How to Junk Journal – Your Step by Step Creative Process

So you’ve got a junk journal sitting in front of you – maybe you just made it, maybe someone gave you one, maybe you bought a gorgeous premade journal on Etsy. And now you’re staring at it wondering… OK, what do I actually do with this thing?

I remember that exact feeling with my first journal. I’d spent an afternoon building it from old book pages and scrap cardstock, stitched it together all proud of myself, and then just… froze. The pages were too pretty to mess up. The blank space felt intimidating. I didn’t know where to start or what to put on the first page.

That was three journals ago and I’ve learned something important since then: there’s no wrong way to junk journal. But there IS a process that makes it way less scary. Here’s how I actually work in my journals, page by page.

Start with a Background Layer

Every junk journal page starts the same way for me – I cover the base page with something. It doesn’t matter what. A piece of old book text, a coffee-stained napkin, torn kraft paper, a page from a magazine, leftover scrapbook paper. Glue it down so it covers most of the page.

Why? Because a background layer immediately takes away that blank-page pressure. You’re no longer staring at pristine paper that you’re afraid to ruin. You’re looking at a textured, imperfect surface that’s already been “messed up” on purpose. It’s freeing.

Some of my favorite background materials:

• Old book pages (especially ones with highlighted or underlined text – those are gold)
• Sheet music – even if you don’t play anything, the printed notes look gorgeous
• Brown paper bags torn into rough shapes
• Pages from old dictionaries or encyclopedias
• Printable vintage backgrounds if you want something specific

Don’t stress about covering the whole page evenly. Gaps are fine. Overlaps are fine. Wrinkles add texture. This is a junk journal, not a term paper.

Create Pockets and Tuck Spots

Pockets are one of the things that make junk journals so satisfying to flip through. They turn flat pages into interactive little treasure chests where you can hide tags, notes, photos, and ephemera.

The easiest pocket is just an envelope glued to a page with the flap open. Used envelopes from your mail work perfectly – the ones with pretty stamps or return address labels have built-in character. Trim them down if they’re too big, or leave them full size.

For a simple paper pocket, take a piece of paper slightly smaller than your page, fold up the bottom third, and glue the sides to the page. Leave the top open. Done. You now have a pocket.

Tuck spots are even simpler – glue a strip of paper or washi tape across the page leaving the top edge unglued so you can slide things behind it. I put tuck spots on almost every page because they take two seconds and add so much dimension.

Other pocket ideas that work great:

• Library card pockets (you can buy reproductions or make them from cardstock)
• Coin envelopes tucked sideways
• Vellum pockets – you can see what’s inside which is so pretty
• Folded paper pouches with washi tape closures

Build Layers (This Is Where the Magic Happens)

Layering is what gives junk journal pages that gorgeous, dimensional look. And the secret is that it’s not complicated at all. You’re basically just stacking things on top of each other at different angles.

Start with your background layer (already done). Then add a piece of patterned paper or a photo, slightly smaller, on top. Then something smaller on top of that – a tag, a label, a stamped image. Each layer peeks out from behind the one above it.

Here’s my layering process for most pages:

1. Background – Full page coverage (book page, kraft paper, etc.)
2. Anchor piece – A larger element like a 4×6 photo, a piece of patterned paper, or a printed ephemera sheet
3. Medium elements – Smaller papers, tags, journal cards, postcards
4. Small details – Stickers, washi tape strips, stamps, hand-lettered labels
5. Finishing touches – Ribbon, lace trim, buttons, or a tiny clothespin holding something

You don’t need all five layers on every page. Some of my best pages are just two or three layers. But thinking in layers helps you build up visual interest without it feeling random.

Add Journaling (or Don’t)

Here’s where junk journaling gets personal. Some people fill their pages with writing – daily reflections, memories, quotes, lists, goals. Others barely write a word and let the visual elements tell the story. Both are completely valid.

If you want to include journaling but hate the idea of writing directly on your decorated pages (because what if you mess up?), try these workarounds:

• Journal on separate cards and tuck them into pockets. You can pull them out to read and replace them if you want to update later.
• Use tags – Write on a tag, tie it with twine or ribbon, and attach it to the page. Looks intentional and you can write on both sides.
• Sticky notes – Seriously. A small sticky note tucked under a flap is perfectly fine in a junk journal. You can write freely knowing you can replace it.
• Type and print – If your handwriting makes you cringe, type your journaling and print it on cardstock to cut and glue in. No judgment.

I personally write directly on my pages with a fine-point pen and I’ve learned to stop caring about mistakes. A crossed-out word or a misspelling just becomes part of the page’s character. This isn’t a final draft of anything – it’s your messy, beautiful creative space.

Fill Pages with a Theme (or Just Wing It)

Some junk journalers work with a specific theme for each journal or even each spread. A travel journal for a specific trip. A seasonal journal for autumn. A gratitude journal. A journal documenting a project or a year of your life.

Themed journals are great because they give you direction. When you sit down to work on a page, you already know the general vibe. For a fall-themed journal, you’re reaching for orange and brown papers, leaf stickers, warm tones. The theme does half the decision-making for you.

