Junk Journal Supplies: What You Actually Need (And What to Skip)

Search junk journal supplies and you get lists of forty items. In practice, a working journaller uses about eight things regularly. Here is the honest version, sorted by whether you need it now, later, or never.

Buy first: the five essentials

Paper

Everything else is optional; this is not. Old book pages, brown kraft, envelopes, sheet music, printed backing papers. If you are buying rather than salvaging, vintage scrapbook paper in coordinated palettes goes furthest, and 12×12 pads are the most economical per sheet.

A glue stick and a glue pen

Two different jobs. Stick for large areas, pen for edges and small ephemera. Wet PVA wrinkles thin aged paper and should be avoided for anything delicate.

A bone folder

Crisp folds, burnished glue edges, clean scores. Under ten dollars and permanent.

An awl

Pierce before you sew. Without it, stitching tears the fold and sits crooked.

Sharp scissors

One pair, paper only. Blunt scissors drag and crush aged paper visibly.

Buy second: the things you will want within a month

• Ephemera — tickets, tags, labels, stamps. Buy by theme, not in mixed bulk. See ephemera packs.
• Distress ink — one brown, one black. Aged edges are the fastest way to make new paper look found.
• Waxed linen thread — grips knots, no waxing needed as you sew.
• Washi tape — for hinges and repairs as much as decoration.
• A corner rounder — makes ordinary paper look deliberate.

Our full short list is at junk journaling tools.

Skip: the things that sit unused

Enormous mixed ephemera bundles. The single most common regret. Nothing matches, so you sort instead of make.

Specialist adhesives. Glue stick plus glue pen covers essentially everything.

Die-cutting machines. A different hobby with a different budget.

Expensive journals to “junk up”. The point is building the book yourself.

Novelty punches. Bought for one project, used once.

The cheapest way to get material

Printables. You print exactly what a page needs — one tag, five labels, a single backing sheet — and you can print the same file again in five years. A single kit replaces several physical packs. Browse printable junk journal kits, or start with the free four-page starter sheet.

One practical note: print quality matters more than paper quality. Test a kit on plain paper first — if the aged tones come out grey instead of warm, the file was never colour-calibrated and no paper will fix it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum to start junk journaling?

Paper, glue, scissors, a bone folder and an awl. Under thirty dollars including some paper.

What is the best glue for junk journaling?

Glue stick for large areas, fine-tip glue pen for edges and small pieces. Both, not one.

Where can I find free junk journal supplies?

Envelopes, packaging, receipts, tickets, old books from charity shops, and free printable sheets. Junk journaling was invented as a way to use what you already have.

What weight paper should I print junk journal printables on?

Standard 80gsm printer paper is authentic and thin, which layers well. Use 120gsm for pages that will carry heavy embellishment.