How to Make a Junk Journal – Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

To make a junk journal, gather mixed papers (old book pages, scrapbook paper, cardstock), fold them into signatures of 3-5 sheets, create a sturdy cover from chipboard or cardboard, and bind everything together with a simple pamphlet stitch. A junk journal is a handmade book you put together from recycled, repurposed, and mixed materials. It’s not a store-bought notebook and it’s not a traditional scrapbook – it’s something way more personal than either of those. Old book pages, scrap paper, envelopes, cardstock, random ephemera you’ve been hoarding – all of it becomes raw material for a book that’s completely, entirely yours.

And before you get hung up on the word “junk” – it doesn’t mean trash. It means taking everyday stuff you already have lying around and turning it into something beautiful. I use mine for memory keeping, art journaling, and honestly just as a place to play with paper when I don’t want the pressure of a perfect scrapbook layout. The process of making one is just as satisfying as using the finished thing.

I’m going to walk you through everything from gathering supplies to binding your pages to adding all those fun creative details. Even if you’ve never made anything like this before, I promise you can do it.

What Is a Junk Journal

At its core, a junk journal is a handmade book assembled from a mix of paper types and mixed media materials. Your pages can include old book pages, scrapbook paper, kraft paper, envelopes, napkins, paper bags, music sheets – literally anything papery that catches your eye. No two junk journals look alike because every maker grabs different materials and runs with them in different directions.

They’re different from art journals and traditional scrapbooks in some important ways. Art journals tend to focus on painting, drawing, and mixed media art on blank pages. Scrapbooks preserve photos in structured layouts with coordinated supplies. Junk journals sit somewhere in between – they embrace texture, layers, and this wonderfully imperfect handmade look that comes from smashing a bunch of different paper types together into one book.

The junk journal movement has blown up because the barrier to entry is basically zero. You don’t need expensive supplies or any special training. Just paper, something to bind it with, and a willingness to experiment. For more project inspiration, check out our collection of junk journal ideas covering page designs, cover concepts, and creative themes.

What Supplies Do You Need to Make a Junk Journal?

One of my favorite things about junk journaling is that you’ve probably got most of what you need at home right now. Seriously, go look at your recycling bin, your junk drawer, and that stack of pretty paper you’ve been saving “for something.” That’s your starter kit. Here’s a breakdown of the basics – and for the full shopping checklist, head to our junk journal supplies guide.

Paper and Pages

The heart of any junk journal is the paper, and you want variety. Gather a mix of different types so your book has visual interest and texture on every spread. Good options include old book pages, kraft paper, scrapbook paper scraps, cardstock, watercolor paper, copy paper, brown paper bags, envelopes, file folders, and pages from old calendars or magazines. Mixing weights and textures is honestly what gives a junk journal that whole “I need to touch every page” quality.

Binding Materials

You need something to hold your pages together (obviously). For hand-sewn binding, grab some waxed linen thread or embroidery floss, a large-eye needle, and an awl or thick pushpin for poking holes. If sewing sounds intimidating right now, binder clips, staples, or strong adhesive tape can work fine for smaller journals. I started with staples on my very first one and there’s absolutely no shame in that.

Embellishments

This is where things get fun. Embellishments add all the personality and little details that make your pages special. Think washi tape, stickers, rubber stamps and ink pads, ribbon, lace, buttons, pressed flowers, vintage postcards, printed ephemera. Start with whatever you’ve got and build your stash over time. Trust me, you’ll start seeing potential junk journal materials everywhere you go.

Basic Tools

A few simple tools make the whole process smoother. Keep scissors, a craft knife, a metal ruler, a bone folder for creasing paper, a glue stick or liquid adhesive, and a cutting mat nearby. None of these need to be fancy or expensive – my bone folder was like three dollars and I’ve used it on every single project since. For a deeper look at essential crafting tools and materials, visit our scrapbook supplies guide.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Pages

Start by picking a size for your journal. A5 (5.8 x 8.3 inches) is a great choice for beginners because it’s big enough to actually work on but small enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. You can also make a 6×8 inch journal, which works nicely with a lot of scrapbook paper sizes, or go smaller with an A6 mini journal if you want something quick and manageable.