But you know what? My favorite journal has absolutely no theme. It’s a chaotic mix of random collage pages, grocery lists, photos of my dog, ticket stubs, paint swatches from when we repainted the bedroom, and a page where I just glued down every sample of washi tape I own. It’s a mess and I love it.

If you’re new to junk journaling, I’d actually suggest starting without a theme. Give yourself permission to put anything and everything in there. You’ll naturally discover what you enjoy most, and that’ll inform themed journals later.

Use Your Scrapbooking Supplies (They All Work)

If you already have a stash of scrapbooking supplies, congratulations – you’re fully equipped for junk journaling without buying a single new thing. Everything crosses over.

• Patterned paper – Cut or tear it for backgrounds, layers, and pockets
• Stickers – Same stickers, just in a journal instead of a layout
• Stamps and ink – Stamp directly on pages, on tags, on ephemera
• Die cuts – Perfect for layering and focal points
• Washi tape – Borders, hinge tape for fold-outs, decoration, and holding things down
• Embellishments – Enamel dots, sequins, buttons, charms – they all work

Monthly craft kits are actually ideal for junk journaling because everything coordinates. You get papers, stickers, and embellishments that match, which takes the color-coordination guesswork out of it. I use leftover pieces from my Hip Kit Club kits in my journals constantly.

Interactive Elements That Make It Fun to Flip Through

The best junk journals aren’t just pretty to look at – they’re fun to interact with. Here are some easy interactive elements that make people want to keep turning pages:

Fold-outs: Glue a piece of paper to the page along one edge so it folds open. Put journaling or a photo inside. People love unfolding things.

Flip-ups: Similar to fold-outs but the paper folds up instead of sideways. Great for hiding journaling or before-and-after photos.

Pull tabs: Attach a tag or card to a ribbon or piece of twine so it can be pulled out of a pocket or tuck spot. Add a small bead or button to the end for a handle.

Waterfall cards: A stack of cards attached to a central strip that cascade open when you pull the first one. Looks impressive, surprisingly easy to make.

Belly bands: A strip of paper or ribbon wrapped around a group of pages, holding tags or cards against the page. Slide off the band to access everything underneath.

What to Do When You’re Stuck

Creative blocks happen to everyone. Here’s what works for me when I sit down with my journal and draw a complete blank:

Start ugly. Seriously. Slap down some random paper, smear glue stick on it, throw some scraps on top. Once the page is “ruined” the pressure vanishes and you can actually start creating.

Work on a page in the middle. Skip the first page. First pages carry so much psychological weight. Go to page seven or twelve and start there. You can always come back.

Copy something you saw online. Pull up Pinterest or YouTube, find a page you like, and recreate it with your own materials. It’s not cheating – it’s learning. Your version will look different anyway because you’re using different papers and elements.

Set a timer. Give yourself 15 minutes and one rule: something has to be glued down when the timer goes off. It doesn’t have to be good. It just has to exist. I’ve made some of my favorite pages under this kind of gentle deadline pressure.

For more creative kickstarts, browse our junk journal ideas collection – there’s enough inspiration in there to fill a dozen journals.

How Often Should You Journal

There’s no schedule. Some people work in their journals daily. Some pick them up once a week. Some binge-create five pages on a rainy Saturday afternoon and then don’t touch it for two weeks. All of that is completely normal.

What helps is keeping your journal and a small supply pouch somewhere accessible – not buried in a closet. If your journal is on the kitchen table or your desk, you’re way more likely to flip it open and do something during a quiet moment.

I keep a small basket next to my journal with a glue stick, scissors, a pen, some washi tape, and whatever scraps I’ve been collecting lately. When I have 10 minutes, I can work on a page without any setup time. That low-friction approach is what turned junk journaling from something I did occasionally into something I do regularly.

Your First Five Pages

If you’re brand new and want a simple roadmap, here’s what I’d put on your first five pages:

1. A collage page – Tear or cut five pieces of different paper and glue them down overlapping. Add a piece of washi tape. Done. This is your warmup page.
2. A pocket page – Glue an envelope to the page and fill it with a few tags or cards. Write something on one of the tags – a quote, a date, a thought.
3. A photo page – Print a photo (any photo) and build layers around it. Background paper, the photo, a journal card underneath with a note about the photo.
4. A found materials page – Use only things that aren’t traditional craft supplies. A napkin from a restaurant, a receipt, a piece of wrapping paper, a label from a jar. Collage them together.
5. A free page – Whatever you want. Paint on it. Stamp on it. Write a letter to your future self. Tape in a leaf from outside. This one has no rules at all.

By the time you finish these five pages, you’ll have tried enough techniques to know what you enjoy most. From there, the journal basically fills itself.

Ready to go deeper? Our how to make a junk journal tutorial covers building the journal itself from scratch. Not sure what a junk journal even is? We’ve got you covered there too. And for supply lists, cover inspiration, and theme ideas, we’ve got guides for all of it.