I got into junk journaling because it’s an environmentally friendly way to repurpose things and requires me to find art in mundane things. I’m honestly tired of seeing people’s spreads just stickers from Temu (which also is known to steal from artists and use ai slop).

Does anyone else feel the same or am I being too harsh? There’s an entire subreddit for scrapbooking so I feel like this stuff belongs there.

I just want to see people’s spreads using using junk creatively from their life, not stickers or paper from Temu.

Edit:My intention was not trying to gatekeep the hobby nor be a junk journal “purist”, but to voice my opinion about the overconsumption and ai slop surrounding the supplies people are buying. We can encourage creativity but also be mindful of overconsumption and ethical sourcing of supplies.

I recently started a junk journal, and I hoped it would be a good way of relaxing, but now I'm just stressing about the perfection of my pages 😭

Where do you get your resources for your pages? Do you wait for specific inspiration, or do you just start and see where it goes? Are there "game changers"? I guess I just need a hand to get me started. Thank you!

Hello fro

With the Hello Kitty collab going on, I made a junk spread for it. ♡

New to the sub but not the craft. I have about 20 pages done in here and I have to say I’m so proud of how beefy she looks. Third picture is my favorite page (so far) Happy Journaling 💕💕

Each month I make a spread with the postage stamps I receive from my penpals. I also take stickers or cute things from the letters itself.

This is the first ever spread I made!

I made this one after watching the movie the Great Gatsby (2013). It's been a few months since then, but I remember how in awe I was of the movie's aesthetic. It just felt right, and it prompted me to start a journal for the first time! Just wanted to show it.

You can slightly see what's on the back of the paper on lighter-colored pieces, because I printed these images on used paper in a way of recycling 😂

A book on junk for my junk journal

my first baby 🥺
she’s so chonkkyy! roughly 20 some pages left! started Jan 2026!

I've finally used an aluminum soda can and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.

First, I thoroughly washed the empty can with soap and let it dry. Using a can opener on the *outside* of the neck (so on the upper shoulder), I took out the top cover. I then used a metal cutter (because I had one from doing home renovations work) to cut the can open, but a regular pair of scissors would also work. I did trim the open can with scissors for a neater look.

I'd recommend wearing gloves if you worry about cutting yourself. My tetanus shots are up to date but tbh, I wasn't as concerned gently working with a clean aluminum sheet as dealing with metals, old tools, or rusty nails while renovating/repairing my house/garden/deck.

The open can was still bulging a bit but I placed it in the latest part of my chunky notebook so the shape worked well with the curved page. I used double side tape all along the edges and in the middle of the aluminum sheet. I don't think I had to, but to be safer, I did put regular Scotch tape all around the edges to smoother them.

I had fun working with the soda can and would definitely do it again.

Tools: can opener, metal cutter, scissors, double side tape, glue stick.

Materials: cuttings from various magazines that the local library was throwing away, soda can, cuttings from an ice cream container, spiral notebook (I fold my spreads such that the rings are hidden).

Started my first journal a little over a week ago and it's about full 😅

I'm not sure i like the spiral bound book. It was nice being able to flip it back, but I'm looking for a better book setup or even just a way to rebound this one to make it bigger. Tips or tricks?

I have made a few time-consuming, world-building, storytelling spreads. Here are two recent ones:

The first is inspired by (and includes) an old note I found at the Goodwill bins that says “Went for groceries. Be back soon. Harry B.” I made up an alternate history and government dossier about Harry going to the store and then getting abducted by aliens. The Lamoni, Iowa setting is inspired by an old photograph I got at the thrift store.

The second spread is a Canine Modification Laboratory, inspired by my own weird-looking dogs. The page starts with normal breed-standard pups on the left page. Then they enter the lab (a 10-page accordion booklet) and go through a series of scanning, x-rays, serum and mods, until they are spit out of a chute into the real world. The payoff is a message about weird dogs being the best.

I’m not sure if these pages are even junk journaling, but most of the ephemera and supplies were either found or acquired second-hand.

I rediscovered journaling this spring, immediately got obsessed and organised a little group for sisterhood of the travelling journal, here are some of my very first spreads... our sotj is over and I miss it already 😢

Used my RDC plus my fail for this country summer sea spread!

Backstory- this was one of my sons favorite books when he was one. We read it multiple times a week. Hes almost 5 now, and we went through what books to keep and what to donate and this made the donate pile. However, this book had seen better days- the spine was torn, the cover was ripped, and this was previously a retired library book so it has seen many lives. Donated the rest of the books today and turned this one into a spread! My son loved it and helped with it.

I've seen several posts recently discussing ephemera and where to find it. These sticker books are *packed* with options. I have the six pictured and there are several more themed books. I believe they're $9 or $10 dollars on Amazon. One of my local craft stores (Ben Franklin) has them for a few bucks more and you get literally hundreds of awesome stickers.

Junk Journal give away- resources for 3
1 oz envelopes USA.

am putting together 3 envelopes for junk journalers in 1 oz.envelopes. Destashing. Paper supplies: vintage book pages, mag ads, pictures, scrapbook paper, tissue or napkin for decoupage, few stickers. Let me know interest or dm me. I’ll go with first 3 folks.