Cut or tear your papers to your chosen size. And I do mean tear – you don’t need to be precise here. Slight variations in size are part of the charm. Aim for at least 20 to 30 pages to start with, and mix your paper types throughout so you’ve got variety on every spread.

If you want that aged vintage look (and honestly who doesn’t), try distressing your pages before assembly. Tea staining is my go-to – just brush some cooled tea or coffee over the pages and let them dry. You get this gorgeous warm antique tone that makes everything feel more intentional. You can also ink the edges with a brown or black ink pad, crumple pages and flatten them back out, or lightly sand the surface for texture. I usually do at least two of these techniques on every journal.

Once your pages are cut and distressed, organize them into signatures. A signature is just a small group of pages nested together, usually three to five sheets folded in half. You’ll bind multiple signatures together to form the complete journal. Stack them in the order you want them and set them aside.

Step 2 – Create the Cover

Your cover protects the journal and sets the whole mood for the book. Pick something sturdy that can handle being opened and closed a bunch. Chipboard – that thick cardboard from cereal boxes or shipping packaging – is an excellent free option. You can also use old hardcover book covers, heavy cardstock, or even fabric-wrapped cardboard.

Cut two cover pieces slightly larger than your interior pages, about a quarter inch bigger on each side. This little overhang protects the page edges and gives the whole thing a more polished, book-like feel.

Now for the fun part – decorating. You can cover the chipboard with patterned paper or fabric using decoupage medium, add a collage of layered ephemera and images, rubber stamp a title or design, paint with acrylics or watercolors, or wrap it with linen or cotton fabric secured with glue. Some makers go all out with dimensional elements like buttons, charms, lace trim, or ribbon closures. I’ve done everything from super simple kraft paper wraps to elaborate collaged covers, and honestly they all turn out great. Just do what feels right for the journal you’re making – like the curated papers in any of our monthly scrapbook kits.

Step 3 – Bind Your Journal

Binding is what turns a stack of paper into an actual book. And I’ll be honest, this was the part that scared me the most when I started. But the pamphlet stitch is genuinely easy to learn and you don’t need anything special beyond a needle, thread, and something to poke holes with.

Three-Hole Pamphlet Stitch

Place one signature inside your cover. Along the spine fold, mark three evenly spaced holes. The middle one should be at the center, with the top and bottom holes about an inch from each edge. Use an awl, pushpin, or large needle to punch through all layers at each mark.

Thread your needle with about 18 inches of waxed thread. Starting from the outside, push the needle through the center hole. Pull it through, leaving a 3-inch tail on the outside. Go through the top hole from inside to outside. Skip the center hole and go through the bottom hole from outside to inside. Finally, go back through the center hole from inside to outside. You should end up on the same side as your starting tail. Tie the two thread ends together with a square knot and trim.

My first binding fell apart because I didn’t leave enough tail for a solid knot. So don’t skimp on that 3-inch tail – you’ll thank yourself when you’re tying off.

For a thicker journal, bind multiple signatures separately and then attach them to the cover with additional stitching along the spine. You can also try a coptic stitch, which creates this gorgeous exposed spine with a decorative chain pattern. It takes more practice but it’s so worth learning eventually.

Alternative Methods

If sewing still feels like too much for right now, totally fine. Staple binding works great for mini journals with fewer pages. You can also use binder rings through punched holes, or make a simple accordion fold journal that doesn’t need any binding at all. The point is to get started – you can always try fancier techniques on your next journal. And believe me, there will be a next one.

Which Junk Journal Binding Method Should You Choose?

The binding method you pick affects how your journal opens, how thick you can make it, and honestly how long the whole project takes. Here’s a quick reference for the five most common methods so you can figure out which fits your skill level and the journal you want to make.

