🧾 Top 12 Junk Journal Supplies Every Creative Needs (With Ideas & Tips!)

Junk journaling is a beautiful way to preserve memories, express your creativity, and repurpose old treasures. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, having the right junk journal supplies makes all the difference.

From vintage papers and ephemera to lace, stickers, and washi tape, this guide will walk you through the must-have materials to start or expand your junk journal journey. ✂️📜✨

📦 What Are Junk Journal Supplies?

Junk journal supplies refer to the materials you use to create pages in a junk journal — a handmade book often filled with vintage-inspired elements, personal keepsakes, and layered textures. These supplies often include:

• Vintage papers (old book pages, ledgers)

• Printable ephemera and labels

• Fabric scraps, lace, buttons

• Washi tape, stickers, stamps

• Coffee-dyed and textured paper

But the best part? You don’t always need to buy new supplies — your home is full of treasures waiting to be used.

🏡 Use What You Already Have: DIY-Friendly Junk Journal Materials

Junk journaling embraces imperfection, reuse, and storytelling. Here are some everyday items that make perfect free supplies:

• 📰 Old newspapers & magazines — headlines, textures, black-and-white photos

• 💌 Postcards & letters — handwritten notes or vintage travel cards

• 🧾 Receipts & tickets — bus passes, event stubs, shopping tags

• 📓 Used notebooks & pages — lined, graph, or scribbled-on pages

• 🎟️ Stickers from mail, products — reuse labels or barcodes creatively

• 📦 Packaging paper — brown kraft paper, tissue wrap, or bakery bags（MUJI's kraft paper bags are definitely my favorite）

• ✂️ Scraps of ribbon, lace, or old clothes — perfect for texture and tabs

💡 Look around — junk journaling is about turning everyday scraps into beauty.

✂️ 12 Must-Have Junk Journal Supplies

Here’s a breakdown of the most essential supplies and why they belong in your creative toolkit:

1. 📜 Vintage Book Pages & Ledger Paper

Old books, dictionaries, and vintage ledgers add aged charm and layered backgrounds to your spreads. Try tearing or inking the edges for an authentic effect.

2. 🧾 Ephemera Packs

Think tickets, vintage receipts, postcards, envelopes, and old advertisements. They're perfect for focal points or layering.

3. ✉️ Printable Journaling Cards

Printables are budget-friendly and reusable. Use journaling cards, tags, and pockets to add writing space and decorative elements.

4. 🖋️ Washi Tape

Add borders, texture, or vintage flair using washi tape. Look for designs with florals, text, postage stamps, or grunge effects.

✨ Shop our curated [Washi Tape Collection] for junk journal-ready rolls.

5. 🏷️ Stickers (Vintage, Floral, Text)

Stickers make quick layering easy — especially those with transparent PET backing or paper textures. Labels, florals, and typography are perfect choices.

6. ✂️ Die Cuts & Cut-outs

Use die-cut flowers, butterflies, frames, and people to add 3D interest or storytelling themes to your pages.

7. 🎨 Coffee-Dyed Paper

Create an antique look with DIY coffee-dyed papers or purchase pre-dyed sheets. Great for backgrounds and writing areas.

8. 🧷 Lace, Fabric Scraps & Trims

Add tactile charm with lace borders, cheesecloth, or linen fabric. Use them to make flaps, tabs, or spine decorations.

9. 🖌️ Rubber Stamps & Inks

Botanical stamps, script stamps, or postmark designs help add dimension and texture. Try vintage-style ink colors for the best effect.

10. 💌 Envelopes & Pockets

Tuck small mementos, photos, or secret notes into envelopes. You can even make your own from old paper scraps.

11. 🧵 Paper Doilies & Textured Layers

Add softness and visual layering with white or tea-dyed doilies. These work beautifully under focal clusters.

12. 🔖 Tags & Tabs

Great for pull-outs, flip-ups, and interactive pages. Label your sections or use as journaling spots.

🧠 Junk Journal Ideas & Tips

Junk journaling isn't just about collecting materials — it’s about telling stories, preserving emotions, and unleashing creativity. Here are some creative ideas and expert tips to help you make the most of your supplies:

✨ 1. Layer, Layer, Layer!

The magic of junk journaling lies in layering. Combine:

• 📰 A vintage book page as the base

• 🏷️ A torn ephemera label

• 🌸 A floral sticker or die-cut

• ✒️ A stamped phrase or script

• 🧵 A piece of lace or fabric trim

➡️ This creates depth, texture, and a mixed media aesthetic.

🕰️ 2. Choose a Theme or Mood

Give your spread a narrative or vibe. Examples include:

• ✈️ Travel memories – use tickets, maps, old luggage tags

• 💌 Love letters – romantic fonts, roses, vintage stamps

• 🌙 Celestial – stars, moons, deep blues, gold accents

• 🧺 Cottagecore – florals, baskets, books, lace, warm tones

A theme helps guide your layout, color palette, and supply choices.

🧴 3. Distress & Age Your Paper

Use these techniques for a vintage effect:

• Ink edges with brown, sepia, or black stamp pads

• Tear paper instead of cutting for a raw look

• Coffee or tea dye pages for an aged tint

• Crumple and flatten paper for texture

These tricks make even new paper look like it’s from the 1800s!

🔁 4. Repurpose Packaging & Leftovers

Don’t throw away:

• Tissue paper from mail orders

• Product tags or labels

• Old business cards or greeting cards

• Envelopes or translucent windows from junk mail

➡️ Add stamping, washi, or collage elements and give them a second life.

📆 5. Incorporate Daily Life

Make your journal a time capsule:

• Add your coffee receipt

• Include the candy wrapper from your walk

• Tape in a leaf from your garden

• Write a short note about how you felt that day

Junk journals are deeply personal — embrace the ordinary.

📸 6. Add Mini Flip-Outs or Pockets

Use:

• Old book pages folded into mini envelopes

• Fabric sewn onto paper for interactive tabs

• Paper doilies folded to create secret flaps

These elements make your journal playful and engaging — especially great for memory-keeping or gifting.

✂️ 7. Use Negative Space Creatively

Leave some areas intentionally blank. A clean space lets your eye rest and:

• Highlights layered elements

• Makes room for future journaling

• Adds balance to busy spreads

Don’t be afraid of simplicity — it adds contrast.

💡 Bonus: Combine with Other Crafts

• Make ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) using your junk journal scraps

• Bind multiple pages into your own mini zine

• Create gift tags, bookmarks, or collaged envelopes from leftovers

Junk journal supplies are versatile beyond the journal itself!

✅ Want to Start Today?

Check your drawers, grab your favorite washi, and start experimenting — even a single vintage postcard can inspire an entire spread.

🛍️ Where to Find Junk Journal Supplies?

No need to rummage through antique shops (although that can be fun too!). Journalsay offers a curated selection of junk journal sets, vintage materials, decorative stickers and more to help you get started quickly — without the digging.

👉 Browse our [Junk Journal Supplies Collection] to find ready-to-use sets with everything you need, from lace and paper to stickers and vintage labels.

✨ Final Thoughts

Junk journaling is all about celebrating imperfection, storytelling through scraps, and turning forgotten pieces into personal treasures. Whether you start with a sticker pack or a stack of receipts from your drawer — every page becomes a unique expression of your creativity.

So grab your scissors, gather your bits and pieces, and start crafting your next beautiful spread. ✂️📓🌿