Junk Journal Stickers – Where to Find Them and How to Use Them

I have a problem. Well, my family calls it a problem. I call it a well-curated sticker collection that just happens to take up two entire drawers of my craft desk.

Stickers are one of those junk journal supplies that seem so simple – peel and stick, right? But once you start paying attention, you realize there’s actually a huge variety out there, and the right stickers can completely transform a spread. The wrong ones can make your pages look like a kindergartner’s lunchbox (which, honestly, is also a valid aesthetic if that’s your thing).

If you’re just getting started with junk journaling, check out our beginner’s guide to junk journals first. But if you’re past that stage and ready to level up your sticker game, let’s get into it.

Types of Stickers That Work Best in Junk Journals

Not all stickers are created equal when it comes to junk journaling. Here’s what actually works well versus what looks great in the package but disappoints on the page:

Washi stickers and tape

Washi tape technically isn’t a sticker, but washi stickers are – and they’re probably my single most-used embellishment. They’re thin enough that they don’t add bulk to your pages, they come in every pattern imaginable, and they’re repositionable if you act fast. I keep a rotation of floral, vintage text, and solid color washi stickers on my desk at all times.

Clear and transparent stickers

These are game changers for layering. You can stick them over patterned paper, painted backgrounds, or collaged layers and the background shows through. They add detail without covering up your work underneath. I use clear alphabet stickers constantly for titling pages because they look clean on any background.

Die-cut stickers

Pre-cut shapes – flowers, butterflies, labels, frames, banners – that you can arrange however you want. These save you from having to fussy cut things yourself, which honestly is reason enough to love them. Monthly craft kits like Hip Kit Club often include coordinated die-cut stickers that match the papers in the kit, which makes putting together cohesive pages really easy.

Vintage and ephemera-style stickers

Stickers that look like old postage stamps, botanical illustrations, antique labels, or aged paper scraps. These are perfect for journals with a vintage aesthetic. Some of the best ones are printed on matte paper so they actually look like real vintage ephemera rather than shiny stickers. Check our junk journal ideas page for ways to use vintage-style stickers in themed spreads.

Functional stickers

Tabs, arrows, date stamps, corner pieces, photo corners – stickers that actually do something beyond decoration. I use tab stickers to mark sections in my journals and corner stickers to frame photos or ephemera. They serve double duty as both decoration and organization.

Where to Find Junk Journal Stickers

You can obviously buy stickers everywhere, but here are the sources I actually use and recommend:

Print your own

This is probably the most underrated option. If you have a printer and some sticker paper (full-sheet labels from any office supply store work great), you can print literally anything. Vintage illustrations, custom labels, your own photos, patterns you designed – the possibilities are endless. Our free junk journal printables page has downloadable designs you can print on sticker paper right now.

Monthly craft subscription kits

This is honestly how I discover most of my favorite sticker brands. A good craft subscription includes stickers that coordinate with that month’s papers and theme, so everything works together without you having to hunt for matching pieces. Hip Kit Club’s monthly kits always include a solid sticker selection alongside the papers, cardstock, and embellishments.

Thrift stores and dollar stores

I am not above raiding the dollar store sticker aisle. Those sheets of alphabet stickers, seasonal stickers, and basic shape stickers are perfectly good for junk journals. They won’t be fancy, but they get the job done for $1. Thrift stores sometimes have entire bags of random stickers from estate sales or craft destashes – I’ve found some genuinely beautiful vintage stickers this way.

Etsy and small shops

Etsy is where you’ll find the most unique, artisan-made stickers – especially vintage-style ephemera stickers, hand-illustrated designs, and stickers made from recycled materials. The quality varies a lot, so check reviews. My favorite shops are the ones run by actual junk journalers because they understand what works on a journal page versus what just looks pretty in a flat lay.

Free stickers you already have

Address labels, return address stickers, postage stamps (used ones are perfect), brand stickers from packaging, bumper stickers, luggage tags – you’d be surprised how many stickers pass through your life that you’re currently throwing away. Start a sticker rescue bin and toss them in as you find them.

Creative Ways to Use Stickers in Your Journal

Peeling and sticking is the baseline, but here are some techniques that’ll make your sticker use more interesting:

Layer stickers over painted backgrounds

Paint or ink a page first, let it dry completely, then add stickers on top. The combination of organic paint texture with crisp sticker edges creates really satisfying contrast. This works especially well with clear stickers where the paint shows through.

Cut stickers apart and reassemble

Take a sheet of stickers and cut individual elements apart, then recombine them in unexpected ways. Mix florals from one sheet with text from another and frames from a third. Nobody says you have to use stickers the way the designer intended.

Use stickers as page borders

Line up small stickers along the edge of a page or around a photo to create a custom border. Tiny star stickers, dots, hearts, or even strips of washi tape stickers work great for this. It frames your content without having to draw or stamp a border.

Create pockets with sticker flaps

Place a large sticker (or a strip of washi tape) along three edges of a piece of cardstock or patterned paper, leaving the top open. You’ve just made a pocket you can tuck ephemera into. This trick works especially well with decorative cover elements too.

Age your stickers

Brand new shiny stickers can look out of place in a vintage-themed journal. Fix this by lightly sanding the surface with fine-grit sandpaper, dabbing the edges with brown ink, or brushing on a thin layer of matte medium to kill the shine. Five seconds of distressing makes cheap stickers look like they’ve been in a drawer for decades.

Building Your Sticker Stash Without Going Broke

Sticker hoarding is real (ask me how I know), so here are some ways to keep your collection growing without your credit card crying:

• Print your own on full-sheet labels. A pack of 100 label sheets costs about $15 and gives you essentially unlimited stickers. Pair with our free printables and you’re set.
• Trade with other journalers. Join our Craft and Connect community – members swap stickers, ephemera, and supplies all the time.
• Save stickers from kits. If you get a monthly craft kit, don’t use every sticker immediately. Set aside a few each month and you’ll build up a diverse collection fast.
• Buy sticker books on clearance. After holidays, craft stores discount seasonal sticker books by 50-75%. Stock up on general-use ones (flowers, alphabets, borders) that work year-round.
• Make your own with tape. Layer washi tape strips onto parchment paper, cut into shapes, and peel off when needed. Custom stickers, zero cost.

Sticker Storage Tips

Once your collection grows (and it will), you need a system or you’ll spend more time looking for stickers than actually using them:

• Store flat sheets in a binder with page protectors. Flip through like a catalog when you’re journaling.
• Sort by type or color, not by brand. When you’re building a page, you’re thinking “I need something blue and floral” not “I need something from that one brand.”
• Keep your favorites accessible. I have a small rotating selection on my desk and everything else in the binder. If I had to dig through the whole collection every time, I’d never use half of what I own.
• Use a roll holder for washi tape. If you’re using a lot of washi tape alongside stickers (and you should be), a simple wooden dowel or paper towel holder keeps rolls from becoming a tangled pile.

For more on organizing your supplies, our junk journal supplies guide covers storage alongside everything else you need for this craft.

At the end of the day, stickers are just one tool in your junk journal toolkit. They’re not going to make or break your journal – your creativity and the stories you’re telling are what matter. But the right stickers at the right moment? They can turn a good page into one you keep flipping back to. And that’s worth a sticker drawer or two.

Stickers aren’t just for junk journals, by the way. They’re a quick way to add detail to art journal pages and handmade cards too.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our guides on how to make a junk journal, junk journal themes.

Stickers are perfect for art journaling too! Check out our art journal prompts for creative ways to use them.

With all these supplies building up, you might need our craft room organization ideas to keep everything tidy.