Method	Difficulty	Time	Best For
Pamphlet stitch	Beginner	15-20 min	Single signature, mini journals, first-time makers
Coptic stitch	Intermediate	45-60 min	Multiple signatures, exposed-spine look, lay-flat pages
Long stitch	Intermediate	30-45 min	Multiple signatures with a soft cover, decorative spine
Binder rings	Beginner	5-10 min	Adding/removing pages anytime, no-sew option
Staples	Beginner	2 min	Tiny mini journals, kid projects, learning the format

I started with staples on my very first journal and graduated to pamphlet stitch on the second one. Coptic stitch took me three tries before it looked right, but the lay-flat pages were absolutely worth the effort. Don’t feel like you have to start with the fanciest method. The journal you actually finish beats the one you abandoned because the binding overwhelmed you.

How Do You Add Pockets and Interactive Elements?

OK so this is where junk journals really become addictive. Interactive elements create these little hidden spaces and surprise reveals that make people want to flip through every single page. I can’t stop adding them to mine.

Pockets are the easiest place to start. Just glue an envelope onto a page with the opening facing up – instant pocket. You can also fold cardstock into pocket shapes, or use library card holders, coin envelopes, or small paper bags. Fill them with tags, journaling cards, small photos, or bits of ephemera. I tuck little notes in mine sometimes for future-me to find later.

Fold-out pages add a great element of surprise. Attach a larger piece of paper that’s folded to fit the page size, so you can unfold it to reveal hidden content underneath. Flaps work similarly but they’re attached on one edge and lift up to show text or images beneath.

Tags on string or ribbon are another favorite. Punch a hole in a tag, thread ribbon through it, and attach the other end to the page with tape or glue. The tag can be pulled out to read or tucked back in. Tip-ins are small pieces of paper or photos attached by just one edge, creating a layered effect. And tuck spots – where you glue a strip of paper across the bottom of a page to hold cards, tickets, or notes – are ridiculously simple to make but everyone loves them.

Common First-Journal Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Almost every junk journaler I know has made at least three of these mistakes on their first journal. The good news is they’re all easy to dodge once someone tells you about them. The other good news is that even if you make all of them, the journal is still going to be charming because that’s the whole point.

• Going too big right out of the gate. A lot of beginners pick A4 or 8.5×11 because that’s the paper they have, then they get overwhelmed trying to fill the spreads. Start with A6 or A5. Smaller pages are way faster to decorate, and the journal feels more like a book than a giant binder.
• Skipping the awl/needle holes and trying to push thread through plain paper. Just don’t. Pre-poke your holes with an awl, large needle, or even a thumb tack. The binding looks 10x cleaner and your needle stays in one piece.
• Using the wrong adhesive on heavy embellishments. Glue sticks won’t hold buttons, ribbons, or thick chipboard pieces over time. Use a tacky craft glue or hot glue for dimensional stuff, and keep the glue stick for paper-to-paper layering. I lost half the embellishments on my first journal because I trusted a glue stick way too much.
• Cutting all your pages exactly the same size. A mix of slightly different sizes is part of the look. Tear some edges, leave some pages a quarter inch shorter, deckle a few. Perfect alignment makes it feel like a notebook from Office Depot, not a handmade book.
• Forgetting to leave enough binding tail. When you’re sewing the pamphlet stitch, leave a 3-inch tail before you start. If you skimp, you can’t tie a secure knot at the end and the whole thing comes loose. My first binding failed for exactly this reason.
• Trying to design every page before you start. Plan the journal as a whole and let individual pages develop as you go. Pre-planning every spread takes the joy out of it and you’ll abandon the project. Some of my favorite spreads happened because I had ten minutes and a coffee stain to cover up.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Junk Journal?

This is the question I get asked most, and the honest answer is “depends on how fancy you want to get.” Here’s a realistic breakdown so you can plan around your actual schedule.

A small A6 mini journal with a single signature and pamphlet stitch takes about 1-2 hours from cutting paper to finishing the binding. That’s a single-afternoon project. Add basic decoration to the cover and you’re looking at 2-3 hours total.

