Perhaps you have heard of junk journaling, but you can't really imagine what the term means. In this article, I will try to explain what junk journaling actually is.
Pure junk journaling – the original idea
If we take the two terms "junk", English for rubbish, and "journaling", English for diary writing, literally, we are dealing with a rubbish diary or perhaps better a scrap paper notebook. So we take papers that we already have at home and would probably dispose of in the recycling after use. These can be all kinds of magazines & periodicals or falling apart, outdated encyclopaedias, stationery that we haven't used since 1990, perfume packaging, and much more... The material and its sources are so diverse! And once you get a taste for it, you suddenly see papers and packaging for junk journaling everywhere. But what do we do now with the collected scrap paper? We bind it into a diary! :) The mix of papers forms the basis for our journal. Depending on the intended use, we choose the pages: If you want to use the journal mainly as a diary, you choose writable papers; if you are more interested in the creative design of the pages, e.g. creating collages, you can also incorporate old book pages or sheet music.
Alternatives to "traditional" junk journaling
Part of junk journaling is therefore binding a book for yourself. However, there are also alternatives: Many junk journalers use a ready-made notebook and create pages from packaging materials, such as candy wrappers, receipts or napkins, which they have collected throughout the day and glue in as a kind of "junk" collage. This is a great way to creatively capture a part of your day. Another workaround for bookbinding is to buy a relatively simply designed journal, also called a blank junk journal, and let your creativity run wild in it or simply use it as a diary.
The only rule: There are no rules!
What fascinates me about junk journaling are the seemingly endless possibilities of creative expression and the absence of rigid rules. Additionally, collecting materials is incredibly fun! The original idea is to use papers that you already have. However, if you, like me, love vintage papers, rummaging through flea markets has its own special charm.
I hope I could bring you a little closer to this wonderful hobby. Will you give it a try?
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Here you will find a video that summarises what junk journaling is: