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TAMU | Culture > Entertainment

So You Want to Start a Junk Journal?

Olivia Drummond Student Contributor, Texas A&M University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at TAMU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

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I have been junk journaling for three years now and feel confident in my journals and their creativity. But before I get into all of that, what even is junk journaling? You can think of it as a holistic approach between scrapbooking, keeping a diary, and bullet journaling. It is a space where you can get creative and keep a journal filled with memories, mementos, and entries from that year. 

Let’s talk about getting started. First, you will need a journal of some sort and it can be lined, bulleted, or plain. I used a bulleted journal up until this year and am trying out a blank format for the first time. Some good places to search for affordable options are Amazon or Micheals. I will say, you can find a journal pretty much anywhere and the more unique, the better! Next up, you’ll need the basics like scissors, glue, and hot glue. You’ll also need a set of pens and markers. Some popular ones are the Midliner highlighters/markers, Tombow markers, and Papermate pens. You can acquire extra stuff the longer you junk journal like stickers, stamps, wax seals, and colored paper. 

Now let’s talk about what kind of pages you can do in your journal. Some of my favorites are a monthly page that I decorate according to a theme or season as a way to divide up my journal. I also do scrapbook pages of pictures I took during the month along with any paper mementos like concert tickets, receipts from a bookstore, or wristbands from a museum. This is a great way to be sentimental without random pieces of paper cluttering a drawer. 

I am obsessed with junk journaling and think it is a great creative outlet and something tangible you can look back on. For me, it is a great blend of everything I could want in a journal and I am always finding inspiration from Pinterest and having new ideas for personal pages that also act as a stress reliever.

Olivia Drummond

TAMU '28

Olivia Drummond is a second-year member of Her Campus at the Texas A&M chapter. She is a part of the Social Media committee, helping to promote the club through Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok. She is excited to write articles about her favorite books, must have clothing pieces for each season, and personal experiences in life.

Olivia grew up a military child and has lived in Texas for five years. She is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with hopes of traveling abroad to Europe during her time at university. Beyond Her Campus she is a member of AWIB and is a part of the Events Committee.

If Olivia isn’t buried in a book she can be found baking, crafting, cooking, or listening to her favorite podcast. Olivia loves to read books specifically fantasy or historical fiction, preferably at a coffee shop, park, or in her bed. She is also a cat mom to a black cat named Harris who loves to cuddle while she watches Gilmore Girls, YouTube, or an early 2000’s rom com (When Harry Met Sally is the go to). She loves to listen to music, specifically anything by the Marias, Kendrick Lamar, or Mazzy Star.