The art of junk journaling
By: Gabi Abramovitch
Artistic vision? Got it. Ability to execute said vision? Not quite. Scrapbooking is intricate, specifically done and can feel pressure to turn out a certain way. I love to journal, track my memories and do something creative. Thus my love for junk journaling was born. Similar to scrapbooking, you collect trinkets (and the occasional scrap) throughout your day and throw it into a book. As a proud junk journalist of three years, here are my best tips to begin your very own book!
Tips to start a junk journal
What should you be collecting for the book? Anything and everything. If you’re at a restaurant and there is a branded paper napkin band, take it. Photobooths, newspapers, receipts, free stickers, ticket stubs- anything you would normally toss is now art! You get to determine what vibe you are trying to curate, but I recommend not curating. Just collect and it will all come together.
Where to begin
First things first, you need to choose the physical book. I recommend a spiral bound book as it is easy to lay flat, move pages as needed and often comes in many different sizes. Think about what materials you’ll use. If you plan to paint or use alcohol markers, you’ll need thicker pages.
Two popular brands are Moleskins or Papier. Moleskins tend to be more plain covers while Papier have designs. Overall, choose one you like the look of!
Adhering tips
Next, there are so many ways to stick your ‘junk’ in. After lots of experimenting, my three favorites are glue sticks, double sided tape and rubber cement for those bigger or heavier items. A glue stick is your best friend — not liquid, so it won’t run through the pages, but not solid, so it can adhere to all kinds of textures. Rolls of double-sided tape are also convenient. They’re easy to work with and manipulate.
One of my favorite ways to spruce up an entry is stickers. There are so many small businesses that sell niche stickers meant for journals, or you can go on Amazon for more variety and cheaper prices. A fun idea is to use letter stickers, in recent years ransom note stickers have been a popular choice!
Tie it together
My last recommendation to start your journal is background paper. This can be in a large pack from Michaels, using a finished math test or random construction paper. On days that you have less items, having a backdrop can make a page feel more complete and full. It also helps if you are trying to curate a certain color story!
In the end a junk journal is a memory holder. It is a lovely way to track what you’ve been up to, save some of your trash and create easy art. Keeping any form of a journal makes you more mindful of your day to day. Let go of perfection and embrace the chaos of a junk journal!
