Junk Journaling in a Travelers Notebook – A6 Layout Ideas

Hey friends! Tiffany here with another traveler’s notebook project using the February Hip Kits! For this one though, I decided to make these two “junk” journals for my A6 traveler’s notebook to use as personal journals and/or art journals. I just wanted a cute journal to document my everyday that wouldn’t involve too much work in order to document.

I figure having a sound base already done would be great, so I went with this “junk” journal style. The term “junk” here is just indicative of the style I’m trying to convey. Usually junk journals are created from scraps – bits and pieces left over from other projects – all put together into a usable journal. But here, I used my kits, but tried to mimic that “junk” feel.

I used a mixture of the pattern papers from the Main kit, a few plain white copy paper and ruled paper that I tea dyed subtly to make them look vintage, and a sheet of vellum from one of the past Hip Kits. I limited myself to just a few pattern papers so that I don’t overload my journals with too much pattern and color.

A few of the pattern papers I altered to suit my liking. I tea dyed a few of them and distressed another with gesso so that the navy color of the paper wasn’t too harsh. I added gold paint splatters to the vellum as well, just to give it a little sparkle. I tried to keep the color palette light and bright, with a touch of vintage.

The Crate Paper and Maggie Holmes papers that I used already had a touch of vintage, which helped keep the color theme I wanted throughout.

After I prepped all of my papers and let them dry, I cut them down to size. A6 dimensions is about 4×6: 4 inchs in width and 6 inches in height. So I had to cut my 12×12 papers down to 8×12, then cut that in half to 8×6, so when folded the pages will be 4×6. So I ended up with two of each of my papers.

For the copy and ruled paper, I simply cut them in half because even though they were a bit smaller than 8×6, they fit fine. I also like the different sized pages because they give the journals a bit more texture. Once everything was cut and folded, I assembled my journals.

I was able to create two different journals with all of the papers I used, which was a very nice surprise. I did a simple stitch with waxed thread to bind my journals and once they were done, I began my embellishing.

I also limited myself to a few embellishments. I picked out my favorite pieces from the Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams ephemera pack that’s in the Main kit to use and put everything else away. I also used the Chasing Dreams phrase and label stickers from the Project Life kit and the Chasing Dreams 6×12 sticker sheet from the Embellishment kit.

I used only one of the fringed butterflies from the Embellishment kit and a few of the washi tape strips from the Pink Paislee Paige Evans Oh My Heart sticker book in the Project Life kit. With the left over paper and branding strips, I made a bunch of pockets, tags and banners that I used to embellish my pages.

I also used a few things from my stash, most notably, paper doilies and this beautiful lace trim I had.

I especially love the various tags I made from the leftover scrap pieces of pattern paper I had. Tags are just the perfect embellishment for these little journals. They’re cute decor pieces as well as great pieces to journal on and tuck into a pocket to make the journal a bit interactive.

I was inspired by all the lovely already made tags included in the Maggie Holmes Ephemera pack and the Pretty Little Studio tags from the Embellishment kit. I matched the papers with the white doilies and lace trim to give them a soft delicate look. I also embellished them lightly with the Chasing Dreams stickers and smaller die cuts.

I even made a little banner-tag from a piece of fabric trim and embellished it with a pink heart die cut. I tucked them into the pockets I made in my journals or paper clipped them to my pages. I just love how these turned out!

These journals are just so fun to make and use. You can use them to document your everyday or as travel journals. They make the cutest little gifts for someone as well. You can make them in any size you like, I just did A6 for myself to put into my traveler’s notebook. For a more in depth look into how I made these, check out the process video below.

And if you want a look into how these two journals turned out, check out the flip through video below!

Products used: browse current monthly scrapbook kits for the same kind of curated paper + ephemera mix Tiffany used here.

What Is an A6 Travelers Notebook?

A travelers notebook is a leather (or faux leather) cover that holds removable paper inserts bound by an elastic band. Originally a Japanese stationery system, the format has been adopted across the journaling and scrapbooking world because it’s modular – you swap inserts in and out instead of carrying separate notebooks for each project.

“A6” refers to the paper size of the inserts. The standard sizes you’ll see are:

• Standard / Regular (4.3″ x 8.25″) – the original tall-and-narrow Midori Travelers Notebook size. Popular for daily journals and trip logs.
• A5 (5.8″ x 8.3″) – bigger, closer to a half-letter notebook. Better for full art journal pages and detailed layouts.
• A6 (4.1″ x 5.8″) – what Tiffany used. Pocket-sized, the most carry-friendly, and small enough that filling a page doesn’t feel like a homework assignment.
• Passport (3.5″ x 5″) – the smallest mainstream size. Great for sketches and quick notes; cramped for layered junk journal spreads.

