How to start Junk Journaling
My New Year’s Resolution for 2026 was simple: “be more creative.” As I ended my first semester of college, I realized that I needed a concrete but simple way to stay in touch with my creative side…that would not be too hard of a hobby to learn.Â
Like many things, I found my perfect answer on TikTok: Junk Journaling. No matter how much I liked to write stories as a kid, I never wanted to sit down and write about myself in a journal (and it probably did not help that every adult in my life was telling me to). But junk journaling…now that I can get behind. Instead of writing paragraphs about my every day, I can look back on physical mementos: from receipts and bottle caps, to dried flowers. It always feels more like a craft than an essay.Â
Like any new hobby, it can seem daunting. But here are 3 simple steps to start your own personal Junk Journal:
“But Maddy, what even is a Junk Journal?” In my opinion, this is the best part. If you can somehow stick it within the pages of your book, your junk journal can be anything you want it to be. Each page can have the same design…or none at all. You can dress it up with stickers and ribbon, or just use a glue stick and a number 2 pencil. You choose your own adventure!
Step 1: Acquire a Leather-Bound Journal
It truly does not matter what size, shape, or type of paper your journal has. It just has to fit your needs, though it is pretty important to have a flexible spine and cover, so as your journal expands, it doesn’t explode.Â
I wanted my book itself to be a memory, so I found it at the NY Public Library when in the city with fellow UBHC member Clare. But another UBHC member, Gio, was looking for specific watercolor paper, so she could paint in hers. You could also pick up the first notebook you find at the dollar tree, it truly does not matter!
Step 2: Acquire some “Junk”
Examples of some of the “junk” from my best pages include many many receipts, bottle caps, ticket stubs, paper bags, cards, and coloring pages. If you can stick it to the page, it can be junk!
Step 3: Accessorize!
Now in my opinion, this is the most fun, but also the most optional step. I always like to have something showing the date on every memory, and usually write it with a fun pen (my PaperMate Flairs are my babies). I also decided to splurge a little bit when starting my journal and bought a little scrapbooking kit to add some pizazz to some of my pages. It had patterned paper, stickers, and some fun tape. Only because the receipt is literally pasted into my journal, can I tell you that it was $4.79 at Hobby Lobby!Â
This purchase also meant that I had things to store now, so along with my journal itself, I have a folder to hold papers, and my Dunkin Wicked Munchkin tin (because who says it’s not useful??) to hold any stray stickers and mementos, as well as my glue stick, tape, and a pair of mini scissors. These also help if I have a receipt or paper I want to put into my journal, but do not have a minute to do so just yet.Â
But if the accessories feel a bit too high maintenance, you can stick to just your memories themselves, that will do the trick just fine!
Yes, that is it. There is no secret, expensive step, or time commitment. Besides all the spare bottle caps and receipts being handed to me at every outing, to “put it in your book!” Aside from being a nice craft, it is also a way to hold onto pieces of memories, without accumulating literal junk everywhere. That is why my junk journal has been the New Year’s Resolution I have truly stayed with, and has become maybe my favorite thing I own.Â