Best Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners

Are you new to the wild and wonderful world of Junk Journals? If so, welcome my friend! Today I'm going to share my list of the Best Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners. This is the list I wish I had when I first started.

Best Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners

In this article, I'll break down the essential junk journal supplies, what they are, share tips on how I use them, and include shopping links to help you round out your supplies.

We'll talk about all the fun extras in another post, cause there are lots of those!!! That's part of the magic of this craft, there are endless opportunities for you to express your creativity and passions. If you've started watching all the Junk Journal videos on YouTube I'm sure you're getting an inkling of the possibilities.

So, let's dive in!

I'm excited to tell you about these resources for making junk journals. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Essential Junk Journal Supply List for Beginners

Here's an overview of the main supplies you need to make junk journals:

• Papers
• Binding thread
• Craft sewing needle
• Glue
• Awl
• Scissors, Cutters, Punches
• Ribbons, Trims
• Ephemera

But let's talk about each of these in a bit more detail.

What types of Paper do I need to make a Junk Journal?

There are many different types of paper you can use in your junk journals. The ones that I use the most are:

Cardstock – I use this for covers, pockets, art cards, and anything that I want to have a little extra strength. This brand of bright white cardstock is the one I buy the most.

Copy Paper, Printer Paper, or Text Weight Paper – I use a lot of this paper. Seriously, buying a whole case of it isn't a bad idea! I make hand-dyed papers with it and print printable papers on it from both my own Etsy Junk Journal designs and other ephemera I find online. I will typically use a minimum of 10 sheets or more per journal so it can go fast.

Vellum Paper – I love printable vellum paper! On its own it adds a wonderful softness, but when printed it becomes magical!! You can print script writing, images, even textiles like doilies (coming soon to my Etsy shop!) which add so much beauty and interest to your pages!

Ledger Paper – this is a fun paper to use to add interest and color to your journals!

Books, Magazines, Catalogs, postcards, envelopes, greeting cards, old photos, and more! Look around your home and you'll be surprised at what you start to see that will see with new eyes.

Wallpaper, paint chip samples, seed packets, even old instruction manuals!

Parchment baking paper and craft paper (which you can buy on a roll and cut to size!) are also fun items you can use in your pages. This can be dyed and used to make pockets, envelopes, tucks, and dividers.

Chipboard or old cereal boxes are great for making hardcovers for your journals.

Best Paper Cutters and Scissors for Making Junk Journals

Of course with all this paper we need ways to cut it! Here are my favorite tools for cutting paper.

Rotary Paper Trimmer – There are two main types of flat paper cutters, the guillotine style that chops up and down – which scares me a bit if I'm honest! – and the rotary style – which is my personal favorite. I have this rotary paper trimmer by Fiskars.

Scissors – Sharp scissors are critical for cutting out intricate details and shapes. I have a fun pair of Eiffel tower scissors that are extra fun!

Cricut cutting machine – For the little fussy cuts my Cricut cutting machine is hard to beat! Either a Cricut Joy, Explore Air 2 or a Maker will work. I use mine all the time.

Torn edge ruler – Creating a hand-torn edge is a great way to add interest and texture to your journals. These rulers help make it easier to get that look.

Scissors sharpener – Keeping your scissors sharp is critical. I keep a sharpener like this in my craft room to help make all my cuts clean.

Binding tools for Making Junk Journals

There are several ways of keeping your journals together but binding with twine or crochet thread is the most popular, and one of my favorite methods. But there are some tools that make it easier.

Crochet Thread – my preferred binding is a natural colored #10 crochet thread. I like it because it's affordable, easy to use, and one spool/skein of it lasts a really long time. A lot of junk journal artists use bakers twine too.

Craft Needles – you'll need these for sewing the thread through your pages.

Awl – This tool is the secret to making binding easy. You use this to pierce the paper to make the holes for sewing your pages together.

Binding kit – kits like this come with all the tools that you need. I have this journal making kit that comes with pre-drilled holes which act as a guide for making holes plus an awl.

Paper Craft Punches for Junk Journal pages

Craft punches can be great for cutting out ephemera, making tags, and adding rounded corners to projects.

Paper Craft Punches come in all shapes and sizes.

Tag Paper Punches – tags are super popular for journals and these punches make it super easy to make them.

Rounded corner punch – simply rounding a corner can make a huge impact on the look of your paper. My favorite one is this corner chomper by Crop-a-dile. I like it because not only does it go through paper but it will go through chipboard too, which is great for journal covers!

Paper Tags – of course, you can also get paper tags which you can just add trims and fun touches too!

Extra Decorative Touches for Junk Journals

Eyelets are great additions to journals. They can act as closures when threaded with ribbon. They're also just cute on different trims and papers! They come in tons of colors and sizes.

Eyelet Setter – I use a Big Bite Crop-A-Dile for setting my eyelets. I like this one because it chomps through chipboard as well as thinner things like paper.

Rayon Seam Binding – I like to get this in the natural color so that I can dye it when I'm making my colored papers! I use it as a closure on so many of my journals.

Best Glues and Adhesives for Junk Journals

Glue is critical to keeping it all together with your journals, but not all glues are created equal.

Fabri-Tac is my hands-down favorite go-to glue. I like it because it works like magic with attaching fabric and ribbon to chipboard and paper but it also works on just paper too!

Scor-Tape is great for attaching pockets and tucks to pages when you don't want to fiddle with glue.

Printable Labels – these are great for making stickers and homemade washi tape. I like these full-size sheets in clear and white full-size sheets.

Best Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners

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Of course, there are more fun trims, additions, fabrics, and embellishments which we'll explore in future articles, but these items listed are some of the Best Junk Journal Supplies for Beginners. I hope this list is helpful as you start on this journey!

Happy Junk Journaling!