A6 hits the sweet spot for junk journaling because each spread is finishable in 15-30 minutes and the small format hides imperfect technique. Bigger sizes leave more “blank” real estate that can feel intimidating when you’re starting out.

Why A6 Is the Best Size for a Junk Journal

If you’ve been junk journaling in a full A5 or letter-sized book and feeling burnt out, switching to A6 is the lowest-friction reset there is. Here’s why the size works for so many crafters:

• Spreads finish fast. A 4×6 spread takes a fraction of the embellishment a full 8×10 spread does. You can finish two or three pages in an evening instead of staring at one half-finished one for a week.
• Forgiving with imperfect cuts. Cropping mistakes, slightly-off pockets, and uneven stitching all read as “rustic” at small scale.
• Travels with you. Fits into a tote, a glovebox, a small bag. Real-life portability means you actually use it.
• Cheap to fail with. If a spread bombs, you’ve used maybe one sheet of paper instead of a full 12×12.
• Works with kit scraps. One 12×12 sheet of patterned paper cuts down to 6 A6 spreads. A monthly scrapbook kit fuels months of A6 journaling.

The trade-off is that complex layered scenes (full collage spreads, photo-heavy pages) get cramped at A6 size. If that’s your style, A5 might suit you better. For everyday journaling, ephemera-heavy spreads, and travel logs, A6 is hard to beat.

Tiffany’s Process: Building an A6 Junk Journal from Scrapbook Kit Leftovers

If you want to recreate something close to what Tiffany made above, here’s the simplified version of her process broken into steps:

1. Pick a small palette. 4-6 patterned papers maximum. Tiffany used Crate Paper and Maggie Holmes prints in soft vintage tones – light, bright, with restraint. Too many patterns in a small format gets visually noisy fast.
2. Alter your papers. Tea-dye plain copy paper for vintage cream tones. Distress harsh-colored papers with white gesso (a thin wash, not solid coverage). Add gold paint splatters to vellum for shimmer. These small alterations are what give the “junk” character without you actually using junk.
3. Cut to size. A 12×12 sheet cuts into six A6 pages with minimal waste. For folded signatures, cut to 8×6 and fold in half so each finished page is 4×6.
4. Build your signatures. Group 3-4 sheets, fold them together, and stitch the spine with waxed thread and a basic bookbinding needle. A simple straight stitch is plenty – no need for complex coptic binding for your first journal.
5. Mix paper weights inside each signature. A cardstock page next to a vellum page next to a kraft page keeps spreads visually interesting. Mixed weights also create natural pocket spots between the heavier papers.
6. Embellish with restraint. Tiffany pulled only her favorite ephemera pieces and put the rest away. Using everything from a kit on every page burns out your supplies (and the page) fast. Save the special pieces for hero spreads.
7. Make tags from scraps. Cut leftover patterned paper into 1.5″ x 3″ tags. Punch a hole, add string, layer with stickers and small die cuts. These become the interactive elements you tuck into pockets later.

A6 Layout Ideas for Your Travelers Notebook Junk Journal

If you want to make your own travelers notebook junk journal, here are the basics to get going.

Choose your notebook size. A6 is the most popular size for junk journals because it’s small enough to carry around but big enough to actually create in. Standard and passport sizes work too, depending on how much room you want per page.

Supplies you’ll need:

• A travelers notebook cover (leather, faux leather, or fabric)
• Paper for signatures – mixed weights add texture (cardstock, kraft, vellum, old book pages)
• Washi tape, stickers, and ephemera for decorating
• Adhesive – a good tape runner and some glue dots
• Pens for journaling – anything that won’t bleed through your paper

Build your signatures. A signature is just a group of pages folded and nested together. For an A6 travelers notebook, fold 3-4 sheets of paper in half and nest them. You can mix different paper types in one signature for variety – a cardstock page next to a vellum page next to a kraft page keeps things interesting.

Add pockets and tuck spots. Glue envelopes, folded paper pockets, or library card holders onto pages. These give you places to stash tickets, notes, photos, and other flat ephemera. They also add dimension and make the journal feel interactive.

