What is a Junk Journal?

(Handmade Journal)

 

A junk journal is a book made from materials found around the house. Traditionally, junk journals were made with junk mail and discarded papers,

but creativity and design has catapulted a simple book structured with throw-away paper to works of art. 

 

The first advancement started in the late 80’s/early 90’s with smashbooks. Smashbooks stepped outside the original by adding art renderings, drawings,

and non-paper ephemera to make a new kind of journal. As that idea evolved, making journals began to split off into different uses.

Art journals grew from the smashbook idea, incorporating collage and visuals more than writing.

Writing journals took the idea of old-fashioned diaries and married them up with decorative pages.

Also, bullet journal and planners got a facelift in the process. 

 

Fast-forward a few decades and the creativity surrounding the designing and making of journals has exploded.

Now there is not just the making journal pages from packaging and old envelopes,

but the world of digital design (printables) has brought a new kind of creativity

and an income stream for many who have turned their creativity into a business.

 

The Difference Between Junk Journaling and Scrapbooking

 

The point of scrapbooking is to preserve treasured pieces of a person’s own history. 

It is a walk down memory lane, with photos, highlights, tickets, and organized in a fun way to memorialize lifetime events.

 

A junk journal can use many of the same items, but the intention is different.

Instead of memories being safeguarded, an old receipt can be used as a page to be written on.

It doesn’t matter what the receipt was for. 

 

A lot of people mix the two uses together, making pages out of various plain papers to write,

while using pockets and tucks made from scrapbook paper to preserve momentos that are important to them. 

 

There are no hard and fast rules on how to use a journal.

Some people do not write down their thoughts or put souvenirs from a trip into pockets.

It sits in a prominent spot as a piece of art to be enjoyed with the eyes, and to spark conversation when visitors come around. 

Once a journal is made, it can be used in any way the maker chooses.

The most popular uses are as a diary, art journal, notepad, task list, planner, scrapbook, and/or keepsake.