Why you should keep a junk journal (and this is how you do it)

The junk journal is the sustainable version of an art journal: you primarily use found and recycled materials for it. Here we explain how to make one yourself.

Of course, such a journal varies from person to person, as everyone considers ‘junk’ to be something different. You can take it literally by using mostly recycled materials as described above. If you take it a bit less literally, it can also become a notebook where you store all the ‘junk’ from your own life. Something like the clutter in your house, but in a journal.

What is a junk journal?

The difference with an art journal is that a junk journal is much more sustainable. Things you would normally throw in the trash can now get a second life in your junk journal. This way, you’ll also start looking at the items around you with a fresher perspective.

What are the benefits of a junk journal?

As mentioned above, one of the benefits is that you start to see the things and items around you differently. Something that was previously considered ‘trash’ or ‘junk’ can now become your source of inspiration. And that perspective sparks your creativity.

Another nice thing about this version of a journal: it’s not about the result, but really about the experience itself. You can mess around in your journal without it needing to be pretty or finished. Goodbye, perfectionism.

Four ways to use a junk journal

Do you want to get started? Here are four ways you can use a junk journal.

1 Use it as a daily journal

Just like you would use a planner or bullet journal. You write your daily thoughts and appointments in it, but in a more visual way. You can use pages from an old magazine or book, or spreads from flyers you receive in the mail. You can also include your daily memories, like a receipt from the coffee you had with a friend or a purchase tag from the pants you bought.

2 Use it as a planner

If you love to-do lists, you can set up your junk journal as a planner. Write down the things you need to do that day, week, or month, or just jot down your appointments. You can choose how you want to design it.

3 Create a memory book

For your own life or that of your mother or grandmother, for example. Collect all the tangible memories you have of that person and paste them in (in chronological order). This way, you have a lovely book to store on the shelf.

4 Give your junk journal a theme

Your book doesn’t always have to be personal; you can also give it a specific theme. Around this topic, you can gather various items you come across. For example, choose the theme of flowers and glue in dried flowers, or patterns and illustrations you find.”

Text Bente van de Wouw Source Artjournalist.com Photography Heather Green/Unsplash
Published on May 29, 2025