Using junk journaling as a travel journal is a fantastic way to document your adventures, preserving the sights, sounds, and feelings of your journey in a creative and personal way. As a travel journal, your junk journal becomes more than just a scrapbook—it’s a dynamic, layered reflection of your experience. Incorporating ticket stubs, postcards, photographs, maps, and other travel mementos allows you to weave the story of your travels into a meaningful, visual narrative. Here are some tips for making your junk journal the perfect travel keepsake:
1. Collect and Save Mementos Throughout Your Trip
Before you even begin journaling, start gathering small items that represent your travels. These pieces of ephemera will become the foundation for your travel journal pages. Some things to collect:
- Ticket Stubs: From trains, buses, museums, or events.
- Postcards: Pick up postcards from the places you visit, or write a quick note on them during your trip.
- Photographs: Instant prints, polaroids, or photos from your phone.
- Maps: Small city or region maps, or tourist maps from attractions.
- Receipts and Flyers: For meals, souvenirs, or activities.
- Stamps: Whether from souvenir shops, post offices, or tourist attractions.
- Foreign Currency: Keep a few coins or small bills as physical reminders.
- Menus or Brochures: These can reflect your experiences with local cuisine or unique attractions.
The key is to collect anything that speaks to the essence of your trip, even if it’s something as simple as a napkin from a café or a small leaf from a walk in the park.
2. Build Layers with Your Mementos
One of the joys of junk journaling is the ability to layer different items to create a rich, textured page. Incorporate mementos into your travel journal in a way that adds depth and visual interest.
Ticket Stubs: These can act as a natural backdrop or border for your journal pages. Use them as “page dividers” or tuck them into pockets on your pages for a fun interactive element. You can even use them as part of the design on the edges of your pages.
- Pro Tip: Arrange ticket stubs vertically or horizontally along the spine of your page, overlapping them slightly for a collage effect.
Postcards: A postcard can either be glued onto a page, acting as the focal point of a spread, or be folded and tucked into a pocket. You can even use the reverse side of the postcard to jot down thoughts, feelings, or quotes from your travels.
- Pro Tip: Try creating a mini-fold-out page with postcards, so you have multiple places to write or add photos.
Maps: Use small sections of maps as a decorative element. Maps can be cut into shapes like circles, squares, or torn edges and adhered to the page as background pieces, giving your journal a sense of place.
- Pro Tip: For a more cohesive look, layer maps under photos or ticket stubs, creating a “travel collage” with pieces of each place you visited.
Receipts and Flyers: These can be used to create texture or as journal prompts. You could also fold up receipts and store them in little pockets for easy access later.
- Pro Tip: Create a “spread” with receipts by arranging them neatly or overlapping, then journal next to them to describe the experience or meal.
3. Add Personal Narratives and Journaling
Beyond the visual aspects of travel journaling, it’s essential to capture your thoughts and feelings about the experience. Your junk journal is your space to reflect, document, and express.
Journaling Prompts: Use your mementos to inspire writing. For example, after attaching a ticket stub for a museum visit, write a short entry about what you learned or your favorite exhibit. Reflect on the sights, smells, sounds, and people you encountered during your day.
- Pro Tip: If you’re stuck for ideas, ask yourself questions like, “What was the highlight of my day?” or “What surprised me about this place?”
Travel Sketches: If you’re artistically inclined, include quick sketches of the places you’ve visited. Even a simple outline of a famous landmark or a doodle of something memorable can add a personal touch to the journal.
- Pro Tip: Carry a small sketchbook with you for on-the-go doodling, and later transfer your favorite sketches into your junk journal.
Handwritten Notes: Writing your thoughts in your own handwriting adds a personal touch that can’t be replicated. Write daily entries or add short notes in the margins, recording your experiences and impressions.
4. Incorporate Photographs Creatively
Photographs are one of the most powerful ways to document a trip, and they can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your junk journal.
Instant Photos: If you’re using a Polaroid or another instant camera, you can easily glue these photos into your journal. Instant prints can be framed with decorative borders, washi tape, or cut-out paper shapes to add a fun touch.
- Pro Tip: Pair photos with handwritten captions or thoughts to create a more personalized memory.
Printed Photos from Your Phone: If you’re using digital photography, print out small photos to add to your pages. You can print them on your home printer or use a photo printing service.
- Pro Tip: Resize your photos to fit your pages or create photo collages to cover larger sections of the journal. This way, you’re able to incorporate more images in a cohesive way.
Photo Corners: Use photo corners (adhesive corners that hold photos in place) for a more vintage look. This allows you to insert and remove photos easily without damaging the page.
- Pro Tip: Arrange photos in grids or on overlapping layers to create a dynamic page layout.
5. Create Interactive Elements with Pockets and Tuck Spots
Junk journals are not just about pasting things down—they can also be interactive. Pockets and tuck spots are a great way to store extra mementos or give your journal a tactile feel.
Pockets: You can create pockets out of envelopes, patterned paper, or fabric to hold things like ticket stubs, postcards, or small maps. Simply glue three edges of the pocket to the page and leave one edge open for easy access.
- Pro Tip: Use a glassine bag or envelope for a vintage touch. Decorate it with stamps or washi tape for added flair.
Tuck Spots: These are small spaces where you can slip in photos, receipts, or other items. Tuck spots can be created by layering pieces of paper, fabric, or even lace.
- Pro Tip: Use paperclips or fabric tabs to create temporary tuck spots, which can be moved around as you add more to your journal.
6. Adding Decorative Touches with Washi Tape and Stamps
To tie everything together, use washi tape and stamps to embellish your pages and reinforce the travel theme. Washi tape can serve as a fun border, accenting the edges of photos or ticket stubs. Stamps can add a vintage or travel-inspired aesthetic, especially if you use stamps featuring landmarks, transportation symbols, or travel-related quotes.
Washi Tape: Use it to frame photos, reinforce corners of paper items, or even create borders for your journal pages. You can find washi tape in a variety of travel-related designs, such as maps, postcards, or famous landmarks.
- Pro Tip: Layer different types of washi tape for a collage effect, or use it to create small pockets and tabs.
Stamps: Use travel-themed rubber stamps to add visual interest. For example, stamps of airplanes, passports, or maps can be used as background elements or placed next to ticket stubs or photos to highlight specific parts of your journey.
- Pro Tip: Use a distress ink pad to give your stamped images an aged, vintage look.
7. Let Your Journal Evolve Over Time
One of the best things about using a junk journal as a travel journal is that it can evolve over time. As you add mementos, photos, and writings, your journal becomes a layered reflection of your journey. Don’t be afraid to leave pages unfinished and add to them later—whether it’s a new ticket stub, a fresh postcard, or your thoughts on a recent adventure. Your travel journal will tell the story of your trip not only through the items you collected but also through the reflections and emotions you’ve captured along the way.
Final Thoughts
Junk journaling as a travel journal offers a beautiful, creative way to preserve the memories of your travels while reflecting on the experiences that made them unique. By incorporating ticket stubs, postcards, photographs, maps, and other mementos, you can create a multi-layered and interactive keepsake that captures the essence of your journey. Add your personal thoughts, sketches, and creative embellishments, and you’ll have a journal that not only holds memories but also tells a story. Happy journaling, and safe travels!
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