Don’t plan too far ahead. One of the best things about junk journals is that they evolve as you use them. Start with a few decorated pages and leave some blank. You’ll figure out what you want as you go.

For more junk journal inspiration, check out our junk journal ideas guide and our step-by-step junk journal tutorial.

If you’re getting into junk journaling, you might also want to check out our guide to junk journal supplies to make sure you have everything you need. For more creative inspiration, browse our art journal ideas collection or grab some free junk journal printables to add to your next spread.

5 Easy A6 Page Themes to Try First

If you’re staring at a blank A6 spread wondering what to actually put on it, here are five themes that work especially well at this size:

1. Daily moments page. One photo (or printed Polaroid), three lines of journaling, and a couple of tags peeking out of a pocket. The simplicity is the point.
2. Travel log spread. Map fragment, a ticket stub or receipt tucked into a pocket, a hand-lettered location, and a couple of date stamps. Travelers notebooks were built for this.
3. Mood / vibe board. Pull 4-5 magazine clippings or printed images that share a feeling. Glue them down with white space. Add a single phrase sticker.
4. Reading log. Book title, date finished, a favorite quote pulled from the book, your rating. Stack a tag with the cover image.
5. Letter to your future self. One full spread of journaling on lined or grid paper, sealed inside an envelope glued to the next page. Open it next year.

Common A6 Junk Journal Mistakes to Avoid

1. Cramming too much pattern onto one spread. A6 is small. Three patterns max per spread or it reads as chaos.
2. Using only one paper weight. All-cardstock journals feel stiff. All-thin-paper journals feel flimsy. Mix weights inside every signature.
3. Glue-stick adhesive on a humid day. Pages curl and warp. Use a tape runner for paper layers and glue dots only for chunky embellishments.
4. Embellishing every single page. White space matters even more in a tiny format. Leave 1-2 pages per signature mostly blank to journal on later.
5. Skipping the binding entirely. Loose-leaf paper held by an elastic falls out within a month of use. Stitch your signatures – even a basic 3-hole pamphlet stitch is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an A6 and a passport travelers notebook?

A6 is 4.1″ x 5.8″ (roughly the size of a small paperback). Passport is 3.5″ x 5″ (closer to an actual passport). A6 gives you noticeably more page real estate while still fitting in most bags. Passport is best for pure portability and quick notes; A6 is better for full junk journal spreads with layering.

How many pages can I fit in an A6 junk journal?

A standard travelers notebook holds 1-3 inserts at a time. Each insert can have 3-5 signatures, and each signature is 6-10 pages folded. Realistically, expect 30-60 finished pages per insert depending on how thick your papers are.

Can I use scrapbook kit supplies in an A6 junk journal?

Yes – and they’re actually ideal because the coordinated palette is already done for you. One 12×12 patterned paper cuts into six A6 spreads. Stickers, ephemera packs, and washi from a monthly scrapbook kit work the same way they would on a 12×12 layout, just at smaller scale. Many scrapbookers use kit leftovers (pieces too small to use on a full layout) as their primary A6 supply source.

Do I need to bind the signatures myself?

You can buy pre-bound A6 inserts (Midori, Stalogy, Field Notes) if you want to skip the binding step. But most junk journalists prefer to bind their own because you control the paper mix – mixing kraft, cardstock, vellum, and old book pages in one signature is the whole point of the format. A simple 3-hole pamphlet stitch with waxed thread takes 5 minutes per signature.

What pens work best in an A6 junk journal?

Test on the actual paper you’re using. Felt-tip and gel pens bleed through thin or coated papers. Fine-tip ballpoints, fine-line technical pens (Sakura Pigma Microns are the standard), and pencils all work universally. If you’re using vellum or kraft, write on a sturdier page underneath as a buffer.

Where to Go Next

If A6 junk journaling is calling your name, here’s where to head next:

• How to Make a Junk Journal – The full step-by-step from supplies through finished journal.
• 88 Junk Journal Ideas – Page layouts, themes, and techniques you can adapt for A6 spreads.
• Junk Journal Supplies – The complete supply guide, including budget options and where to source ephemera.
• Junk Journal Cover Ideas – Decorate the front of your travelers notebook with mixed media and fabric techniques.
• Junk Journal Printables – Free printable ephemera sheets to expand your stash.
• Hip Kit Club Scrapbook Kits – Coordinated paper and ephemera kits that fuel A6 spreads for months.