Junk Journal for Beginners: What You Need and How to Start

A junk journal is a handmade book built from paper scraps, printables, envelopes, tags and keepsakes, and starting one takes far less than most people think. This junk journal for beginners guide keeps it simple: you need paper, a cover, a way to bind it, glue and scissors. Everything else is optional. Here’s what to gather, how to make your first journal in an afternoon, and how to fill pages without freezing up.

What is a junk journal?

A junk journal is part scrapbook, part diary, part art project. Instead of a store-bought notebook, you build the book yourself from papers you collect: old book pages, paper bags, envelopes, ticket stubs, tea-stained paper, printed backgrounds and small cut-out pieces called ephemera.

There are no rules. Some people write daily entries. Others keep photos, pressed flowers, recipes or quotes. Some just enjoy layering paper and never write a word. The “junk” is the charm: rough edges, mismatched papers and pockets stuffed with little treasures.

Junk journal for beginners: the supplies you need

Start with what you have. You can always add more once you know what you like.

Supply	Need it?	Beginner tip
Paper for pages	Must-have	Mix printer paper, printed backgrounds, envelopes and book pages
Cover	Must-have	A cereal box, file folder, old hardcover or heavy card stock
Scissors	Must-have	A small, sharp pair helps with detail cuts
Glue stick or tape runner	Must-have	Dries flat and won’t wrinkle thin paper
Needle and thread, or a binder clip	Must-have	Waxed thread or embroidery floss for sewing
Awl or push pin	Nice to have	Pokes clean sewing holes
Bone folder	Nice to have	The back of a spoon makes crisp folds too
Washi tape	Nice to have	Holds pieces in place and adds color
Ribbon, lace, twine	Nice to have	Ties, tabs and closures
Printable ephemera	Nice to have	Tags, labels, stamps and cut-outs

For pages you’ll cut, fold or glue, heavier paper (around 32 lb, or light card stock) holds up better than standard copy paper. Our post on the best paper for printables compares the options.

How to make your first junk journal

The simplest beginner binding is a single signature: one stack of folded pages sewn into a cover.

1. Choose a size. Letter paper folded in half gives you a 5.5 x 8.5 inch journal, an easy size to start with.
2. Gather 6 to 10 sheets. Mix papers for variety. Fold each in half and nest them together. That stack is one signature.
3. Make the cover. Cut cardboard or card stock slightly bigger than your folded pages and fold it in half. Cover it with decorative paper or fabric if you like.
4. Poke three holes. Open the signature inside the cover. Poke one hole at the center of the fold and one about an inch from each end, through pages and cover together.
5. Sew a pamphlet stitch. From inside, go out through the center hole. Come back in through the top hole, run the thread down past the center and go out through the bottom hole, then come back in through the center. Tie the ends around the long stitch inside.
6. Add a closure. Glue or tape a ribbon to the back cover so it wraps around the front.

Want more pages? Make two or three signatures and sew each one into the spine. Or skip sewing for now: a binder clip or a rubber band around the fold works fine for a first try.

Fill your first pages without overthinking

Blank pages intimidate beginners. Here are easy ways in:

• Layer three things. A background paper, a smaller piece on top and one small embellishment. Done.
• Add a pocket. Glue an envelope or a folded paper pocket to a page and tuck in a tag or journaling card.
• Make a tuck spot. A strip of paper glued down at both ends holds photos or notes.
• Use journaling cards. A 3x4 card feels less scary than a full page. Write a few lines and tuck it in.
• Keep a “today” page. The date, the weather and one thing that happened. That’s enough.
• Save your scraps. Tiny leftovers become borders, tabs and corners on the next page.

Remember the golden rule of junk journaling: it’s supposed to look a little imperfect. Wrinkles and uneven edges are part of the style.

Using a printable junk journal kit

Printables are a shortcut for beginners because the papers already look aged and the pieces are sized to cut. Our Autumn Ledger Junk Journal Kit is a 48-page printable kit of original vintage botanical artwork, drawn from scratch. It includes 12 aged background papers, 8 layered collage pages, 6 specimen and herbarium plates, 6 sheets of journaling cards (3x4, 4x6 and 2.5x3.5 inch), 4 tag sheets, 4 ephemera sheets, an almanac page, list pages and a cut-and-fold pocket page. The files are 8.5 x 11 inches at 300 dpi.

Print at 100% (Actual Size), not Fit to Page, so the cards and tags keep their true measurements. If you want more backgrounds, the Autumn Ledger Paper Pack adds 22 aged papers in 11 colorways. Stack a few printables in one checkout and save, and everything stays on your library card for reprints.

Common beginner mistakes

• Buying too much first. Make one small journal before investing in tools.
• Using wet glue on thin paper. It wrinkles. Reach for a glue stick or tape runner.
• Overstuffing the spine. Pockets and layers add bulk, so the journal may not close. Sew in a few narrow paper strips along the fold to make room.
• Waiting for the perfect page. Your first journal is practice. Finish it anyway.

Once you’ve made one, try a seasonal theme. Our fall junk journal ideas are a good next step, and the printable ephemera guide shows how to use tags and fussy cuts.

FAQ

What do I need to start a junk journal?

Paper, a cover, scissors, glue and a way to bind it, like thread or a binder clip. Everything else is optional.

Is junk journaling expensive?

It doesn’t have to be. Many junk journals are made almost entirely from recycled paper, envelopes and printables you print at home.

What do you put in a junk journal?

Anything fairly flat: notes, photos, ticket stubs, tags, pressed flowers, recipes, quotes, receipts and ephemera.

What paper is best for junk journal pages?

A mix works best. Heavier paper or light card stock holds up for covers and glued pieces, while thinner papers make good layers and pockets.