A receipt for an iced coffee, a wristband from a concert, and a brown paper bag from your groceries. To the untrained eye, this seems like trash to be discarded, never to be thought of again. But, if you look a little closer, you will find that discarded items can have a second life. With a little creativity, patience, and some glue, you can repurpose your trash into a story within your Junk Journal.
What is Old Can Be Made New Again
Junk Journaling is an activity that uses items typically thought of as “junk” to stretch your creativity and tell a story. There is no right or wrong way to junk journal, and the only limit is how far your imagination will take you. But, if you find yourself overwhelmed by how wide your creativity stretches or just need a little guidance, we’ve got you! Read on for the ultimate guide to repurpose that junk you just can’t get rid of.
The Junk
The first and most important element of your junk journal is the junk itself. If you look around your room right now, you may find clutter filling space on your desk or nightstand. This clutter, while it may seem useless at first, is actually the seed from which you can begin experimenting with your junk journaling. Anything and everything can be the junk to fill the pages of your journal.
Items Include:
- Fruit Stickers
- Receipts
- Boarding Passes
- Movie Tickets
- Concert Wristbands
- Tea Bags
- Grocery Bags
- Photos
- Candy Wrappers
- Envelopes
- Ribbons
- Puzzle Pieces
- Feathers
- Stickers
Photo Credit
@kkendall_a
The Journal
Besides the junk, the journal is where your creativity can shine. Every piece of junk has a story; every item has a memory. In the pages of your journal, you can use that space to reflect, document your memories, and clear your mental space. As students, we have a lot on our plates, and the best way to relieve stress is to express your creativity.
Journal Prompts to Put Pen to Paper:
- About Me Page
- Favorites (Movies, Shows, Songs, Books, etc.)
- Brain Dump (i.e. writing any and everything on your mind)
- Week in Review/Monthly Recap
- Reflection on My Dreams
- Letter to My Future Self
- Travel Plans
- A Story from My Past
- What Did I Do Today?
- What Am I Grateful For?
Photo Credit
@nini_scrap
The Inspo (plus the perfect place to start the process)
Now that we have the basic elements of a junk journal sorted out, we can begin our creative expression. The most essential part of junk journaling is being in the right space to spark inspiration. Luckily, your favorite library, Strozier, is hosting a junk journaling event on April 20, 2026, from 1 to 3 PM. Materials will be provided but we do encourage you to bring your own junk you’re emotionally attached to. You can even reference this article during the development stage of your junk journaling adventure for inspiration.
Well, that covers everything. The rest is up to you. Grab your junk, your journal, something to sip and snack (the fresh picks cooler next to Starbucks is a good place for this), and let your imagination run wild. Perhaps you could take the sticker from your Starbucks cup to decorate the page or even the wrapper from your snacks.
FSU Libraries are here to support you in your artistic journey wherever it takes you. We look forward to seeing you at the event on Monday 4/20 during the Last Week of Classes Spring 2026.
Written by Daniella Polito, Student Engagement Intern.
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