How to Make a Junk Journal: A Beginner’s Guide

Making a junk journal does not begin with a perfect cover, a huge supply stash or a complicated plan. It begins with a few papers you like and a place to put them. You can stitch a little book from scratch, decorate a ready-made notebook or build loose pages first. The best first journal is the one that makes you want to sit down and add another piece tomorrow.

This beginner-friendly method keeps the choices small. You will choose a simple format, gather a handful of materials, make a cover, add pages and create a first spread. Along the way, leave room for the imperfect edges, odd papers and personal details that make a junk journal feel like yours.

Choose the kind of journal you want to make

Before you pick up scissors, choose a format that fits the way you want to create. There is no one correct version of a junk journal. A stitched journal feels bookish and slow. A notebook is quick and forgiving. A ring-bound journal is useful when you know you will want to move pages around.

Make a small stitched journal

This is a lovely option when you want the process of making the book to be part of the project. Fold several groups of paper, called signatures, then sew them through the spine of a cardstock, file-folder or thin cardboard cover. A three-hole stitch is enough for a first attempt. The spine will not be perfect, and it does not need to be. A little unevenness gives the journal character.

Start inside a notebook or old book cover

A blank notebook, composition book or sketchbook lets you get straight to the pages. You can glue papers over the existing leaves, add tuck spots and decorate the cover later. If you use an old book, check that the binding is sturdy and use copies of sentimental papers rather than gluing down an original you may want to keep intact.

Use rings or make loose pages

Rings are a practical choice for bulky ephemera, fabric tabs and pages that need to be rearranged. You can also create pages without a binding at all, then collect them in a folder until you are ready to decide how they belong together. This takes the pressure out of committing to a layout too early.

If you are completely new to the craft, the beginner's guide to junk journals can help you choose a format that sounds enjoyable rather than intimidating.

Gather a small, useful set of materials

Junk journaling is built around using what you have, so begin by looking through your paper drawer, recycling pile and old stationery. You only need enough material for a few pages. The goal is not to collect everything at once. It is to give yourself enough variety to make choices.

Paper for pages and layers

Gather a mix of light and sturdy papers: plain printer paper, scrapbook paper, envelopes, book pages, music paper, packaging, maps, tissue paper or pages from an old calendar. Folded pages work best when they are not all the same weight. A mix makes the journal more interesting to turn through, but save very thick cardstock for tags, pockets or the cover so the spine can still close.

Tools that make the first session easier

Set out scissors, a glue stick, a ruler, a pencil and a pen. Add a hole punch, needle, thread or double-sided tape only if you already have them. Put everything in one tray or basket before you start. It is easier to stay in the creative part of the process when you are not getting up every five minutes to find adhesive.

Pieces that make it personal

Choose a few items with a little story: a favorite tea wrapper, a copied photo, a seed packet, a receipt, an envelope, a pressed leaf or a handwritten note. If you use family photos, letters or other irreplaceable papers, keep the original safe and work with a scan or copy. A journal can hold a reproduction just as beautifully as the original.

For inspiration that is safe to adapt, the Library of Congress also curates Free to Use and Reuse Sets from its digital collections. They are a useful place to study old botanical, travel and paper details before making your own page.

1. Make a simple cover

A cover gives your journal a beginning, but it does not have to be elaborate. Cut a piece of cardstock, a file folder or thin cereal-box cardboard slightly larger than your folded pages. Fold it in half with the ruler along the crease so it has a clean spine. If your material wants to crack, score the fold lightly with the back of a butter knife before bending it.

Cover the outside with a paper you enjoy, leaving a small border to fold around the edges. Glue the border down on the inside, then add another plain paper over it if you want a tidier finish. Fabric, wrapping paper, an old map or a printable page can all work. Leave the inside simple for now. Your first pocket, note or hidden tag can become the opening surprise later.

Do not worry if the cover is a little bigger than the pages. A generous cover protects the journal and leaves a pleasing frame around the page edges. If you are using a notebook instead, this is a good moment to cover its front with one large paper layer and stop there. It can be finished enough to begin.

2. Fold your pages into small groups

For a stitched journal, fold three to five papers together to make one signature. Make three signatures for a small book, or fewer if the papers are thick. Keep each group similar in height and fold every page carefully at the center. A ruler or the smooth back of a spoon can help make the crease crisp without tearing delicate paper.

Stack the signatures inside the cover and gently close it. This dry fit tells you whether the book will be too thick before you sew. If it bulges now, remove a few sheets. You will add pockets, tags and keepsakes later, so give the journal more breathing room than you think it needs.

Mixing page shapes makes the book feel more playful. Try one full page, one narrow book-page fold-out and one envelope in the same signature. A shorter page lets you glimpse the paper behind it. An envelope gives you a built-in pocket. These variations make the journal feel layered before you have decorated anything.

Vintage Nostalgic Journal Pages printable kit cover — A printable page can make a useful full-page base, then you can layer it with an envelope, a copied keepsake or a found paper.

3. Bind it simply, or use an easier alternative

If you want to sew the signatures in, nest them inside the cover and hold the stack closed with clips. Mark three evenly spaced points along the spine: one in the center, one above it and one below it. Use a thick needle or awl to make small holes through the cover and each signature. Thread a blunt needle with waxed thread, embroidery floss or strong cotton thread.

