OK so can we talk about the book situation for a minute? Because I feel like this is where so many people get stuck when they first get into junk journaling. They find a gorgeous thrift store hardcover, they grab a spare composition notebook, they see a travelers notebook at the craft store – and then they just kind of… freeze. Which one do you actually use? Does it even matter?
Spoiler: it matters a lot, actually. The base you choose shapes literally everything about how your journal comes together – the feel of the pages, how much you can add to them, whether the spine will hold up to all that ephemera and pockets and folded paper. But here’s the good news: there’s no single right answer. There are just different types of junk journal books for different projects, and once you know what each one does well, picking gets so much easier.
I’ve gone through an embarrassing number of bases at this point – composition notebooks held together with washi tape, thrift store encyclopedias that weighed about four pounds, a travelers notebook I’m still adding to two years later. So let me save you some of the trial and error.
What Makes a Good Junk Journal Book Base?
Before we get into specific types, here’s what you’re actually evaluating when you pick a base. First, page weight – can the paper handle glue, mists, and multiple layers without warping into a sad little taco? Second, spine flexibility – some bindings let you add signatures and bulk up the journal, others are pretty much fixed. Third, cover durability – is it going to survive being carried around in a bag or tossed on a craft table repeatedly? And fourth, the vibe – does this base match the aesthetic you’re going for?
Want to create layouts like this? Our monthly kits include coordinated papers, embellishments, and supplies to bring your scrapbook pages to life.
If you’re still figuring out what junk journaling even is, I’ve got a full breakdown at What Is a Junk Journal that covers the basics. And if you’re ready to start building pages, check out Junk Journal Supplies for everything you’ll need beyond just the base itself.
The Main Types of Junk Journal Books
Composition Notebooks
These are the entry-level gateway drug of junk journaling, and I say that with complete affection. The classic black-and-white marble composition notebook runs about a dollar at back-to-school sales and most dollar stores, and it’s genuinely a fantastic starting point.
The sewn binding is the main selling point – it stays together as you add weight to the pages, and you can remove pages without the whole thing falling apart. The covers are stiff enough to decorate but not so precious that you’ll feel bad collaging over them. Downside: the paper is thin and will warp if you go heavy on liquid media like inks and mists. Use a bone folder to flatten things as you go, or stick to mostly dry techniques.
Pro tip: the colored version of the composition notebook (they come in solid colors now, not just marble) actually provides a nice tinted page effect without any extra work.
Old Hardcover Books (Altered Books)
This is what people usually picture when they think of classic junk journaling – taking an actual book from the thrift store and turning it into something new. The approach is called altered book art, and it’s been around way longer than the term “junk journal” has.
Old encyclopedias, vintage Reader’s Digest condensed books, outdated textbooks, old romance novels with great cover art – all fair game. The paper in older books is often lovely to work on, with that slightly yellowed vintage quality that’s perfect for the aesthetic. The hardcovers hold up to heavy decorating, and the sheer number of pages gives you room to experiment without running out of space.
The process for these is a little different – you’ll typically remove most of the pages (more on that in a minute), leaving every few leaves to create thick, sturdy spreads. What you’re left with is substantial, hinge-like pages that can hold serious amounts of collage material. For junk journal ideas that really lean into that vintage, found-ephemera look, altered books are hard to beat.
Travelers Notebooks
The travelers notebook system – that leather cover with elastic bands holding interchangeable inserts – is brilliant for junk journaling because it grows with you. The core concept is that you can swap out, add, or replace the inserts (signatures) whenever you want, which means your junk journal book never has to feel “full” or “finished” in a limiting way.
You can buy a travelers notebook cover (brands like Midori and Traveler’s Company make the classic ones, but there are tons of indie leather makers doing gorgeous work on Etsy) and then make or buy your own inserts. Or make inserts to fit an existing cover you already have. The standard size is roughly 4.3″ x 8.3″, but you can find them in passport size, B6, A5, and more.
The flexibility is the whole draw here. Different inserts for different projects, swap them around, take one out to mail as a gift – there’s a whole community of people doing some incredibly creative things with the format.
Handmade Signatures and Pamphlet Books
If you want full control over your paper choice – and honestly, if you’re going to be adding a lot of wet media or heavy collage, this is the move – making your own signatures from scratch is the way to go. A signature is just a folded group of pages, sewn together, and then multiple signatures get sewn into a cover.
You can pick paper that’s actually designed to handle the techniques you want to use: watercolor paper for painted backgrounds, cardstock for sturdier pages, kraft paper for that natural brown base. The simplest version is a pamphlet stitch, which is genuinely something you can do in 20 minutes with a needle, waxed thread, and three holes.
The how to make a junk journal guide walks through the full process if you want step-by-step instructions for building one from scratch.
Ring-Bound Notebooks and Discbound Systems
Ring binders and disc-bound systems (Happy Planner, Arc, Circa) are the practical choice if you love reorganizing things. Pages can be moved around, added, removed, or replaced freely. It’s the most flexible format in terms of arranging your content after the fact.
The trade-off is that ring-bound journals can feel a little less “handmade” than sewn bindings, and the rings get in the way of flat spreads. Discbound systems solve the flat-lay problem since the pages lift completely off the discs, which is a genuine game-changer if you like to photograph your spreads.
Where to Find Junk Journal Books
The best base is often the one you can get for almost nothing. Here’s where I actually look:
- Thrift stores – This is ground zero for altered book bases. Old encyclopedias (especially illustrated ones), vintage cookbooks, outdated textbooks. I try to go at the end of the month when they’ve restocked and the selection is fresh. Prices are usually $0.50-$2 per book.
