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Today I’d like to share some of my favorite junk journaling supplies!  None of these are absolute necessities (except for maybe an adhesive, a pair of scissors and a pen) but they’re fun little additions to a really enjoyable craft.

+ A PHOTO PRINTER // This is the most expensive item and certainly not a necessity, but for me, it’s been worth its weight in gold!  I have the Canon Selphy and you can link it right to your phone.  It makes printing photos a breeze.

+ AWL // Part of the bookbinding process requires making holes for the string to pass through.  I tried a variety of things to accomplish this (including bamboo skewers!) but ultimately invested in this little awl created especially for this purpose.  Worth every penny.

+ EXACTO KNIFE // If you want to make a journal from an old hardcover book, a sharp exacto knife is really helpful.  I have this Fiskars one and it has worked great for me so far.

+ PAPER CUTTER // I have had the same paper cutter for years and years!  I don’t even think they make my version anymore, but this one is very similar.

+ 9×12″ NEWSPRINT PAPER //   You can use any type of paper for your interior pages, but I like this Strathmore newsprint because it’s a little bit thicker than printer paper but also not too bulky.  I also like using a similar sized children’s “story pad” because it includes an easy place to journal.

+ TINY ATTACHER // Imagine a stapler, but make it teeny and adorable.

+ ADHESIVES // I use a variety of adhesives, depending on the type of paper I’m working with.  For most papers, I go for the everyday Elmer’s glue stick.  Super cheap and one supply I use a lot!  For a slightly heavier paper, I like to use scrapbook rolling adhesive because it holds just a bit better than the glue stick.  If I have something really bulky or I’m creating a pocket that will be tugged and pulled on, I choose red line double-sided tape.

+ WASHI TAPE // So versatile and the possibilities are endless.  You can use them for decoration or even its own type of adhesive.  I bought this set in October 2022 and I still have a ton left.  It really goes far.

+ ALPHABET STAMPS // So these are technically for homeschooling, but I like to use them in my journals too!  We have this lowercase set from Educational Insights.  For ink, I like the StazOn brand because it is supposed to work on all types of surfaces.

+ PENS // I use everything from a cheap Bic Round Stic to Micron pens of various sizes to scrapbook-type pens.  Not sure if the Bic will stand the test of time, but I usually just use what I have closest at hand.

I hope to share parts of my January journal soon!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

This “little autumn joys” junk journal is a project that I have enjoyed immensely this past month!  Everything about the process has been new to me; I have made quite a few mistakes but have also learned so much.  A few details:

For the cover, I used the spine of an old, water-stained Little Women book.  I had kept it in my craft stash “just in case” and was so happy to finally have a use for it.  I glued a piece of my hand-stitched quilting (remember when I mentioned it last year in this post?) on top and added a little blue button for some interest and dimension.

The inside pages are a hodgepodge of things: pages from two children’s books that were ripped/had the cover pulled off, kraft cardstock, pages from a picture story pad (sort-of like this), a brown paper bag, pages from an adult coloring book, pages from the Little Women book itself and a few scrapbook papers that I purchased.  My goal was to create something beautiful with items I already owned, spending the least amount of money possible.  I think I accomplished that!

 

Junk journals are a great home for those little notes and drawings from the kids.

 

For my birthday, I asked for and received the Canon Selphy photo printer and it’s so great!  You can link it to your phone and it makes printing photos a breeze.

 

I have had that postcard of the fox playing cards since the Big White Farmhouse Shop days!  So nice to have a use for it – I used the back as journaling space.  This photo also shows one half of the paper bag I included in the papers.  I tucked a picture of me and Samson in that side space and used a fabric scrap as the tab.

 

One last photo: I stapled in a dried leaf (hopefully it won’t crumble into pieces!) and made a little flip up space with the “BOO” card.  Underneath, I have journaling and another photo.  So fun!

My first finish for the Beautiful Things Project was a little garden cross-stitch pillow for my bedroom rocking chair!  I found a sweet little pattern on the DMC website for free.  I wanted to do this as inexpensively as possible, so I changed the colors to fit the ones I already owned.  (I did have to buy two skeins of thread after I ran out, so my grand total for this project was $5.56.)  I finished the back using the envelope method.  The fabric I used isn’t a perfect match to the front colors, but it’s one that I’ve had in my stash for a decade and this seemed like a good time to use it!

DETAILS

+ Pattern: Point de Marque 3.15
+ Linen, fabric and thread: from my stash
+ Pillow form: 12″x16″ Basic Insert (also from my stash)
+ Tutorial for finishing the pillow: Envelope Method Tutorial from Sew Crafty Me
+ Skeins of thread: Amy Rose Jewelry Supply
TOTAL FOR PROJECT: $5.56