After returning from a trip to Colombia I rediscovered an old passion for crafting. What had once been forgotten supplies suddenly felt full of potential. This newfound interest led me to junk journaling a creative and relaxing way to preserve memories while embracing imperfection.
Junk journaling is more than just a craft; it’s a journey of self-expression. Unlike traditional scrapbooking, it celebrates texture, memory, and story over perfection. It’s a liberating process that encourages the use of repurposed materials, found papers, and keepsakes to create mixed-media journals.
What is junk journaling?
Junk journaling is a relaxed and imaginative style of paper crafting that uses a variety of materials to create mixed-media journals. It’s a free-form, layered, and personal approach to journaling that celebrates imperfection. The process involves tearing, cropping, layering, and embellishing with stickers, ribbons, paper scraps, plastic, rice paper, and other mixed materials.
This creative process is perfect for those who want to use what they have, mix old with new, and make something that feels personal instead of overly planned. It’s a chance to use materials you brought home from a trip and build on them with other supplies to create something unique.
Why junk journaling suits travel journaling
Travel journaling fits junk journaling beautifully because trips naturally generate small paper treasures. A travel journal can hold maps, transit cards, postcards, brochures, ticket stubs, receipts, notes from museums, restaurants, and hotels, pressed flowers, labels, or bits of packaging, as well as handwritten reflections and small sketches.
These details help capture not just where you went, but how the trip felt. A beautiful hotel stay, a train ride, a museum visit, a special meal, or even a quiet moment along the way can all be remembered through scraps that become part of the story.
A new use for old supplies
If you have scrapbook supplies tucked away, junk journaling offers a second life for many of those materials. Decorative paper, stickers, tags, ribbons, washi tape, envelopes, lace, and embellishments can all be used in a looser, more expressive way.
Instead of waiting for the perfect scrapbook page, they can become part of a journal page that is imperfect, layered, and full of character. This has been one of the most satisfying parts for me, as it allows me to see old supplies as creative material waiting for a new purpose.
Getting organized first
Before diving into the creative fun, it helps to get organized. This can be the hardest part, especially if your scrapbooking supplies have built up over time. Treat the project like a real appointment, choose a day, clear the time, and commit to it.
When I go to multiple destinations, I often place each destination in a separate Ziploc bag. This keeps the items related to that part of the trip separate and makes it easier to organize later.
Storage that works
Placing all of those baggies or supplies into clear containers makes organizing much easier because you can see what is inside without opening every box. Uniform storage also helps because it stacks better and creates less visual clutter.
Labeling each container is just as important, as being able to read what is inside saves time and reduces frustration when you are looking for specific supplies. Keeping your most-used supplies close at hand can also make your workspace feel more practical and inviting.
Junk journaling has become a creative, personal way to hold on to travel memories while making peace with imperfection. It’s a process that encourages you to use what you have, mix old with new, and make something that feels deeply personal and unique.
When I look through a junk journal, I see imperfect layers, memories, and little sound bites of a journey, which feels much more honest and far less time-consuming than creating something polished from start to finish.
