If you’ve ever looked at a beautiful junk journal on TikTok or Pinterest and thought, “That’s gorgeous… but I could never make one of those” — good news: you absolutely can!
Junk journaling isn’t about perfection. It’s about creativity, collecting little bits and pieces you love, and making something that feels uniquely you. Think of it as a scrapbook, diary, memorabilia collecting and stationery obsession all rolled into one.
And honestly? It’s also a fantastic excuse to buy more stickers and washi tape.
So… what actually is a Junk Journal?
A junk journal is a creative journal made using a mix of papers, stickers, ephemera, photos, washi tape, receipts, tags, packaging, postcards, scrapbook paper and basically any little treasures you want to keep.
Despite the name, the “junk” part doesn’t mean rubbish. It’s more about reusing beautiful bits and pieces that would otherwise get forgotten in a drawer somewhere.
Some people create themed journals:
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Travel journals
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Reading journals
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Memory journals
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Vintage-style journals
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Kawaii journals
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Japanese stationery journals
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Daily life or “everything” journals
There are no rules — which is probably why so many people fall in love with it.
What you need to start Junk Journaling:
You genuinely don’t need fancy supplies to begin. Start simple and add to your collection over time.
Here are a few beginner-friendly essentials:
A journal
This could be:
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A dotted notebook
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Ring binder
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Handmade journal
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Scrapbook
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Kraft notebook
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Vintage-style journal
Choose something that feels exciting to open and reflects your vibe.
Stickers (Obviously)
A good sticker collection makes everything more fun.
Flake stickers, PET stickers, character stickers and Korean or Japanese stationery stickers are especially popular for junk journaling because they layer beautifully and add personality to your pages.
Little warning: buying stickers becomes a lifestyle surprisingly fast and collecting them is so fun!
Washi Tape
Washi tape is basically the unofficial mascot of junk journaling.
You can use it to:
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Layer backgrounds
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Stick photos in place
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Decorate borders
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Divide pages
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Cover mistakes (a very important feature)
Japanese washi tape is especially loved because of the quality and beautiful designs.
Paper Bits & Ephemera
This is where the “junk” magic happens.
Collect:
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Packaging
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Receipts
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Postcards
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Magazine cut-outs
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Tags and shopping bags
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Old book pages
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Memo sheets
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Scrap paper
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Tickets
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Tea-stained paper
- Serviettes/Napkins
Tiny random paper scraps suddenly become precious once you start journaling.
Don’t overthink your pages
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is trying to make every page look Pinterest-perfect.
Your journal does not need:
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Perfect handwriting
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Fancy art skills
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Matching colours
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Expensive supplies
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A deep emotional meaning
Some pages will look amazing. Some will look slightly chaotic. That’s the whole fun of junk journaling.
The best way to start is simply:
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Stick things down
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Layer a few pieces
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Add some writing
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Keep going
Creative confidence builds as you make more pages.
Popular Junk Journal styles right now
If you’re looking for inspiration, these styles are especially popular in Australia right now:
Kawaii Junk Journaling
Think:
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Pastel colours
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Cute characters
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Japanese stickers
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Sanrio vibes
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Soft pinks, creams and yellows
Vintage Journaling
Using:
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Old papers
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Brown tones
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Lace textures
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Antique-inspired stickers
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Typewriter fonts
Final thoughts
The best junk journal is not the prettiest one on the internet.
It’s the one you actually enjoy making.
So don’t wait until you have the “perfect” supplies or know exactly what you’re doing. Half the fun is experimenting, collecting cute stationery and slowly developing your own style over time.
Start messy. Start simple. Start with one sticker and a page.
That’s literally how everyone begins.
And before long, you’ll somehow own 47 rolls of washi tape and have very strong opinions about paper textures.
No judgement here. Happy junk journal shopping
