I am a big advocate of using what you already have to get started.

But, I also love buying craft supplies (and honestly, love buying things in general), so I wanted to share a few favorite items I use to add a little more fun to my junk journal.

At the end of the day, these are all nice-to-haves. I don’t believe in over-consuming and filling your home with too many things. I’ve also found that the more you have, the more you’ll forget what you have to use. It’ll just create unnecessary overwhelm, essentially. I have sticker books I rarely flip through simply because it takes too long to find something.

But if you’re looking for a way to elevate your junk journal rather than just the basic craft supplies, here’s what I would suggest:

10 things to elevate your junk journal

1. Gift wrap or scrapbooking paper: I almost always start with some kind of background to build a spread. A few of my journal kits also include an A5 sheet for this exact purpose. My favorite gift wrap is from Christy Dawn (currently sold out), but Our Heiday has beautiful options too.

2. Markers or colored pens: An easy way to bring in color. Crayola Supertips, Zebra Mildliner highlighters, and Zebra Clickart pens are all reliable favorites.
3. Writing paper: I almost always glue lined paper into my journal so it’s easier to write and the pocket notepad from Appointed is a super good option.
4. Sticker books: I don’t reach for them constantly because they’re a bit of a commitment to flip through, but I do love the one by Nathalie Lété.

5. A good home printer: I recommend an inkjet printer. The ink tends to be more affordable, and you can print images or even make your own sticker sheets.
6. Handmade paper and translucent vellum: Handmade paper from Silk & Willow has a delicate texture that still adds depth, and vellum works beautifully as a soft overlay.
7. Impact label maker: Great for small headers for a vintage feel and labeling your journals when you’ve finished them. 
8. Polaroid printer: Perfect for adding a nostalgic, retro feel to your pages and makes everything feel a little more like a memory.

9. Letter stamps: I feel like I have good handwriting… but when it’s time to journal it’s like I’ve never written anything before (my handwriting will look so wonky). So letter stamps are a simple way to add titles, especially for month pages.
10. Shape cutters: If you want to change things up, cutting paper into different shapes is super cute. I have one that creates small stamp edges, which adds a nice detail without much effort.

Those are a couple of my favorite things I use to elevate my junk journal. But you really don’t need any of this to get started. You can keep things simple and still create something meaningful. 

It’s not about what you buy, it’s about finding the creativity to use what you already have.

But also, going all out for your crafts is still kind of fun.