Fall is for collectors. There is nothing cozier than adding a cute, little trinket to your collection. That is why we’re officially calling this season Junk Journal Girl autumn. But in a world of overconsumption, it can be hard to know what’s worth keeping. To help you out, here are 53 junk journal ideas you should look out for this spooky season.
If you have no clue what a junk journal is, don’t worry. We covered how to start your own in a blog post last week. It is a great primer for how to start collecting. Still, if you’re looking for things that will make your junk journal extra great this October, you should absolutely read this post.
53 Junk Journal Ideas
If you aren’t sure where to start with your ephemera/ junk collection, look no further. You’ll be sure to pass by many of these things during your regular Fall routine. Who knows? Maybe a few of these junk journal ideas will inspire your next autumn outing.
Capture Fall Colors
Most people in the USA think of bright colors when they think of Fall. Watching the leaves change is such a beautiful thing. Why not capture that beauty in your junk journal? After spending some grounding journaling time in nature, keep an eye out for these small items.
*Remember: always check with park rules and local laws before taking anything*
1. Brightly colored autumn leaves
2. Dried petals from the few last summer flowers
3. Seed packets for fall produce
4. Mushroom spore prints
5. Thin strips of tree bark
6. Trail maps or pamphlets
7. Sketches of interesting plants
8. Printed photos from your hike
9. Litter you create (so you don’t throw it on the ground!)
10. Acorn caps
11. Hay straws
Tricks and Treats
Not everyone wants to explore shadow work like people pleasing during spooky season. Don’t worry. There are so many junk journal ideas that don’t involve anything too scary this Halloween. Look out for these things during any of your favorite seasonal outings.
12. Favorite candy wrappers
13. Halloween costume idea sketches
14. Halloween party invitations
15. Ads with pumpkins, bats, and/or monsters
16. Leftover costume scraps (lace, fabric, beads, etc.)
17. Confetti or other paper Halloween decorations
18. Receipts from pumpkin patches or apple orchards
19. Labels from favorite Fall treats
20. Temporary tattoos
21. Photos of you in costume
22. Scary movie ticket stubs
23. Vintage photographs
24. Sketch your Jack-o-Lantern
25. Printed tarot card readings
26. Candle wax and/or wax seals
27. Treat bags
28. Oktoberfest tickets
Upcycle Past Hobbies
Everyone needs a hobby. This is extra true when the weather cools down. All the best junk journal ideas use bits and pieces of your everyday life. What better way to honor the balance in your life than celebrating your free time in a junk journal? Here are some of the best scraps to save:
29. Yarn scraps
30. Leftover buttons
31. Lace or fabric trims
32. Mini golf scorecards
33. Scribble the last bit of a colored pencil
34. Add the painting’s color palette
35. Friendship bracelets
36. Family recipe cards
37. Sheet music copies
38. Scratch paper doodles
39. Board game score sheets
40. Marathon or race bibs
41. Printed poems or other creative writing
42. Pictures of book covers
Use Past Journals!
On that note, some of us journal like it’s our main hobby. Love that! If you’re the type of person who writes all the time but doesn’t want the world to read any of it – try these junk journal ideas that actually turn sensitive journaling pages into art! Each of these ideas links to a full tutorial for the project. Enjoy!
43. Scribble pages
44. Cut out drawings from a journal you plan to let go
45. Bookmarks from past journals
46. Preserved stickers from the journal cover
48. Weave shredded journal strips into a new texture
49. Cut out journal quotes
50. Goodbye boards (like a vision board)
51. Cut odd shapes for backgrounds
52. Back flimsy ephemera with old journal scraps
53. Save important entries in an envelope for future you
