The essential junk journal supplies are mixed papers, binding materials (thread and needle or staples), adhesive, scissors, and embellishments like washi tape and stickers. Here’s the honest truth about junk journal supplies: you probably already own most of what you need. I’m not just saying that to be nice. When I made my first junk journal, I literally grabbed some old book pages, a glue stick from the junk drawer, and embroidery floss from a friendship bracelet kit my kid abandoned. That was it. And it turned out great.
This guide covers everything you’ll actually use when you’re junk journaling, from papers and adhesives to tools and embellishments. I’ve been at this long enough to know what’s worth buying and what you can skip, so I’ll share my honest recommendations for every budget level.
What Makes Junk Journal Supplies Different from Other Craft Supplies?
If you’ve ever wandered through a craft store and felt your wallet physically flinch, you already know that paper crafting can get pricey. Junk journaling flips that whole idea on its head. The entire philosophy is built on creative reuse – taking stuff that would normally end up in the recycling bin and turning it into something beautiful.
Traditional scrapbook supplies are all about archival quality, acid-free everything, and perfectly coordinated collections. Junk journal supplies? They embrace the mess. Old book pages, junk mail, cereal boxes, fabric scraps, random bits you found in a drawer – these aren’t just acceptable, they’re the whole point. If you’re curious about the craft itself, our guide to what is a junk journal breaks it all down.
Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t use purchased supplies too. Most of us blend free and found materials with things like washi tape, stamps, and specialty papers. I definitely do. The difference is that nothing is required, and honestly? Some of my favorite pages came from the most random materials. Like a curated stamp set paired with a ripped-out page from a 1970s cookbook. Weirdly perfect together.
Paper and Pages
Paper is the foundation of every junk journal, and it’s also where you can go completely wild with what you already have. You want variety here – different weights, textures, colors, and origins all mixed together so every page turn feels like a little surprise.
Start with whatever’s lying around your house. Old book pages with their yellowed edges add instant character (I hoard them, it’s a problem). Kraft paper from grocery bags makes a gorgeous warm background. Used envelopes become ready-made pockets without any extra work. Junk mail, old calendars, magazine pages, cereal box cardboard, paper napkins, even coffee filters – it’s all fair game.
Cardstock and regular copy paper work great as sturdy base pages that can handle layering and collage. If you don’t have extras lying around, a basic kraft and neutral cardstock multipack gives you 30+ sheets of solid base material for under $10. Got leftover scrapbook paper from other projects? Toss it in. Specialty papers like watercolor paper, tissue paper, vellum, and handmade paper add texture when you mix them in with the everyday stuff.
Here’s what I’ve learned: mix your weights and textures throughout the journal. Put a thin tissue paper page next to a heavy cardstock page next to a medium-weight book page. It creates this tactile experience where every page turn feels different in your hands. Don’t stress about matching colors or patterns. Seriously. The variety is what makes it so good.
Adhesives and Binding Supplies
You need something to hold your pages together and something to stick things onto those pages. Good news: this part is simple and cheap.
My go-to adhesive is a basic glue stick. I burned through three of them on my first journal and I’ve never looked back. They’re cheap, they dry fast, and they don’t wrinkle thin papers the way liquid glue does. For heavier stuff like fabric, buttons, or thick cardboard, I switch to PVA tacky glue or craft glue. Tombow Mono tape runners and double-sided tape are great for clean, mess-free layering too.
Washi tape deserves its own shoutout because it pulls double duty. It’s an adhesive AND a decoration. Pick up a vintage-style washi tape set with 8-12 rolls in coordinating tones and you’re set for months. I use it to tape down ephemera, hinge fold-out pages, seal pockets, create borders, or just add a pop of color when a page needs something. It’s basically the duct tape of junk journaling.
For binding your journal, you really only need three things: a large-eye needle, waxed linen thread or embroidery floss, and an awl or thick pushpin for poking holes. A bone folder helps create crisp folds in your signatures but you can use a butter knife in a pinch. If sewing isn’t your thing, staples work for small journals, and binder rings through punched holes let pages lay flat so you can add or remove pages whenever you want.