A full A5 journal with multiple signatures, a decorated cover, pockets, and tip-ins typically runs 4-6 hours of actual work, but most people spread that over 3-4 sessions across a week. The decorating-the-pages part is a separate project that can take as long as you want it to. Some of my journals have been “finished” structurally for months while I’m still adding spreads to the inside.

If you’re working with a kid or as a craft-night activity, plan for staple-bound mini journals that everyone can finish in under an hour. The lower stakes and faster turnaround keeps people engaged.

How Much Does It Cost to Make a Junk Journal?

Junk journaling is one of the cheapest paper crafts you can pick up because the philosophy is built around using what you already have. That said, here’s what you actually spend depending on how scrappy you want to be.

Under $10 (full thrift mode): Use household paper (printer paper, junk mail, magazines, brown paper bags), a cereal box for the cover, and basic sewing thread or staples. The only thing you might need to buy is glue stick and a needle. I’ve made entire journals from a recycling-bin haul and a $3 spool of waxed thread.

Want to dive deeper into supply choices? Check our complete junk journal supplies guide for what to look for and where to source it.

$20-40 (polished basics): Add a few sheets of nice scrapbook paper, decent waxed linen thread, a bone folder, a cutting mat, and some basic embellishments like washi tape and stamps. This gets you a noticeably more refined finished journal without breaking anything.

$50+ (decked out): Quality cardstock, multiple paper collections, brass or vintage hardware, decorative embellishments, premium adhesives, and themed kits. The ongoing cost here isn’t the journal structure – it’s the paper and embellishments you’ll keep buying because junk journaling is its own gateway hobby.

The good news: the structural cost is one-time. Once you have a needle, an awl, a bone folder, and a cutting mat, those tools last for dozens of journals. The variable cost is the paper and decorative supplies, which is where curated kits like our monthly scrapbook kits can stretch a long way because everything coordinates without you having to think about it.

Junk Journal Page Ideas and Themes

Once your journal is assembled, the real creativity kicks in. Picking a theme can help guide your page designs and give everything a cohesive feel, though plenty of junk journalers prefer to skip the theme entirely and just let each page develop on its own. There’s no wrong approach here.

A vintage or heritage theme works beautifully with aged papers, old photographs, handwritten letters, and muted color palettes. Use sepia tones, lace, and vintage typography to create pages that feel like they belong in another era. Papers from our curated monthly scrapbook kits are perfect for this kind of vintage look.

Nature and botanical themes pair perfectly with pressed flowers, leaf prints, garden catalog clippings, and earthy colors. Watercolor washes in greens and browns make gorgeous backgrounds for botanical pages. I did a spring nature journal last year and it’s still one of my favorite things I’ve ever made.

Travel journal themes let you document adventures with maps, ticket stubs, postcards, and destination-specific ephemera. A travel junk journal becomes this meaningful keepsake that captures memories in a way photos alone just can’t.

Seasonal themes give you a reason to create all year long. Spring gardens, summer beach days, autumn leaves, winter holidays – each one offers distinct color palettes and motifs to build pages around. I try to make at least one seasonal mini journal each year.

Mixed media pages combine techniques like painting, stamping, collage, and hand lettering on a single spread. These often end up being the most visually striking pages in the whole journal. For dozens more layout ideas and theme suggestions, explore our complete guide to junk journal ideas.

What Are the Best Tips for Your First Junk Journal?

If you’re making your first junk journal, here are the things I wish someone had told me before I started.

• Start small. A mini journal or A6 size is way less intimidating than a big book, and it lets you practice techniques without a massive time commitment. My first one was tiny and I finished it in an afternoon.
• Embrace the mess. Junk journals are supposed to look handmade. Rough edges, uneven pages, visible stitching – that’s all character, not mistakes. The sooner you let go of perfect, the more fun you’ll have.
• Use what you’ve already got. Raid your house for paper, packaging, old magazines, greeting cards, craft scraps. The whole point is creative reuse, not buying a bunch of new stuff.
• Watch process videos for binding. Seriously, seeing someone actually do a pamphlet stitch is a million times easier than reading about it. I must’ve watched five videos before I attempted mine and it made all the difference.
• Don’t over-plan. Some of my best pages happened completely by accident. I glued something down thinking “well that’s weird” and it turned out to be my favorite spread. Let yourself experiment.
• Find your people. The junk journal community is incredibly welcoming and full of inspiration. Look for groups on social media, YouTube tutorials, and local craft meetups. It makes the whole hobby so much more fun when you’ve got people to share it with.

