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Beginner Junk Journal Toolkit: What You Actually Need to Start (Without Overwhelm)
- Jodie Chandler
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever stood in front of a pile of paper thinking…
“I need more supplies before I start…”
This post is for you.
Because the truth is?
You don’t need a craft room. You don’t need expensive tools. You don’t need a 40ft container of stock.
You need less than you think.
And more than just scissors.
Today we’re talking about the real beginner junk journal toolkit — the practical tools and the invisible ones.
If you haven’t read my full guide on how to start junk journaling, I recommend beginning there before building your toolkit.
The Physical Tools for the Beginners junk journal toolkit (The Simple Stuff)
Let’s start with what you actually need to begin junk journaling.
1️⃣ Paper (Your Foundation)
Start with:
Old book pages
Scrapbook paper
Envelopes
Tea-dyed paper
Packaging paper
Music sheets
You don’t need 100 varieties.
Choose a small pile and work within it.
Limitation creates cohesion.
2️⃣ Adhesive
One good glue stick is enough to begin.
Optional upgrades later:
Double sided tape
Fabric glue
Glue runner
But one adhesive is enough.
3️⃣ Cutting Tool
Scissors.
That’s it.
(Tearing is even better for texture.)
4️⃣ A Few Decorative Elements
Choose a small handful:
3–5 tags
A few labels
A stamp
A little lace or ribbon
A strip of washi
You do not need a mountain of ephemera.
You need intention.
Now Let’s Go Deeper…
Because a junk journal toolkit is not just physical.
It’s emotional.
And this is where most beginners get stuck.
The Invisible Toolkit
You can have all the paper in the world…
But without these, you’ll freeze.
Permission
Permission to make something imperfect.
Permission to tear instead of measure.
Permission to stop before it’s “finished.”
Simplicity
If you overwhelm yourself with options, you won’t begin.
Choose less.Create more.
15 Minutes
You don’t need hours.
Set a timer.
Create.
Stop.
Momentum grows from consistency, not marathons.
A Gentle Framework
And this is where I teach my beginners the rule that changed everything for me.
If you’re new to layering pages, my beginner guide walks you through the first simple steps.
The 3–3–1–1 Rule
When you don’t know what to do next, follow this:
3 Colours
3 Textures
1 Focal
1 Truth
That’s your whole page.
3 Colours
Pick:
One dominant
One soft support
One contrast
Stay within those tones.
3 Textures
Mix:
Smooth paper
Torn book page
Fabric, lace, vellum or washi
Texture creates depth without clutter.
1 Focal
One main element.
A butterfly.A large tag.A bold word.
Let it breathe.
1 Truth
A handwritten sentence.
A printed quote.
One honest word.
This is what makes it yours.
It’s floristry for paper.
Foliage. Filler. Focal.
Now translated into journaling:
Colour. Texture. Focal. Truth.
And when in doubt?
Stop at 3–3–1–1.
What You Don’t Need
You don’t need:
50 stamps
Every washi tape colour
Fancy machines
A perfectly curated studio
You need:
A small pile.
A clear rule.
A quiet moment.
Final Truth
The most important tool in your junk journal toolkit isn’t glue.
It’s your willingness to begin.
To sit.
To layer.
To listen to what wants to land on the page.
Junk journaling isn’t about collecting.
It’s about connecting.
And Next Week…
I know how overwhelming it can feel to pull everything together.
So next week, I’m releasing something that makes this even easier.
A curated way to begin.
No chaos.
No guessing.
No digging through drawers.
Just open, create, and follow the 3–3–1–1 rule.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start…
This might be it.
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