Ephemera and Embellishments
This is where junk journaling gets really fun. Ephemera and embellishments are what give your pages personality and depth, and the best part is that almost anything flat enough to fit between pages can become an embellishment.
Ephemera is basically paper stuff that was made to be temporary – vintage postcards, ticket stubs, postage stamps, old labels, price tags, receipts, playing cards, old photos, maps, sheet music, product packaging. These little artifacts carry a sense of history that manufactured embellishments just can’t replicate. I’ve got a stash of old postcards from an estate sale that I’m slowly working through and every single one tells a story. If your local thrift stash is dry, a vintage ephemera pack gives you tags, postcards, and printed bits to layer right out of the bag. For creative ways to use them, browse our junk journal ideas collection.
Stamps and ink pads are popular add-ons that let you put text, patterns, and images on any surface. I’m a big fan of Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads because they can age paper edges, create background washes, and stamp images. Sticker packs and die cuts are great for quick visual interest without any mess.
Dimensional embellishments bring texture and surprise to your pages. Fabric scraps, lace trim, ribbon, buttons, beads, charms, broken jewelry pieces, pressed flowers, feathers – I’ve used all of these and they add this tactile quality that makes flipping through a journal feel special. You pick up the journal and it has actual weight and texture. It’s addictive.
Where Can You Find Free Junk Journal Supplies?
OK this is honestly one of my favorite parts of junk journaling. Once you start looking at everyday items through a “could I put that in a journal?” lens, you’ll find supplies literally everywhere. It becomes a treasure hunt and it’s kind of addictive.
Your home is full of potential materials hiding in plain sight. Old greeting cards, postcards, and birthday cards can be cut apart for images and sentiments. Junk mail often has surprisingly beautiful photography and interesting fonts. Product packaging, shopping bags, tissue paper from gift bags, old calendars, takeout menus, maps from road trips – I even saved a really pretty tea bag wrapper last week because the illustration was too good to toss.
Thrift stores and estate sales are absolute goldmines. Look for old hardcover books (the covers become journal covers and the pages become journal pages – two for one!), vintage postcards, sheet music, maps, board games with interesting cards, old sewing notions like buttons and lace, and fabric scraps. Library book sales are another fantastic source. I got a stack of old encyclopedias for a dollar once and the illustrations inside were incredible.
Nature provides some of the prettiest free embellishments you’ll find anywhere. Press flowers and leaves between heavy books for a week, then add them to your journal. Seed pods, small feathers, and dried herbs add organic texture. Just make sure everything is completely dried before you use it or you’ll end up with mold. Trust me on that one.
Free digital printables are an underrated supply source that a lot of beginners don’t think about. Browse our junk journal printables guide for sources of vintage illustrations, botanical prints, antique maps, decorative borders, and ephemera sheets you can print at home on whatever paper you want. It’s an easy way to add specific themes or imagery without spending money on commercial ephemera packs.
Also? Tell your friends and family about your hobby. Once people know you’re into this, they’ll start saving interesting paper items, old magazines, stamps from international mail, and random bits for you. My mom brings me a bag of stuff every time she visits now. It’s the best.
Essential Tools
The tool list for junk journaling is refreshingly short compared to other paper crafts. You don’t need a die-cutting machine, a heat tool, or any fancy equipment to make beautiful journals.
A good pair of sharp craft scissors is the one tool you genuinely can’t do without. They don’t need to be fancy – any sharp, comfortable pair will work for cutting paper, trimming ephemera, and shaping embellishments. If you find yourself doing tons of straight cutting, a 12-inch paper trimmer speeds things up and gives cleaner edges, but it’s not essential.
A metal ruler and a self-healing cutting mat pair well with a craft knife for precise cuts, but honestly a lot of junk journalers (myself included) prefer to tear paper by hand for a softer, more organic edge. There’s something satisfying about a torn edge that a clean cut just doesn’t have.
A hole punch or crop-a-dile makes it easy to add holes for binding, ribbon, or tags. Pencils and erasers come in handy for light planning and sketching before you commit to permanent marks. Fine-tip archival pens like Sakura Pigma Microns let you add handwritten text, borders, and doodles without bleeding through thin papers.