Making a junk journal is honestly one of the most accessible and rewarding paper crafting projects you can try. There are no rules, no mistakes, and absolutely no wrong way to do it. Grab some paper, pick up a needle and thread (or a stapler, we don’t judge), and start creating something that’s uniquely yours.

Junk Journal Frequently Asked Questions

The questions I get asked over and over from people just starting out, with the answers I wish someone had handed me before I made my first journal.

What materials do I need to make a junk journal?

At minimum: paper (any kind – old book pages, scrapbook paper, printer paper), something for the cover (cardboard, chipboard, or a cereal box), and binding supplies (thread, twine, or staples). Adhesive and scissors round out the basics. Most beginners can start with supplies they already have at home.

How do I bind a junk journal?

The simplest method is a pamphlet stitch – fold your pages, poke three holes along the spine, and sew with one piece of thread. For thicker journals, try a coptic stitch or use binder rings punched through the spine. Staple binding works fine for very small mini journals if sewing feels intimidating.

How long does it take to make a junk journal?

A simple A6 mini journal with a pamphlet stitch takes 1-2 hours from start to finish. A full A5 journal with multiple signatures, a decorated cover, and pockets typically takes 4-6 hours spread over a few sessions. Most makers spend more time decorating pages than building the actual book.

How much does it cost to make a junk journal?

You can make a junk journal for under $10 if you use household paper, a cereal box cover, and basic embroidery thread. A more polished journal with quality scrapbook paper, decorative thread, and embellishments runs $20-40. Most ongoing cost goes to embellishments and decorative paper, not the structural supplies.

How thick should a junk journal be?

Start with 15-20 sheets (30-40 pages). This gives enough room for creativity without the binding getting too bulky. You can always make another journal – most junk journalers have multiple going at once. Thicker journals (50+ pages) work better with coptic stitch or binder rings than a pamphlet stitch.

Can I use a composition notebook as a junk journal?

Yes – it’s actually a great shortcut. Alter the cover, glue in pockets and fold-outs, and layer papers over the lined pages. The binding is already done for you. This is one of the easiest entry points if the idea of binding from scratch feels overwhelming.

What’s the easiest binding for a complete beginner?

For total beginners, staple binding or a single-signature pamphlet stitch are the easiest. Pamphlet stitch only needs three holes and one length of thread, and it produces a real handmade book. Skip the coptic stitch on your first journal – it’s beautiful but the chain pattern takes practice to do cleanly.

Do I need special paper to make a junk journal?

No. The whole point of a junk journal is using whatever paper you can find. Mix old book pages, scrapbook paper scraps, kraft paper, envelopes, brown paper bags, and printer paper for variety. Avoid super glossy or heavily coated paper because adhesive does not stick to it well.

Where to Go Next

If you’ve finished your first junk journal (or you’re partway through one), here’s where to point your energy next. Each of these pillar guides goes deep on a specific piece of the junk journaling puzzle.

• What Is a Junk Journal? – The full breakdown of how junk journals differ from scrapbooks, art journals, and traveler’s notebooks.
• Junk Journal Supplies – Complete shopping list with what to actually buy and what to skip.
• Junk Journal Ideas – 88+ page, cover, and theme ideas organized by style.
• Junk Journal Cover Ideas – Cover designs from minimalist kraft to elaborate collaged book covers.
• Free Junk Journal Printables – Downloadable ephemera, tags, and pocket templates.
• Junk Journal Themes – Seasonal and stylistic themes to give your journal a cohesive feel.

For more creative project ideas including page layouts, cover designs, and themed journals, check out our junk journal ideas guide. And if you’re looking for curated supplies to get started, our journaling projects are packed with inspiration from our design team.