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ABOUT JUNK JOURNALS
Maybe you've watched a few YouTube tutorials. Maybe you've seen the beautiful photos on Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook. You think you might be ready to try it... making a JUNK JOURNAL! But what do you need to begin? It can be so overwhelming.
If words like "signature" and "ephemera" have you feeling confused, then check out our A-Z Junk Journal Glossary. And if you've never heard of a junk journal or never made one, watch our Easy Beginner's Guide To Junk Journaling.
But if you're ready to dive right in... here is a list of handy supplies to help you get started!
JUNK JOURNAL SUPPLIES
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Papers are really an essential first item for creating a junk journal. If you're wondering what kinds of printer papers & card stock we use, check out this post. You can also use coffee or tea dye to distress your own paper. If that sounds daunting, we have some printable Coffee & Script Papers with a nice vintage look.
Next to paper, glue is probably the thing you'll use most in your journal. We love Fabri-Tac because it doesn't wrinkle our pages and dries quick!
Don't be scared! Sewing in your journal pages is not that hard. We have tutorials about it here. But you'll need some waxed thread & needles, and this kit is a handy one to have.
You'll want a cover for your journal. And while there are lots of ways to make one, chipboard is thick & sturdy. This one is cut to 5.5x 8.5 inches, which is the size of standard US Letter Size paper when folded in half.
Sometimes you just want curvy corners on your pages and ephemera, and this punch cuts small, medium and large corners.
Crop-A-Dile Big Bite While it's not really essential, this punch not only punches two different sized holes, but also sets eyelets (metal circles). It's extra long so it can get to the center of a folded page.
Distress Ink And Oxide
Perfect for adding dimension and a vintage look to your pages & ephemera. It comes in LOTS of colors! But these will get you started. We apply ours with a makeup sponge, but you can also buy applicators.
There are lots of paper trimmers, but this is a relatively inexpensive one that does the job. Cutting everything out with scissors can take a long time. And getting a straight line can be tough. This trimmer makes quick work of cutting off those white print borders and all that ephemera! Be sure to get some extra blades.
These metal pieces are perfect for your journal cover.
Again, these add a nice touch to journal covers and ephemera.
Add some vintage texture to your journal by using bits of cheesecloth behind labels or other small decorative items.
When you need to hold open your journal, these do the trick! Plus they're so cute and vintage!
Circle Punch We love to punch circles, especially to create "button closures" on folios. We love the 1.5 inch circle, but you can get whatever size works best for your projects.
These handy little guys are oh-so-vintage and versatile. Use them to attach small items in your journal.
With junk journaling comes folding. And for straight folds, we love a score board!
A self-healing craft mat is an amazing tool for crafting. It "self-heals" so when you cut on it, the cuts "heal" themselves. And it's essential for protecting your table top from mess-making. Plus (BONUS!) if you flip it over you can put a pretty paper on the back for taking videos and photos of your projects.
Of course, there are lots of other junk journal supplies: lace, wax seals, punches, pins, charms, etc. But don't worry, you can always start with a few things and work your way up as you grow. Remember, all you really need is some paper, scissors, glue and your own creative style to get started!
If you're still overwhelmed, try one of our printable Beginner Junk Journal Kits. You can find the tutorial here.
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See MORE LINKS BELOW To Other Supplies We Use:
CLIPS WE LIKE: