Start with a single memory
How to start a junk journal
You do not need to fill a whole book. Start with one page: a short note about your day, a paper layer and a place to keep a small memory.
Get the three-sheet starter PDF →What is a junk journal?
A junk journal brings writing and collected paper together. A ticket, a piece of packaging or a handwritten note can sit alongside a photo or a printable. The meaning comes from what you choose to keep. Printables can supply a background or a pocket; they do not need to replace your own finds.
Gather what you already have
- A notebook or a loose backing page.
- Scissors, a ruler, a pencil and paper glue.
- A small memory: a caption, a copy of a ticket or a short note.
- A printer, or a print service that can print a PDF at actual size.
No cutting machine or binding tools are needed for the page project below. Use copies of irreplaceable keepsakes while trying an unfamiliar fold or glue.
Your first project: a botanical pocket page
Start with a 120 × 170 mm writing panel, a note card and a page pocket. The illustration shows actual PDF pieces arranged digitally; it is not a finished-object photograph.
Actual printable pieces · Digital arrangement Three full printable sheets. Cut out the named pieces and keep the extras.
Get the starter sheets
3 sheets · Color PDF · Choose your paper size
Choose paper sizePrint at 100% / Actual size. Single-sided.
For personal journals and handmade gifts. No resale or redistribution. Use & credits.
Report a file issueDirect paper-size downloads
Choose the paper loaded in your printer. These links also work if page scripts cannot load.
Download A4 PDF · 3 pages · 1.2 MBDownload Letter PDF · 3 pages · 1.2 MBPut your first page together
- Choose one memory. Write a date, place or sentence on a scrap before arranging anything.
- Match the PDF to your paper. Choose A4 or Letter, print single-sided at 100%, and check the 50 mm calibration ruler.
- Cut the required pieces. The P01 piece map identifies BG01-a, BG05-a, BG06-a and BG06-b.
- Fold the pocket tabs. Follow the fold diagram so the unprinted side and glue areas face the right way.
- Mount the pocket. Glue only the tabs to the backing. Keep the top opening free and let the glue dry.
- Try the card gently. Check that it moves in and out without forcing, then add your memory.
Follow the exact illustrated project →
This project is ready for a print trial. Paper thickness, finished fit and the making sequence still need physical validation. No completion time or printer compatibility is promised.
Choose a different starting point
For a trip, try the travel ticket pocket page. For a hidden note, the mini envelope sheets include their own small card. If you want to write without folding anything, browse the journal cards and labels.
Common first-page questions
Do I need to print a whole kit?
No. Each sheet has its own download. The starter PDF contains three sheets; the full botanical and travel collections each contain eight. You can also choose pages within a collection.
Can I start without a printer?
Yes. Begin with your notebook and collected paper. To use these templates, save the correct PDF and request single-sided printing at 100% from a print service. Ask for a calibration print before the project pages.
Can I print in black and white?
You can select grayscale in your printer settings, but pale decoration may change or disappear. Test one page and confirm the structural marks remain clear. We have not produced a verified low-ink edition.
What can I give away?
You may give handmade physical pieces as personal gifts. Please share the sheet-page link instead of redistributing the PDF. See the full use terms.