Junk journaling became YouTube and Instagram phenomenon around 2017-2020, with creators building handmade journals from vintage papers, ephemera, and found materials, combining scrapbooking, collage, and bookbinding into maximalist artistic practice.
The Aesthetic of Abundance
Junk journals rejected minimalism: makers created thick, bulky journals stuffed with pockets, envelopes, folded papers, and layered embellishments. Materials included vintage book pages, old letters, sheet music, maps, tea-stained papers, lace, ribbons, and any ephemera sparking joy. The aesthetic embraced imperfection—wrinkled pages, torn edges, coffee-stained papers. YouTubers like The Crazy Craft Lady and JoyInTheMorning showcased elaborate junk journals inspiring thousands to start collecting materials.
The Thrift Store Economy
Junk journaling drove thrift store vintage paper hunting: crafters sought old books for pages, vintage ephemera, antique lace, and shabby chic embellishments. Some criticized the practice of destroying vintage books for craft supplies (book desecration debates), while defenders argued damaged books deserved new life through art. The hunt became part of the hobby—thrifting for journal fodder as enjoyable as actually creating journals.
The Use vs Display Dilemma
Junk journals faced practical questions: were they meant for actual use (writing, planning, art) or decorative art objects? Many creators built elaborate journals then hesitated to “ruin” them with use. Some resolved this by creating display-only art journals versus simpler working journals. The community split between those valuing function (journals as tools) and those prioritizing aesthetics (journals as art). Regardless of philosophy, junk journaling offered meditative creative outlet and sustainable craft using materials otherwise discarded.
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