To start junk journaling you need just seven basics: a base book or pages, decorative papers, cut-out ephemera, a few illustrations, adhesive, scissors, and a pen. Everything else is optional. This checklist walks through each essential — what it's for and what to look for — plus a few nice-to-have extras once you're hooked. Use it as a simple shopping list for your first journal.
The junk journal essentials checklist
1. A base book or pages. Your foundation — either a blank book you fill, or a themed collage or cut & collage book that gives you coordinated pages and elements in one. Beginners often start here because everything already matches. Paper Ephemera Books are another great base for a vintage look.
2. Decorative papers. Backgrounds and base layers for your pages. Printable Whimsy Papers and Collage Packs let you print coordinated sheets at any size, as many times as you need.
3. Cut-out ephemera. The small decorative pieces you layer on — tags, labels, florals, figures. Ready-to-cut Fussy Cuts come drawn in coordinated themes so they're easy to use.
4. Illustrations and clipart. Individual motifs for accents and focal points. Cliparts work for printing and for digital layouts, usually as transparent PNGs.
5. Adhesive. A glue stick or tape runner for most work, plus a stronger craft glue for heavier elements. Look for "acid-free" so it won't yellow over time.
6. Scissors. Small, sharp scissors with a fine tip make cutting out detailed elements far easier. A craft knife is a useful optional extra.
7. A pen. Any archival-safe pen for journaling. The writing is what turns a decorated page into a keepsake.
That's the whole starter kit. You can make beautiful pages with nothing more than this.
Nice-to-have extras (once you're hooked)
- Distress ink — for aging edges and adding depth (see how to age paper).
- Washi tape — quick decorative borders and page tabs.
- Stamps and ink — for repeated motifs and backgrounds.
- A bone folder — for crisp folds and pockets.
- Stencils — for consistent shapes and patterns.
None of these are needed to start — add them only as you find you want them.
Digital or physical supplies?
You can build a junk journal two ways. Physical supplies — like a printed collage book — are ready to cut and glue straight away. Digital supplies from Digital Downloads are printed at home, so you can reprint favorites endlessly and never run out. Many crafters mix both. For the full picture, see our beginner's guide to starting a junk journal and junk journal ephemera.
Shop the supplies
Everything on the checklist:
- Base books — Printed Collage Books and Paper Ephemera Books
- Papers — Whimsy Papers and Collage Packs
- Ephemera — Fussy Cuts
- Illustrations — Cliparts
- All digital products — Digital Downloads
Frequently asked questions
What supplies do I need to start junk journaling? Seven basics: a base book or pages, decorative papers, cut-out ephemera, some illustrations, adhesive, scissors, and a pen.
Do I need expensive tools to junk journal? No. The essentials are inexpensive, and printable supplies let you reprint what you need instead of buying multiples.
What kind of glue is best for junk journaling? A glue stick or tape runner for most elements, plus a stronger craft glue for heavier pieces. Acid-free is best so pages don't yellow.
Can I start with just digital supplies? Yes. Print digital papers, ephemera, and clipart at home and you have everything you need for paper layouts.
What's the one thing beginners should buy first? A themed collage or cut & collage book, because it supplies coordinated pages and elements in a single purchase.
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