Hello, friends! How are you today? Here, it's been overcast and drizzling—a perfect backdrop for cozying up on the couch and diving into a craft project. One of my absolute favorite crafts for such days is creating a junk journal. There's something wonderfully relaxing about combining patterned paper, stickers, accent pieces, and various ephemera to craft vintage-style pages.

Junk journaling is a form of paper crafting where there are no rules, allowing creativity to flow freely. This freedom removes the pressure of "getting it perfect," which is often felt when making a card for a loved one or an album-worthy scrapbook page. I love that junk journaling is an excellent activity for practicing new paper layouts, folds, and ink stamp techniques—or just playing around with extra miscellaneous stickers!

In honor of all cozy craft days, I'd like to share some tips on crafting a junk journal. I hope these tips inspire your own junk journal creations!

Tip #1: Use a Variety of Paper Craft Items

Mixing various materials is the heart of junk journaling. This can include patterned paper, stickers, tags, die-cuts, and any other inspiring items. I often like to work with a theme, like this paper pack—"Dreamy Butterflies." However, you can create any type of page based on the materials you love the most!

Tip #2: Utilize a Range of Tools

Having the right tools can make your junk journaling experience smoother and more enjoyable. Some of my favorite tools include:

Detail scissors
Single-hole punch tool
White glue with a thin tip (Bearly Art Glue or Elmer's Glue are great choices!)
Paper cutter
Scoring board for precise cutting and folding of cardstock

Tip #3: Layer for Dimension

Creating layers adds depth and interest to your pages. For a recent "junk page," I layered a green cardstock side panel with a twine bow and a butterfly-themed cardstock tag atop the butterfly-patterned paper. I also layered purple and green cardstock beneath a "B" sticker and used 3D dots to create a raised effect.

Tip #4: Distress for a Vintage Look

To achieve a distressed-vintage look, play with ink stamps and pens. I like to use various ink stamps and blotters, add accent lines, and handwrite sentiments with colored ink pens. Some crafters even use coffee or tea-stained paper for this effect—something I'm keen to try out myself!

Tip #5: Let Your Creativity Run Wild with Accents!

Don't hold back on accent pieces. I enjoyed using stickers from the "Dreamy Butterflies" pack to create numerous accents in various sizes, colors, and textures. I even hand-cut tiny butterflies and layered them with more purple and green cardstock. The result? Cute and fun embellishments that bring the page to life!

In Conclusion:

Junk journaling is a perfect craft for cozy days, allowing for limitless creativity with no rules. By combining a variety of paper craft items, utilizing essential tools, layering elements for dimension, and experimenting with distressing techniques, you can create beautiful vintage-style pages. Let your creativity run wild with accent pieces to make your journal uniquely yours. Happy crafting, and enjoy the relaxing process of junk journaling!

How to Craft a Cozy Junk Journal!