The crafty girls are junk journalling, here’s how you can too
imagery and words by elle judge
Time to get crafty.
Like many people, I find the idea of a fresh journal intoxicating. It always starts with a surge of motivation and a trip to The Hub General Store in Collingwood for a new Midori notebook. Yet, as so often happens, I end up reaching for my journal when I’m in a heightened state of frustration or anxiety, and I use it to completely offload.
It can be funny to reflect on, but it typically ends up resembling my own miniature burn book – a collection of grievances, rather than a way to look back on fun or sentimental memories.
Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.
Junk journalling offers something of a remedy. Rather than a diary that demands pages of your deepest, most intimate thoughts, junk journals are more like a scrapbook – a collection of ephemera, collages and wish lists from different points in your life.
For Elle Judge, a creative based in Sydney, she’s been holding onto drawings, cards, tickets, set lists from gigs and cut-outs from fashion magazines since she was a teenager. In fact, her love for it led her to create Shell Flower, an online stationery and journaling store. “It’s a beautiful way to capture a moment on paper, to sit with those memories and create a tangible slice of time that you can look back on and relive,” she says.
Part of the appeal lies in that tangibility. Not only does it offer a fun and light-hearted way to journal, but the act of sitting, cutting, layering and collaging is an antidote to scrolling passively on a screen. Below, Elle gives us a peek into her own journal and shares her best tips for getting started on your own.
Grab your materials
The brilliance of junk journaling is that you can usually get started with bits and pieces you already have at home. But if there’s one place I’d suggest investing initially, it’s the journal itself. Everyone has their personal preference to which book to use but I’m a big fan of the traditional A5 plain paged, hardback journal from Leuchtturm 1917 as they’re a little more robust when it begins to hold some weight. However, you can find much cheaper alternatives in your local stationery shop.
From there, a mini glue stick or glue tape, scissors, some patterned paper and photos or favourite ephemera is all you need to get started! Don’t over complicate it, only buy what you really gravitate to for anything additional like stickers. This is your journal after all, let your personality show.
Start collecting ephemera
Journaling is very personal, it’s a little piece of our happiness on paper. So I’d recommend anything that sparks joy or a sweet memory. Did you meet your friend for a coffee for the first time in months? Grab that receipt and stick it in your journal. Visit an inspiring exhibition? In goes the flyer or a postcard from the gift shop. Was that photobooth visit filled with laughter and silly faces? Perfect!
Gone are the days of receiving physical tickets as standard for most events. However, if ask concert venues and museums, nine times out of 10 they’ll be happy to print them out for you.
Carve out time for yourself
When I first started, I would use my journal almost every day. But as I’ve grown and my life along with it, time can be harder to find. Journaling has allowed me to feel as though I’m making the most of the free time I have and helped me reclaim my creativity. It’s a good feeling to be able to take some time away from the various screens in my life as well.
Just setting aside even an hour or so on an evening to make a journal spread can really help you take a step back from the stresses of day-to-day life and look at those moments of joy as you create your page around them. The greatest part about journaling is that it belongs completely to you and you alone.
No one is setting the rules or a deadline – it will always be there waiting to be picked up whenever you’re ready.
Don’t overthink the first page
A fresh page in any notebook or journal can be daunting and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I put pressure on myself to get the perfect opener. But try not to overthink it – at the end of the day, the only person who needs to love it is you.
Some people will open with an ‘about me’ intro page, which can include anything from a photo of yourself, your name in fun sticker letters and a few of your current favourite things. Think movies, songs you’re playing on repeat or artists you love, your go-to coffee order – anything you can look back on to remind yourself of that year in your life and who you were right then. You don’t need to overthink it, just go with what feels and looks good to you, and when in doubt, use your stickers!
Have fun playing
This is your little world, so don’t be afraid to play around with ideas and have some fun with your journal. If you’re not sure where to start (it can be daunting to permanently stick your treasures to paper), lay them out, move them around and see what looks best to you before you commit to the glue! Sometimes even something as simple as starting with a central image to work around or a fun background can spark your creativity.
Explore a stationery store
There’s something about being in a stationery store that is just soothing for the soul. I’m always inspired wandering around beautifully curated stores, seeing what bits and bobs I can find from other small creatives. If you find yourself needing some inspiration, there are some of my favourites:
Made590 in Marrickville, Sydney
What started as a size-inclusive fashion brand now stocks the most eclectic collection of stationery for everyone’s tastes. From Japanese to homegrown brands, you’ll also find their monthly Journal Time workshops here, which welcome everyone from beginners to hardcore journalers alike.
Hibi Archive in Newtown, Sydney
Freshly opened, Hibi Archive is already establishing itself as one of Sydney’s coolest shops. Not only do they have a matcha bar, but maybe one of Sydney’s best-stocked sticker walls; with everything from nostalgic 90’s sticker rolls, independent designers and a huge array of familiar brands, you’re sure to find something new and unexpected for your next journal spread (and even your home) here!
That Paper Joint in Brunswick, Melbourne
A crafty institution, The Paper Joint not only stocks some of the coolest brands in the stationery world but also runs the most incredible workshops. If you’ve ever wanted to explore collage in a no-pressure, warm and welcoming environment, this is the place. The owners, Zoe and Max, have really created something magical within the walls of this beautifully designed shop, guaranteed to spark your imagination.
The Stationer, Forest Hill, London
If anyone knows stationery, it’s Tessa. Owner of London’s newest stationery shop, The Stationer. Her eye for curating the most beautiful, design-led goods is truly unmatched; some quirky items like the Japanese glue pots shaped as a cute little character will transport you back to the joy of childhood. Other items, like her extensive and colourfully curated pen room, will leave you wanting to find a pen pal and start your snail mail era immediately. There is always something new to discover, whether online or in person, which makes for quite a dangerous thing for my bank account!
For more on the rise of analogue hobbies, head here.
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