If scrapbooking and journaling had a baby, it would most certainly go by the name of junk journaling.
Junk journaling is the process of taking your, well, junk and turning it into a collage of memories, not unlike what you would do in a regular old journal. I don’t mean that you should start collecting literal pieces of trash off the ground – not unless they’re interesting, anyway– but you should start looking at the things you would usually toss in the trash or the glove box of your car.
Commonly used items in junk journaling include receipts, tickets, maps, and cards. There have even been people who manage to turn their candy wrappers into a meaningful representation of their weekend.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Cutting, pasting, colouring, writing, drawing, it all sounds so… artistic. The beauty of junk journaling is that you don’t have to be artistic, just apt with a glue stick and determined to document your twenties.
As far as supplies go, you can go as big or as small as you’d like, but there are a few non-negotiables. First, you need a journal of some sort, hence the name junk journaling. My personal favourite is the Moleskin Classic Notebook, which holds up incredibly under the weight of glue, markers, and anything else you may choose to include in your junk journal.
Next, you need something that can stick your junk to your journal. I know I said you had to be apt with a gluestick, but even that’s a stretch; really, you’re free to use whatever sticks the junk to the page. Glue tape rollers are an excellent, low-effort way to stick your junk to your notebook.
That’s it. The only things you absolutely need to begin junk journaling are something to stick with and something to stick to. If you’re looking to up your game, washi tape, stickers, scrapbook paper, alcohol markers, and coloured pens are all great things to add to your toolbox.
If you need a little bit of inspiration to get yourself started, there are plenty of accounts on TikTok dedicated to the art of junk journaling. My personal favourite is ktscanvases; you can follow along with her as she does her daily junk journaling spread.
So go, open that drawer you haven’t touched in months or the purse you’re afraid to empty and see what you can make out of your junk.