketching, and mixed media on canvas-style pages.

Junk journaling is more paper and collage focused. It’s about layering found materials, creating texture through paper rather than paint, and building something from repurposed “nothing.” That said, plenty of junk journalers also paint and draw in their journals — the lines blur all the time, and that’s totally fine.

Why Do People Love It So Much?

I get asked this a lot, and my honest answer is: it’s the combination of slowness and creativity that’s hard to find anywhere else.

In a world of screens and productivity, sitting down with a pile of old papers, a cup of tea, and no agenda is genuinely restorative. There’s something deeply satisfying about making something beautiful from something that was almost thrown away.

It’s also endlessly personal. No two junk journals look the same. Yours will reflect your tastes, your memories, your aesthetic, your story even if you never write a single word inside it. And if you’re looking for creative direction, this list of 30 creative junk journal ideas to fill your pages will spark plenty of inspiration.

Ready to Try Junk Journaling?

Now that you know what junk journaling is, the best thing you can do is just start. Grab a paper bag. Fold some pages. Glue something down. It doesn’t have to be perfect .

And if junk journaling has opened a door to something deeper, the Journaling Hub is your next stop — everything from prompts to methods to creative ideas, all in one place.

If you’re looking for inspiration on where to take it next, browse these 50+ junk journal themes and ideas for every season and mood –  there’s something in there for everyone.

If you want a little help getting started with beautiful, ready-made materials, check out my [Botanical/Lavender Dreams Printable Kit] — it comes with everything you need to create gorgeous junk journal pages right away, including a free 3-page sampler so you can try before you commit.

Happy journaling, friend. 🌿