Junk Journal Supplies You Need to Get Started

An open handmade junk journal featuring layered patterned paper, photos, and ephemera that showcase the creative and personal style of junk journaling.

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at scrapbooking but feel intimidated by the process, a junk journal might be the perfect solution. Part scrapbook and part journal, these handmade books offer a freeform space for memory keeping, writing, and collecting items that you want to hold onto, like ticket stubs, postcards, and photographs. The best part is that they offer a creative space for you to explore various crafting techniques while also preserving memories.

Want to give a junk journal a try? Here are some supplies you’ll need to get started!

Getting Scrappy: Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners

Whether you’re planning out themes and spreads or just experimenting with the supplies you have on hand, the great thing about making your own DIY junk journal is that you can be as deliberate or as spontaneous as you want. To get started, you’ll need a few basic supplies:

Paper
Paper Trimmer/Scissors
Adhesive
Pens or markers
Ephemera and memorabilia

From seasonal patterned paper to cardstock, Stampin’ Up! has a wide variety of high-quality paper to keep your craft drawer stocked. When it comes to selecting the best paper for junk journals, just pick from whatever you have on hand, even if that means scraps left over from your latest craft project.

Paper Scissors for Junk Journal Supplies

You’ll also want to gather other basic craft tools, like your favorite paper trimmer, pens to record your thoughts, and some sort of adhesive to make sure everything stays together. We love the Stampin’ Seal and Stampin’ Seal+ taper runners for their simplicity and adhesive power. For a more in-depth look into choosing the best glue for your junk journal, check out our post: How to Choose and Use Adhesives in Paper Crafting.

A clear adhesive runner displayed on a colored background, highlighting an essential tool for securing paper and ephemera in junk journal projects.

The last, and arguably most important, basics that you’ll want to gather are the ephemera and memorabilia you want to preserve. From ticket stubs to postcards to stickers, these are the items that transform a junk journal into something personal and magical.

A finished junk journal page combining photos, patterned paper, and layered ephemera to create a meaningful and visually rich memory-keeping spread.

How to Add Personality with Stamps, Ink & Handmade Stickers

Once you’ve gathered your basic supplies, you’re ready to experience the fun of junk journaling. Let creativity be your guide as you add a personalized touch to your pages. Nothing is off limits! Here are some craft supplies you could use to make your junk journal unique:

Stamps
Ink
Dies
Embellishments
Ribbon
Flip flaps

Stamps and Ink

Whether you’re using stamps and ink to create basic images or coloring in your favorite stamp with alcohol markers, stamps and ink are a great way to create custom junk journal designs. You can either stamp the images directly onto your paper or use a corresponding die set and Stampin’ Dimensionals to help the images pop.

A selection of ink pads used for stamping and coloring, perfect for adding custom images and artistic details to junk journal pages. — **Pictured here:** Classic Stampin’ Pad, StazOn Pad, Memento Ink Pad

Embellishments and Ribbon

From festive ribbon to gold sequins to dots, nothing will give your junk journal pages a finished look quite like embellishments. Layering different patterns and textures will help give your design depth and interest.

Flip Flaps

If you’re looking for an interactive and fun way to display pictures and memorabilia in your junk journal, try using Stampin’ Up! Flip Flaps. These clear flaps attach to your page and flip to reveal additional photos and items you want to display. They come in a variety of sizes and can be positioned anywhere on a page thanks to their self-adhesive strip.

Creative Tips for Building Your First DIY Junk Journal

Now that you have a basic understanding of what a junk journal is and the supplies you might need to create your own, we wanted to provide a little inspiration to help you get started. Part of the beauty of a junk journal is in repurposing leftover paper and craft supplies to create something fun and unique.

Using Leftover Paper Scraps

Rather than throwing away those paper scraps from your last DIY card project, try saving them to use in your junk journal. The example below uses various specialty paper scraps to create a vibrant elements on the page.

A layered junk journal page created with repurposed paper scraps and handmade embellishments that add texture and personality to the design.

Creating Embellishments Through Repurposed Materials

Another fun way to use scrap paper is to cut out images or patterns that can then be used as junk journal embellishments. You can see this in action in the example below. Images that match the page’s drink theme have been fussy cut or die cut and layered on the page to create a kind of handmade sticker for your journal, like the bumblebee in the image below.

A close-up of a layered junk journal page featuring photos, cut paper elements, and stamped details that demonstrate creative layering techniques.

Use Your Creativity to Layer Up

Even if you have limited supplies, you’ll be amazed at the beautiful things you can create in your junk journal with a little imagination and creativity. Don’t feel like you have to have a perfectly matched and curated creative suite. Just layer up what you have and let the joy of crafting take it from there!

Give Junk Journaling a Try!

You don’t need a lot of tools or supplies to give junk journaling a try. Simply use what you have and start flexing those creative muscles. As always, we’re here to help. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube to stay up to date on the latest products and crafting techniques. For more personalized help, you can also connect with a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. Happy crafting!