One important thing: please don’t feel like you need to buy all of these tools before starting your first journal. Start with scissors, a glue stick, and a needle and thread. That’s it. Add other tools as you figure out what techniques you actually enjoy and what your projects need. I didn’t buy a bone folder until my fourth journal and I got along just fine without it.
Junk Journal Starter Kits at Three Budget Tiers
If you’d rather skip the scavenger-hunt phase and just buy enough to start tonight, here are three concrete budget tiers depending on how much you want to invest before deciding this is your hobby.
The $25 Total-Beginner Kit
The absolute minimum to make your first junk journal this weekend:
- Old hardcover book from a thrift store (~$2)
- Glue stick (~$3)
- Sharp craft scissors (~$8)
- Large-eye needle + waxed thread (~$5)
- One roll of washi tape (~$5)
Total: ~$23. You’ll cut up the book for cover and pages, raid your house for paper to add, and stitch a basic single-signature journal. Make 5-10 spreads with this and decide if you love it.
The $50 Real-Setup Kit
Once you’ve made a few pages from the basic kit, the $50 tier adds the embellishments that make pages look layered and intentional:
- Everything in the $25 kit
- Vintage ephemera pack (~$12) – tags, postcards, and printed bits
- 8-roll washi tape set (~$10) in coordinated vintage tones
- One Distress Ink pad in vintage photo or gathered twigs (~$5)
Total: ~$50. You can age paper edges, layer fabric and ephemera, and start building pages with depth.
The $100 I’m-In-This Kit
If junk journaling has hooked you and you’d rather upgrade once than five times, this covers everything for the next year of regular journaling:
- Everything in the $50 kit
- Cardstock multipack in kraft and neutrals (~$10)
- Junk journal sticker pack (~$8) – themed bundles save you the curation work
- Sakura Pigma Micron pen set in 5 sizes (~$15)
- One monthly scrapbook kit for coordinated patterned papers and embellishments that work beautifully in junk journals (~$30)
Total: ~$95. After this you have the full junk-journaling toolkit. Add favorite supplies as you find them, but the foundation is set.
Supplies You Already Have from Scrapbooking
If you’re already a scrapbooker, you’ve got a massive head start here. Your existing supply stash is basically a junk journal goldmine waiting to happen.
Cardstock, patterned paper, and paper scraps from scrapbooking projects are perfect for junk journal pages and backgrounds. Even those tiny leftover pieces that seemed too small for a layout? They’re perfect as collage elements, tags, or pocket decorations. Washi tape, adhesive runners, stickers, die cuts, stamps, ink pads, embellishments – they all work the exact same way in both crafts.
The biggest difference is what you add to the mix. Junk journaling brings in recycled materials, found objects, and hand-binding techniques that you don’t typically see in scrapbooking. Your scrapbook supplies become the polished, coordinated elements, while recycled papers and found ephemera add the layered, textured, handmade quality that makes junk journals feel so special.
A lot of scrapbookers I’ve talked to say that junk journaling feels freeing compared to traditional layouts. There’s no right way to do it, imperfection is the whole aesthetic, and you’re reusing materials instead of constantly buying new ones. It’s honestly a really budget-friendly way to expand your creative practice. For more on scrapbook materials that work in both crafts, check out our complete scrapbook supplies guide or the focused scrapbook supplies for beginners starter-bundle breakdown.
How Do You Get Started with Your Junk Journal Supplies?
Here’s what I want you to take away from this whole page: you don’t need everything on this list to start. In fact, the best way to begin is with as little as possible. Grab some paper from around your house, a glue stick, and a needle and thread, and make your first simple journal. You’ll quickly figure out which techniques you love and which supplies you actually reach for, and that’s going to guide your purchases way better than any supply list ever could.
As you keep junk journaling, your collection will grow on its own. You’ll start noticing interesting papers and ephemera everywhere you go. You’ll grab vintage finds at thrift stores without even thinking about it. Friends will start saving stuff for you. Before you know it, your problem won’t be finding supplies – it’ll be organizing the mountain of cool stuff you’ve collected.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of turning your supplies into a finished journal, follow our how to make a junk journal tutorial. For creative inspiration on what to make with your materials, explore our junk journal ideas guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most essential junk journal supplies for beginners?