- Dollar stores – Composition notebooks, small hardcover blank books, and sometimes spiral notebooks that work great with altered pages. Dollar Tree’s composition notebooks are exactly what you need for a first project.
- Library book sales – Often overlooked. Libraries do periodic sales of discarded books, and the condition is usually better than thrift store finds. Late spring is typically the best time for these.
- Estate sales and garage sales – Old books, diaries, ledgers, and accounting books. Ledgers especially are amazing bases because the column lines on the pages add a ready-made vintage texture.
- Your own shelves – Don’t overlook books you already own that you’re never going to read again. Old college textbooks are particularly satisfying to alter.
- Online – Amazon, Etsy, and AliExpress all have blank book bases designed specifically for junk journaling, including vintage-style cover options. If you want a specific size or paper weight, buying new is often more practical than hunting for exactly the right thrift find.
How to Choose the Right Junk Journal Book for Your Project
Here’s the framework I actually use when I’m starting a new journal:
Think About Your Theme First
An altered hardcover vintage botany book is perfect for a garden-themed journal. A travelers notebook with kraft paper inserts feels right for a travel-themed project. A handmade pamphlet book in soft watercolor paper suits an ethereal, floral aesthetic. Let the theme guide the base. (Need theme inspiration? Junk Journal Themes has a whole list organized by season and style.)
Consider How You’ll Use It
Are you making this journal to keep, to give away, or to sell? A gift or sale journal needs to be durable and finished-looking from every angle. Something for yourself can be a little more experimental. Are you going to carry it around or is it staying on a shelf? Travelers notebooks and smaller composition books are great for portable journals; big altered hardcovers are better as display pieces.
Match the Base to Your Techniques
If you love using spray inks and watercolor, thicker paper is non-negotiable – thin composition notebook pages will ripple and warp. Go with a handmade signature on watercolor paper or find a base with heavier stock. If you’re mainly doing collage, papercrafting, and dry techniques, pretty much any base will work fine.
Check out Junk Journal Printables for ready-made pages that work well across different base types – layering printed ephemera on top of your base pages is a great way to add visual interest without wet media.
Preparing and Altering Your Book Base
Whatever type of base you choose, you’ll almost always do some prep work before you start decorating. Here’s what that typically looks like:
Removing Pages (for hardcover altered books)
The standard approach is to remove most of the pages, leaving every 3-5 pages as a “leaf” – so you end up with maybe 20-30 thick, multi-sheet spreads instead of 300 thin single pages. Some people glue the kept pages together in groups (called “sealing” or “gluing down”), which creates a sturdy substrate for heavy collage work. Others prefer to keep the layers separate so they can tuck things between them.
I always seal at least the first and last few spreads since those get the most handling.
Reinforcing the Spine
If you’re bulking up a composition notebook or adding signatures to an existing cover, the spine needs reinforcement. Washi tape is the quick fix – run a strip along the inside spine and another on the outside. For something sturdier, book binding tape or cloth tape from a craft store is better. I’ve also used strips of fabric glued down with Mod Podge for a more decorative look.
For hardcover altered books, the existing spine is usually solid enough unless you’re seriously overstuffing it. Just be aware that if the spine glue is old and brittle, heavy use will crack it – a strip of cloth tape on the inside can prevent that.
Adding Pockets and Extra Elements
This is where junk journal books get fun. Pockets made from envelopes, folded paper bags, or small kraft pouches get glued or sewn onto pages to hold loose ephemera. Tags get tied onto ribbon loops. Folded maps become backgrounds. Extra signatures get sewn into the gutter (the center fold) to add pages mid-journal.
The junk journal cover ideas page has a ton of inspiration for decorating the outside once you’ve got your base prepped, and junk journal ideas covers what to actually put on the inside pages.
Budget vs. Premium: What Actually Matters
OK here’s my honest take on this, because I see a lot of people either way overspending or being unnecessarily frugal in the wrong places.
Spend more on: Paper quality when it matters for your techniques. A travelers notebook leather cover if you’re going to use it for years. Good adhesive (cheap glue sticks are the source of so many junk journal disasters).
Don’t overspend on: The base book itself. A $1 composition notebook and a $0.50 thrift store hardcover can produce journals just as beautiful as something you spent $20 on from a specialty shop. The decorating is where the magic happens – the base is just the structure.
Premium blank books designed specifically for junk journaling are genuinely nice – they often have heavier paper, kraft pages, and pre-made pockets – but they’re not necessary, especially when you’re learning. Start cheap, figure out what you actually want in a base, then invest in higher quality if it matters to you.
Build Your Junk Journal with Hip Kit Club
Once you’ve picked your base, the fun part starts: filling it. The supplies that go into a junk journal – patterned papers, ephemera, die cuts, ribbon, stamps, tags – are exactly the kind of thing that Hip Kit Club curates every single month. Our scrapbooking kits are packed with coordinated papers and embellishments that work beautifully as junk journal fodder, and everything is designed to layer and mix well together.
You can browse the Hip Kit Club shop to see current kits and add-ons, or come hang out in the Hip Kit Club community on Skool where people share their junk journal projects all the time. It’s a good place to get inspired and ask questions if you’re still figuring out your style.
And if you want to keep building out your junk journaling practice, here are some good next reads:
- Junk Journal Ideas – 88+ ideas organized by style and technique
- How to Make a Junk Journal – complete step-by-step process
- Junk Journal Supplies – everything beyond the base that you’ll want to have on hand
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