10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Junk Journalling

(And My Friend Agrees!)

Earlier this week my dear friend, Larissa gave me a call to check in.

She knew it was my daughter’s birthday… and she also knew I wouldn’t get to see Paris. Larissa knew I’d be struggling a little (OKAY… A LOT!!) , because even when your child is grown, birthdays can still tug at your heart.

Larissa has been there for me for almost three decades—pretty much since the day I discovered I was pregnant.

She was there through the six months of hideous all-day sickness (yes… SIX months), through the one blissful month where I almost felt human again, and through the final stretch where I was on bedrest and even my shoes didn’t fit.

The morning after my daughter, Paris Monique, was born, Larissa turned up with all the essentials so I could feel pampered and my baby’s first bear. She even met my daughter before the grandparents, family, and other friends arrived.

Over the past 29 years, we’ve shared adventures, laughter, and plenty of the trials and tribulations that come with raising a strong-willed, intelligent, fiercely independent young woman.

But despite all our shared history… Larissa didn’t really share my love of paper crafting.

Until now…Recently she discovered junk journalling and OMG… she has thrown herself into it in a BIG way.

And of course, I’m thrilled. (And possibly slightly concerned… because I may have created a monster.)

A Whole New World of Crafty Possibilities

Until recently, Larissa didn’t have photopolymer stamps to use in her junk journals. But when she visited Queensland last month, I gifted her a postage stamp punch, some coordinating stamps, and a handful of retired Stampin’ Up! ephemera.

Suddenly, her junk journalling world expanded massively. It was like opening a door into an entirely new creative universe.

On Tuesday, we got chatting about the things we both wish we’d known before we started our own junk journalling journeys.

She challenged me to write a blog post about it… so here we are!

But before we dive into the 10 things we wish we’d known (and honestly, these apply to any paper crafting hobby), let’s quickly cover the basics.

What Is a Junk Journal?

A junk journal is a type of art journal that combines collage, paper crafting, and mixed media techniques.

Some people create their own journals using recycled materials like cereal boxes, brown paper bags, old book pages, packaging, or scrap paper. Others buy pre-made journals and decorate them however they like. (I’m firmly in the second group. I may be too impatient! Or maybe it’s time poor?)

Unlike scrapbooking, junk journalling usually has less focus on photos and more focus on found objects—things like tickets, tags, wrapping paper, receipts, labels, scraps, and little bits and pieces that tell a story.

It’s messy, meaningful, creative, and wonderfully personal.

And best of all… there are no rules.

10 things I wish I knew before I started junk journalling - a quick introduction by the creative eclectic

10 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Junk Journalling

1. Your layout doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s

Pinterest is lovely… but it’s not the standard. Your journal is allowed to be different. In fact, it should be.

2. If you don’t like a layout, you can turn the page (or paint over it!)

This isn’t fine art hanging in a gallery. If you don’t love it, cover it, collage over it, gesso it, paint it, or simply move on.

3. Use the supplies you already have

You don’t need to buy heaps of fancy products. Some of the best bits are the “junk” you collect along the way.

4. You don’t have to do a full spread every day

Some days you’ll create a full page. Other days you might just glue in a label or add a quote. It all counts.

5. Take your time and do what works for you

There is no deadline. No pressure. No journal police. Junk journalling is meant to fit into your life—not become another pressure.

6. Fall in love with your handwriting

Handwritten words are often more meaningful than any perfect printed font. Your handwriting tells your story.

7. There is no end game

You don’t need a reason to create other than just to have fun and be creative.

8. It’s yours—and yours alone

You don’t have to share it on social media. It can stay private. It can sit on your shelf. You can even take it apart later and reuse pieces in another journal. Do with it what you will!

9. Swap or share supplies with someone else to save money

If you have a crafty friend, consider sharing, swapping, or splitting products. It’s cheaper, and honestly… it’s more fun.

10. Have fun

The whole point is joy. If it stops being fun or becomes hard or overwhelming, step away and come back when the mood hits again.

Not Ready to Make a Journal from Scratch? Start Simple.

If the thought of digging through your recycling bin and turning that Nutri-Grain box in your kitchen into a handmade journal feels a bit too overwhelming (because honestly… same), then don’t start there.

A fantastic option is one of Stampin’ Up!’s all-inclusive journal kits. They’re a brilliant starting point because everything is designed to coordinate, the instructions are easy to follow, and you still get plenty of room to add your own personality and creative flair.

To be honest, they’re also one of my favourite ways to craft when I’m travelling—because everything comes neatly packed in a compact box, and there’s usually enough space to tuck in a few of my go-to supplies.

Want to Try an Easy Junk Journal Starter Kit?

If you’re feeling inspired to give junk journalling a go, I’ve popped a link at the bottom of this post to the Journal and Scrapbooking Kits collection currently available in my online store.

And don’t overthink the kit theme… actually ignore it completely. Once you start adding your own “junk”, ticket stubs, and random bits of life, it’ll stop looking like the kit picture anyway (in the best possible way!). 😄

Stampin’ Up! also have a range of scrapbook workshop kits that can be made into journals with some imagination, as well as Memories and More pocket memory keeping range that can easily be turned into a journal if you want to head in that direction. So many possibilities.

Not sure which kit to choose? Send me a message and I’ll help you pick the perfect one—because let’s be honest, we’ve all bought the wrong crafty thing at least once… and I’d like to save you from that. 😉

My Go-To Junk Journalling Kit Essentials

Whether I’m crafting away at home or travelling, these are the extras I always reach for:

Scissors
Acid-free lignin-free Glue or adhesive (that won’t leak in your bag!)
Glue dots
Bone folder
Clear Wink of Stella brush
A pack of watercolour pencils (and a pencil sharpener)
Black journalling pen
White gel pen (Look out for the new ones from Stampin’ Up! coming in May!)
Linen thread
A sponge dauber or five (They take less space than a blending brush.)
Tweezers (because nothing says “relaxing craft time” like chasing a tiny embellishment across the table with sticky fingers.)
Take Your Pick Tool (aka the multifunctional tool that saves your sanity when everything is sticking to your fingers except the place it’s meant to go.)
A needle (trust me on this one!)

Don’t Worry About the Kit Theme—Add Your “Junk”

Here’s a little tip if you’re using an all-inclusive kit: don’t stress too much about the theme on the box. By the time you’ve added your own “junk”, the original theme won’t matter in the slightest. It becomes your journal, your memories, and your story.

And when I say “junk”… I mean the good kind of junk:

Ticket stubs
Brochures and flyers
Maps or transit passes
Hotel stationery and envelopes
Drink coasters
Postcards
Stickers (because you WILL find a sticker shop!)
Receipts from memorable meals
Clothing tags, ribbons, or buttons
Café napkins with logos (clean ones… let’s not get weird 😄)

These little items don’t just decorate your pages—they tell your story.

Basically, if it’s flat and free… it’s fair game. 😄

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, junk journalling is really just storytelling with paper… and a slightly alarming collection of papers, receipts, tags, coasters, and random bits you swear you’ll “use later.”

Start where you are, use what you’ve got, and don’t overthink it. Because the truth is—your journal doesn’t need to be perfect… it just needs to be yours.

So tell me… what’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing you’ve ever kept because you thought, “Ooooh that would look good in a journal”?

Until next time… happy creating.

Chrissy

Available Journal and Scrapbook Kits (Australia & NZ)