Start from the inside at the center hole, go out through the cover, come back in through the top hole, out through the bottom hole and return to the center. Tie the ends around the long stitch at the center rather than making a bulky knot directly over the hole. Repeat with each signature. The stitch does not need to look fancy. It needs to hold the pages securely enough for you to use the book.

Not ready to sew? Punch two holes near the spine and use rings, tie the pages with ribbon, or make a tiny folded booklet and staple the spine. You can also decorate a notebook and skip binding entirely. The point is to make a journal you will actually use, not to turn the first afternoon into a bookbinding exam.

4. Give the first pages a job

A blank journal can feel just as daunting after you have made it, so decide what the first few pages will do. One page might introduce the journal with a title, date or little note about why you made it. Another can hold a pocket. A third can be nothing more than a background and a small tag waiting for a story.

Make a pocket from an envelope

Glue an envelope to a page on three sides, leaving the top open. Tuck in a folded note, a few paper scraps, a photo copy or a simple prompt. An envelope gives a page a focal point without requiring lots of decoration. It also lets you add a memory later when you find the right piece.

Add a tag or journaling card

Cut a tag from cardstock or use a ready-made printable. Write a date, a short list, a quote that matters to you or a note about the day. You do not need to fill it with perfect handwriting. A few real words make the journal feel more alive than another decorative layer.

Try one easy layered page

Begin with a background paper. Place one larger anchor on top, such as a card, image or folded letter. Then add one small detail, perhaps a torn strip, a stamp or a thread tail. Before you glue, step back and notice whether the page has a clear resting place for the eye. That small pause keeps a first page from getting crowded.

For more layouts once you have your journal started, try these junk journal page ideas. They are designed for the moments when you have papers in front of you but no obvious next move.

Where Butterflies Wander printable kit cover — Coordinated botanical pages, tags and ephemera make it easier to practice simple layers while you discover your own style.

5. Add texture without overfilling the pages

Texture is one reason junk journals feel so satisfying. It can come from torn edges, a paper clip, a fabric tab, a short piece of thread, a pressed leaf or a strip of washi tape. Add one tactile detail at a time. When every surface has the same amount of texture, the eye has nowhere to settle and the book can become difficult to close.

Use the thickness test as you go. Close the journal gently after finishing a couple of pages. If it already strains at the spine, keep the next spread flatter. If it still closes easily, you have room for a pocket or fabric tab. This is not a restriction. It simply helps you choose where a bulky keepsake will have the most impact.

Paper clips and belly bands are useful because they let you move things later. A belly band is just a strip of paper glued at the two ends, creating a narrow space to tuck in a card or photo. It looks finished, but it does not require you to decide the contents today.

6. Use printable pieces as a starting point

Found papers make a journal personal, while printable pieces can help a first project feel cohesive. They are especially useful when you love the idea of junk journaling but do not have a large paper stash. Choose a mood that feels right, print a few pages, then combine them with an envelope, handwriting and any small paper you have saved.

BoundToBeChic collections include pages, folios, tags and ephemera that work together without asking you to make every design decision from scratch. Browse the collections by mood, see the current printable kits, or read how the printable files work before you choose. You can print one page to test your printer and paper first, then make more only when a project needs them.

Rustic Farm Junk Journal Kit printable kit cover — A small set of matching pages and tags gives a new journal a calm visual starting point, while leaving room for your own papers and memories.

7. Let the journal grow slowly

The easiest way to keep making is to stop before you are tired of the project. Finish one pocket, one page or one tag, then leave the next spread open for later. Keep a small envelope near your desk for bits you may want to use: a paper label, ticket, clipping, color swatch or tiny note. When you sit down again, you will already have a starting point.

Do not judge the early pages too quickly. A junk journal gets better as it develops. The first spread may feel simple, the middle may be more experimental and the last page may become your favorite. That unevenness is proof that you were making something real, not trying to manufacture a finished look all at once.

When you are ready to make another, choose a different format or a new color mood rather than trying to duplicate every detail. Each journal can teach you what you enjoy: pockets, writing, botanical layers, old-paper textures, bright color, seasonal keepsakes or quiet pages with lots of room to breathe.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to make a junk journal?

A simple first journal needs a cover or notebook, a few papers, scissors, glue and a pen. Add envelopes, tags, thread or fabric only if they sound fun to you. It is better to begin with a small set of materials than to wait for a perfectly stocked craft space.

Do I need to sew a junk journal?

No. You can make a junk journal in a ready-made notebook, use rings, staple a small booklet or create loose pages first. Sewing folded page groups into a cover is a satisfying option when you want a traditional handmade book, but it is not required to enjoy the craft.

How many pages should a beginner junk journal have?

Start with a small journal that feels easy to finish, perhaps three to five folded page groups or a thin notebook. Leave room for pockets, fabric and bulky keepsakes, since a journal grows thicker as you add to it. You can always make another when this one is full.

Can I use printable pages in a handmade junk journal?

Yes. Printable pages are useful when you want a coordinated color palette or need a few extra backgrounds, tags and ephemera. Print what you need, then mix the pieces with your own handwriting, found papers and personal mementos.