What People Actually Ask When They Start Making Junk Journals
Junk journals are exactly what they sound like — journals built from whatever scraps you have lying around. Old envelopes, ticket stubs, bits of wrapping paper, cereal boxes for covers. The whole point is that nothing is wasted. You glue, stitch, fold, and tape until you have a book you can actually write in. It sounds simple. It mostly is. But there are enough edges that trip people up on day one that I figured I would put down what I wish someone had told me.Diy Junk Journal Questions
I get asked this exact phrase fairly often now. People search it when they are sitting on a pile of random paper and want to know whether they should buy something or just keep going. The short version: you start with nothing, you add only when you hit a problem, and you stop when the journal is done. I have made about thirty of these over the years. Here is the practical part. Build the cover first. Use cardstock, a cereal box, or heavy paper — something stiff that will hold up. Cut two pieces the size you want, leave a little extra for the spine, and attach them with strong glue or bookbinding adhesive. Let it dry under something flat. I use a stack of heavy books because my press sits unused. About three hours for a standard A5 journal, maybe two if the weather is dry and you are quick. Make the pages from whatever paper is available. Notebook paper torn out, old letters, receipt rolls, tissue paper. Fold each sheet in half, stack them, and run a stapler through the fold once, or use a whip stitch if you want it to lie flat. The goal is a signature bundle that opens without fighting you. I learned this the hard way with a notebook bound from printer paper that was too heavy — it closed on its own after two days.
Add pockets. This is where junk journals become junk journals instead of just cheap notebooks. Cut small pieces of envelope, slip them into the gutter, glue only the top edge, and you have a pocket for tickets, photos, whatever you find. I keep about six to eight pockets per journal. More than that and the book gets thick and annoying to flip through.
Paper Choice Matters More Than You Think
Most beginners ignore this and then wonder why ink bleeds through or pages curl. Use paper that is under 90 gsm for the main sheets unless you are doing a specific textured look. Anything heavier and your journal becomes a brick. If you want to write with a wet pen, add a backing layer of slightly heavier paper behind the front page so the ink does not migrate into your handwriting. Old book pages work well if they are already yellowed and you do not need crisp contrast. Magazine pages are glossy and write-on-able with ballpoint pens, but gel pens skip. This is not a trick — it is just physics, and I spent about ten minutes on each journal figuring it out the long way.
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The Binding That Actually Works
Stitching is the method that survives heavy use. Thread a needle, go through the fold at two or three points, pull tight, and tie off inside. Takes about ten minutes per journal once you know what you are doing. Glue-only binding fails when you open it wide and the signatures pop out. I switched to stitching after my first five journals came apart in a drawer. Not a big revelation, just a pattern I noticed after two months. Using too much glue. Goop spreads everywhere and takes hours to dry. Use a thin layer with a brush or a glue stick and press it flat. You do not need a wet paste flood. I used to apply glue like I was icing a cake. That changed when I started timing myself. Making the journal too big. A6 or A5 is the sweet spot. Larger formats feel impressive until you carry them around and they catch on everything. I stopped making anything bigger than A5 and regret not doing it sooner.
Expecting consistency. Junk journals are meant to be uneven. The charm is the mismatch. If you want clean edges and uniform sizes, make a regular notebook. This will frustrate perfectionists and free up time for people who just want something that works.
Where to Get Supplies Cheaply
Thrift stores, junk mail, and office recycling bins. Envelopes are free. Paper scraps from friends who print at home. Old calendars are excellent for backing pages because the glossy side writes well and the matte side can take pencil. I have never spent more than twenty dollars on a junk journal, and most were completely free except for thread and glue. If you want a journal that looks polished enough to give as a gift or sell at a market, junk journals are the wrong tool. They are functional and personal, not professional. For that, you need bookbinding cloth, proper boards, and a press. I respect the craft, I just do not pretend this approach solves every problem. Also, if you plan to store these somewhere humid, paper warps. Keep them in a dry place or line the cover with wax paper. I learned that one after a rainy summer ruined half my stash. The workaround is simple storage hygiene, not better materials.
Quick Reference
- Cover material: cereal box, cardstock, or heavy scrap paper
- Page weight: 70 to 90 gsm ideal
- Binding method: whip stitch preferred over glue only
- Pocket count: six to eight per journal
- Dry time for cover: three hours under weight
- Total build time: two to three hours for a beginner
If you are standing at your desk with a pile of random paper wondering whether to start, just pick one and go. The journal does not need to be perfect. It needs to exist. Mine are held together by thread, glue, and the occasional prayer, and they all work fine.