Paper (any kind, mixed weights), an adhesive (glue stick or tape runner), scissors, a needle and waxed thread for binding, and a few embellishments like washi tape or stickers. Honestly that is enough to make a complete journal. Everything else is variation.
Can I make a junk journal without buying any supplies?
Yes. Old hardcover book covers become journal covers, book pages and junk mail become journal pages, dental floss can substitute for waxed thread, a sewing needle from a basic kit handles binding, and a glue stick from a school supply drawer is your adhesive. The whole junk journaling movement is built on creative reuse – buying nothing is genuinely the purist version of the craft.
Do I need a special junk journal needle?
You need a needle with an eye large enough to thread waxed linen thread or embroidery floss through. Bookbinding needles are sold for this exact purpose, but a large-eye sewing needle (size 18-22 tapestry needle) works fine. Avoid sewing-machine needles or anything with a small eye.
What is the best paper for junk journaling?
The honest answer is “all of it, mixed”. A good junk journal has cardstock, regular copy paper, kraft, vellum, tissue, magazine pages, old book pages, and whatever else you can find, layered together. If you have to pick one type to buy, mixed media paper or kraft cardstock are the most versatile – they handle wet glue, paint, and stamping without buckling.
How much do junk journal supplies cost to start?
Under $25 if you start lean. Around $50 for a comfortable kit with ephemera and washi tape. About $100 if you want a year-long stash that does not require restocking every month. The cost ceiling is much lower than scrapbooking because the philosophy rewards using free and found materials.
What is the difference between junk journal supplies and scrapbook supplies?
Scrapbook supplies emphasize archival quality, acid-free paper, and coordinated collections built around photos. Junk journal supplies embrace anything paper-based – book pages, junk mail, fabric scraps, found objects – and lean into texture and imperfection. Most scrapbook supplies work in junk journals, but the reverse is not always true (cereal box cardboard belongs in a junk journal, not a memory-keeping scrapbook).
Where can I buy junk journal ephemera?
The best free sources are thrift stores (look for old books, sheet music, maps, vintage postcards), your own mail and packaging, library book sales, and printable archives. For commercial ephemera packs, Amazon, Etsy, and dedicated junk journal shops sell themed bundles for $10-30. Etsy sellers usually have the most distinctive curated packs.
Do I need acid-free supplies for junk journaling?
No. The whole point is that the materials in a junk journal are imperfect, weathered, and often not archival. Old book pages yellow over decades. Magazine clippings fade. That’s part of the aesthetic. If you want to preserve specific photos in the journal, mat them in acid-free cardstock or use photo-safe sleeves, but the body of the journal does not need to be archival.
Related Supply Guides
Working in another paper craft? These supply guides cover the essentials for adjacent paper crafts:
- Scrapbook Supplies: The Complete Guide – The full crafting supply pillar covering paper, adhesive, embellishments, tools, and more.
- Scrapbook Supplies for Beginners – Starter bundles for first-time scrapbookers – $50, $100, and $200 builds.
- Scrapbook Tools – Paper trimmer, die cutters, embossing tools – the buyer’s guide and tool-tier hierarchy.
- Best Scrapbook Paper – Cardstock weights, patterned paper bundles, and specialty papers worth buying.
- Card Making Supplies – What you need to make handmade greeting cards – cardstock, stamps, dies, ink.
- Art Journal Supplies – Mixed media essentials for art journaling – paint, brushes, mediums, journals.
- Best Scrapbooking Kits – Compare monthly kit subscription clubs and find the right fit for your style.
Where to Go Next
You have a junk journal supply plan. Here’s what to read next:
- How to Make a Junk Journal – The full step-by-step from supplies through finished journal.
- What Is a Junk Journal? – The philosophy and origins of the craft.
- 88 Junk Journal Ideas – Page layouts, themes, and techniques to try.
- Junk Journal Printables – Free printable ephemera sheets to expand your stash.
- Junk Journal Cover Ideas – Decorate the front of your journal with mixed media techniques.
- Scrapbook Supplies: The Complete Guide – Most scrapbook supplies double as junk journal supplies; this covers the full list.
- Hip Kit Club Monthly Kits – Coordinated paper and embellishment kits that work beautifully in junk journals.