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I’ve always been a huge scrapbooker, but my hobby kinda died when we stopped printing pictures and moved everything onto our phones. Recently, after getting a new high-quality printer, I started thinking about getting back into making scrapbooks for the grandkids. That’s when I discovered junk journaling on Pinterest — and I have to admit, it looks amazing, but also… do I really have the funds for a new hobby?
Junk journaling is a fast-growing craft trend that blends memory keeping, mixed-media art, and good old-fashioned paper hoarding into one beautifully imperfect hobby. Even better? You don’t need fancy supplies to start, which is perfect if you’re budget-conscious like me.
What Is Junk Journaling?
Junk journaling is the art of creating handmade journals filled with recycled, found, and repurposed materials.
Think old book pages, junk mail, receipts, ticket stubs, envelopes, magazine cutouts, fabric scraps, and vintage paper ephemera.
Unlike traditional scrapbooking, which focuses heavily on photos, junk journaling celebrates texture, layering, storytelling, and creative expression using everyday paper “junk.” For me, it’s a way to get back into paper crafting without feeling the pressure of perfectly printed photos or matching supplies.
Related: Why I Started Journaling My Dreams and What I’ve Learned
Why Junk Journaling Is So Popular Right Now
Junk journaling has exploded on Pinterest and social media for a few big reasons:
- It’s budget-friendly. You can make an entire journal using items that would normally end up in the trash — which is perfect if you’re worried about hobby costs like I am.
- It’s relaxing. Tearing paper, layering textures, and gluing bits down is incredibly soothing — almost like crafting therapy after a long day.
- There are no rules. Pages don’t have to match, themes can change, messy is welcome, and mistakes become part of the charm.
- It blends art and memory keeping. You can include journaling, quotes, photos, keepsakes, and random life bits all in one place. I love the idea of combining my old scrapbooking memories with new creative experiments.
Junk Journaling vs. Scrapbooking: What’s the Difference?
If you come from a scrapbooking background like I do, here’s how junk journaling compares:
- Scrapbooking: photo-focused, coordinated layouts, themed paper collections, structured designs.
- Junk Journaling: texture- and paper-focused, imperfect, layered look; mixed materials like paper, fabric, lace, and tags; more free-form and artsy.
Scrapbooking is polished; junk journaling is expressive. It feels like a breath of fresh air after years of rigid layouts.
What Goes Inside a Junk Journal?
Anything flat(ish) and glueable can go inside. That’s part of the fun.
- Paper items: book pages, sheet music, maps, dictionaries, junk mail patterns, old letters.
- Personal ephemera: receipts from fun days, movie tickets, kids’ drawings, packaging from favorite products, and greeting cards.
- Decorative elements: washi tape, stamps, stickers, lace, ribbon, fabric swatches, dried flowers.
A junk journal becomes a mix of art journal, diary, memory book, and collage project all in one — and for me, it’s a way to creatively merge old scrapbooking habits with new ideas.
Basic Junk Journaling Supplies for Beginners
You don’t need a huge craft store haul to begin.
- Must-haves: a notebook, composition book, or handmade paper stack; glue stick or craft glue; scissors; pen or marker.
- Nice-to-haves: washi tape, rubber stamps, ink pads, old magazines or books, printable vintage ephemera (perfect for using that new printer!).
How to Start Your First Junk Journal
Step 1: Pick Your Base – old book, ready-made, or loose papers folded and stitched together.
Step 2: Gather Your “Junk” – start a small box for envelopes, packaging with interesting patterns, paper scraps, old mail or documents.
Step 3: Create Background Pages – glue down torn book pages, scrap paper, or fabric pieces. Layering creates texture and interest.
Step 4: Add Pockets and Flip-Outs – glue envelopes or folded paper to make hidden spots for notes, tags, photos, or quotes.
Step 5: Decorate and Write – add stickers, stamps, doodles, journaling about your day, memories, or thoughts. There’s no wrong way to fill a page, and it’s a lot more freeing than traditional scrapbooking.
Junk Journal Themes You Can Try
If you like structure, themes can guide your pages:
- Vintage and antique
- Nature and botanical
- Travel memories
- Seasonal journals
- Book quotes and literature
- Everyday life moments
- Gratitude journal
Or mix everything together for a true junk journal vibe.
Is Junk Journaling an Expensive Hobby?
It doesn’t have to be. You can use junk mail backgrounds, print free vintage images, thrift old books, swap supplies with friends, and repurpose leftover scrapbook materials.
Junk journaling can easily be one of the most affordable paper crafts if creativity leads instead of shopping, which is a relief for someone like me who worries about funding a new hobby.
Related: Crafting Spooky Magic: Behind the Scenes with Mama Crow’s Halloween Wax Melts
Why Scrapbookers Love Junk Journaling
If you stopped scrapbooking because printing photos and buying matching supplies became too much, junk journaling brings back the joy without the pressure.
You still get paper crafting, memory keeping, and creative layouts, but you no longer need perfect photos or matching everything. It’s nostalgic, creative, and freeing all at once.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try Junk Journaling?
If you love paper, memories, creativity, and a little bit of beautiful chaos, junk journaling is absolutely worth trying.
Start small. Use what you have. Let it be messy. Let it be yours.
I can’t wait to try it myself, mixing old scrapbooking memories with new creative experiments — and finally use that printer for something that sparks joy instead of just bills and receipts.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.