What Is a Junk Journal?

A junk journal is a handmade notebook made from recycled or "junk" materials - old book pages, envelopes, fabric scraps, receipts, maps, wrapping paper, tea-stained paper, ticket stubs. You fill it with memories, art, or random findings instead of buying a fresh journal from a store.

The name says it all: junk in, journal out.

What Makes It Different From a Regular Journal

A regular journal is usually blank pages you write on. A junk journal is built first, then used. The pages themselves are the craft project.

Examples of what goes into the pages:

• Old book or sheet music pages as backgrounds
• Envelopes glued in as pockets to hold small items
• Fabric or lace strips for texture
• Used stamps, doilies, or wrapping paper scraps
• Coffee or tea-stained paper for an aged look

What People Use Them For

• Memory keeping - pasting in ticket stubs, photos, postcards from a trip
• Art journaling - painting, collage, mixed media practice
• Gratitude or daily journaling - writing on textured, personal pages instead of plain lined paper
• Gifts - handmade junk journals as one-of-a-kind presents
• Planners or trackers - some people build them as habit trackers or scrapbooks combined

A Simple Example

Say you want to make one from an old paperback novel:

Tear out pages from the book

Fold a few together to make small signatures (booklets)

Sew or glue the signatures into a spine

Add pockets using old envelopes

Decorate covers with fabric, ribbon, or a vintage photo

Start filling pages with notes, sketches, or memorabilia

That's it - no new paper bought, everything repurposed.

Why People Like Them

• Cheap - mostly made from things you already have
• No pressure - pages are already "imperfect" so there's no fear of ruining a blank page
• Unique - no two junk journals look the same
• Relaxing - many people find the cutting, gluing, and layering process meditative

In Short

A junk journal is a handmade, mixed-material notebook built from recycled scraps and then filled with writing, art, or keepsakes. It's part craft project, part diary, part scrapbook - made from what you already have lying around.