Step 1: Create a Junk Journal in our editor.

The Junk Journal's sturdy, matte pages can easily withstand the weight of stickers, ticket stubs, and trinkets, making it the perfect match for your junk. Pick a theme and design your pages accordingly—or leave it open-ended and scheme as you go! Pro tip: Leave negative space around your photos for layering in ephemera.

Step 2: Print additional photos.

Creating small Lustre Prints or Everyday Prints adds to the fun! Print them while you build your Junk Journal, and layer them into your book later.

Step 3: Collect your materials.

Commonly referred to as ephemera, your salvaged treasures will put the “junk” in junk book. Some of our favorite idea starters? Ribbons, stickers, receipts, ticket stubs, magazine cutouts, dried flowers, bookmarks, postcards, handwritten notes… You can upcycle anything!

Step 4: Design your spreads.

Begin transferring your ephemera to the pages of your journal. Let your creativity run wild, playing with layers and textures until you piece together spreads that truly speak to you.

Step 5: Start sticking!

Once you’re happy with the layout, glue everything down. Voilà! Now you have a memory book filled with inspiration to look back on. Remember to embrace the imperfections. Junk journaling is an open invitation to unlock your creativity and express yourself, free of inhibitions. Keep scrolling as we share some of our favorite spreads to inspire you to kickstart your own journey.

A seasonal theme can add structure and sentiment to your junk book project. Lauren R. shares how her theme—"Our Love Through the Seasons"—helped her craft a memorable album of the fun times she’s shared with her spouse. “It was an easy craft that brought me joy and warmth, and now we have a 30-page keepsake we’ll cherish forever,” she says.

Using photos, seasonal stickers, and meaningful memorabilia, like tickets and card cutouts, Lauren wove a cohesive narrative. The addition of handwritten notes, Polaroids, and a small envelope for extra mementos made the book a truly personal expression of their love story.

If winter has you dreaming of warmer weather, channel that energy into a junk book inspired by summer. Chandler S. created a thoughtful recap of her travels, filling pages with vibrant snapshots and scraps she collected along the way.

“A weekend in Napa with friends, a Fourth of July filled with hikes, and a pilgrimage to my favorite writer’s childhood home—I’ve already flipped through mine a hundred times,” she says. Her book of bits and baubles captures special moments that can instantly transport her to sunnier days.

Sometimes, the most meaningful treasures are hidden away, waiting to be rediscovered. For Jenna H., a junk journal was the perfect way to bring years of adventures with her boyfriend to life. “I’ve always been a sucker for keeping mementos from our trips—maps, Polaroids, receipts—but they always ended up buried in a box in my closet,” she shares.

Inspired by the junk journal trend, Jenna combined those keepsakes with photos to craft a memory book brimming with artistic spreads. “The process of collaging was so relaxing—just me, a glass of wine, and getting lost in creativity.” Her collection not only became a coffee table conversation starter but also a keepsake her boyfriend adored.

For Alaina C., a trip to the city that never sleeps became the perfect inspiration for her junk book. “I paired photos with vintage cutouts and NYC-inspired memorabilia, creating a visually exciting tribute to our journey,” she explains.

The book documents iconic moments, from exploring the Met to popping in at stylish cocktail bars and wandering the city’s charming streets. It’s a creative and tangible way to preserve the memories of an unforgettable trip with the girls.

Looking for a more traditional approach to scrapbooking that you can build over time? We’ve got you covered with The Stories We Tell Scrapbook Album.

This book is a chapter-based scrapbook suited for anyone's story. The Stories We Tell provides engaging prompts and various photo placements to inspire documenting and sharing your experiences. Quality materials and design-forward construction let your stories live on—no extra supplies necessary.