The start of the new year inevitably comes with a flux of new hobbies—and you’re about to become obsessed with this one. If you’re looking to channel your emotions, document your life or simply develop a top-tier crafty hobby, look no further than junk journaling.

What is junk journaling?

No doubt a few junk journaling clips have snuck their way onto your FYP, but just in case you’re late to the party, here’s the deal. Junk journaling is basically diary keeping’s funky older sister. Rather than only writing your thoughts (though that’s totally welcome—and encouraged!), it’s a messier collection of both physical and written content. A good junk journal is jam-packed with stickers, badges, magazine clippings (ahem), bows and any other trinkets that can be glued, stapled, taped or attached in some way. It’s about layering, expressing yourself and making something visually stunning that reflects your current life experiences.

And the best part? It doesn’t have to be pretty or aesthetic! To junk journal is to let out all your emotions, no matter how messy or ugly they seem. Each emotion released takes its physical form in your journal and will give you a low-pressure, creative outlet to look forward to at the end of your day.

What you’ll need

Before you become a junk journalist, you’ll need to stock up on inventory. Look at Pinterest and Insta for your starter inspo, then make a quick trip to your local craft store (or dig around your old art bin) to snag these essentials…

A journal. This is a given, but picking the right one is more important than you might realize. Most prefer a blank pager when it comes to scrapbooking, but if you like to leave some space for doodling or writing, bullets or lines might be the way to go. Also, consider sizing. Do you like compact, cluttered pages or larger, neater spreads? 

Writing + drawing supplies. Make sure to collect a nice array of styles. Sharpies and markers are great for outlines and headers, while gel pens are amazing for doodles and notes in the margins. 

Adhesives + stickers. With all the parts you’ll be attaching and cutting, you’re gonna need something to hold your art together. Elmer’s Glue is always a classic, but cute washi tape, mini staples and stickers are always good substitutes.

Collage materials. This collection will become sacred as your junk journalism grows. Scrapbook paper, stickers, wrappers, cardstock, ribbons, lace and any memento you can lay your hands on all fair game.

Junk, duh! The bread and butter of a junk journal. Start collecting little knick-knacks from your daily life, like receipts, ticket stubs, old school papers, candy wrappers, you name it. The beauty of a junk journal is that there are no rules—and, tbh, the more random your items, the cooler your journal will look.

Starting your junk journal

It might seem daunting to fill a whole journal, especially when faced with the amazing inspo online, but starting is actually the most exciting part! An intro page is always a good idea, since it sets the tone of your journal. If you’re stuck for inspo, try to decide on a theme. Whether you’re going for a lacy coquette aesthetic, a beachy blue vibe or bursts of color everywhere, it’ll be easier to make things cohesive if you’ve got a vibe in mind. 

That said, if you want your journal to reflect your mood, don’t base it on one vibe alone. Weekly and monthly recaps can showcase your current obsessions and life status, media reviews are fun to gather your current fave TV shows, movies and music, and vision boards will get you inspired.

However you go about junk journaling, use it as a way to express yourself, no matter what you’re feeling or loving atm. Now, start getting crafty!

Check out our Insta @girlslifemag for more crafty inspo!

More DIYs incoming…
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🎀 Air-Dry Clay Is About To Be Your New Crafty Obsession
🎀 DIY Your School Wardrobe

Top image: @martinamartian
Slider image: @katkalopsia
Body images: @tamarasjournaling, @katkalopsia, @juliasjunkjournal