2 handmade mini junk journals made from recycled paper and card

Here is a really quick and easy way to make a cute little junk journal all from junk - all recycled paper and card.

A few years ago I shared how to make a little notebook/art journal by upcycling paper and cardboard packaging. These little notebooks are stitched at the spine and have a cute button fastening.

Recently I needed a quick easy paper project to share with a craft group and created a new simpler adapted version of my original art/junk journal. The old notebook idea isn’t difficult to make but does involve some sewing with needle and thread, this new version is just a little more straightforward and perfect for a large group with mixed crafting abilities.

The main difference is that for this mini junk journal you will need a long armed stapler. If that is not something you have access to (although it is worth checking with family and friends because it can be surprising what people have at the back of their cupboards) then stay tuned at the bottom of this tutorial because I have a few alternative ideas for you.

To make a simple recycled junk journal you will need:

Cardboard - an old cereal box, packaging envelope etc
Paper - used envelopes, packaging paper, paper bags, wrapping paper, old magazines etc
Paper glue - I mainly use Mod Podge & Pritt Stick but any paper glue will work
A hole punch
A length of yarn or twine
A long armed stapler

If you are making these junk journals with a group I’d highly recommend making templates from scrap card for everyone to draw round, it’s much simpler than all the measuring with a ruler each time.

Make the cover

To make the cover cut your card on the fold, ideally you’ll be using something that’s already folded like a delivery envelope or box.

Cut the cover 10cm x 15cm (4” x 6”) so that when it’s opened out it is 20cm x 15cm (8” x 6”)

Now decorate the cover in any way you like, it’s easier to decorate before you add the pages.

If you are reusing packaging there is a good chance your cover will have some sort of printing on it so use your scraps of colourful and patterned papers to cover it. You can cover the whole thing in one paper, or use just use motifs that you’ve cut out.

Here I used the printed side of the card as the inside of my junk journal and covered it completely with pretty paper.

step by step photos showing how to cover cardboard to make a junk journal

For the outside of the journal I cut a strip of paper to cover the fold and a cut out shooting star motif.

I used Mod Podge and a brush to get a nice even layer of glue but you can use a stick glue if you prefer.

If you are covering the outside fold, the spine, with paper then make sure you glue it and allow it to dry folded. If you glue the outside spine completely flat there is a good chance that the paper will tear and we don’t want that.

Create the junk journal pages

Cut all the internal pages you want from other papers 14cm x 19cm (5 1/2” x 17 1/2”). You basically want your internal pages to be just a little smaller than the cover. Use old envelopes, packaging, lined paper, patterned paper, plain paper - whatever you have on had. 8 - 10 pages is about right but you could use less or add even more if you want to.

Fold each of these internal pages in half to make a crease then layer the pages up in the order you want them to be.

Position your pages in the inside centre of the cover, lining up the fold and secure the pages with paperclips. The paper clips will hold everything in place and prevent any slipping and sliding whilst you staple it from the other side.

Flip the book over and staple right on the fold from the outside. That way the smooth edge of the staple is on the outside and the bent in prongs are on the inside.

Create a tie fastening

This is completely optional of course but if you want to create a tie fastening for your junk journal then punch a hole in the centre back and attach a length of yarn. The yarn can then be wrapped around your junk journal and tied. I cut my yarn just under a yard long (about 90cm) which wrapped around twice and has plenty of length for a bow.

Now you can decorate the inside pages in any way you like:

Add stickers and paper cut outs, little envelopes, use pretty ink stamps etc.

Alternatives to using a long armed stapler

If you don’t have a long armed stapler you could secure your pages with:

a couple of small split pins
thin lines of pva glue

Or you could make a really dinky little notebook so that you can '“reach” the centre with a regular stapler.

I found if you cut the cover so it’s 2.5” x 4” (6.5cm x 10.25cm)(that’s the folded size) and the inner pages 4.5” x 3.75” (11cm x 9.5cm) then you can make a sweet teeny tiny journal and staple the centre with no problem.