How to Junk Journal On Vacation
Step 1: Collect Junk Journal Ephemera on the Go
Junk journaling has changed my outlook on life. I love how it lets me look at life as if anything can be a treasure - adding a layer of unwavering optimism to every occasion - and vacations are not immune. Think of yourself as part memory keeper, part magpie—swooping in to collect all the shiny, crinkly, sun-warmed scraps of the season. Here’s what I’m collecting:
From Nature:
Sand, shells, or tiny nature finds—tape them in or make a little envelope pocket
Pressed flowers or leaves—just stick 'em in a book while you're on the go
Found trash from the beach or the nature trail
From Attractions:
Ticket stubs from museums, concerts, ferry rides—bonus points if they’re a little crumpled
Maps and brochures from your Airbnb or the random tourist stand you wandered into
Luggage tags or boarding passes, even if you’re just flying home for a weekend
From Restaurants and Local Shops:
Receipts from local cafés or that one diner with the best pie you’ve ever had
To-Go Menus or Promos from coffee shops or dinners
Wrappers from road trip snacks (bonus points if it’s a small local business or a first-time try)
Made/Repurposed by You:
Polaroids or photo booth strips if you’re feeling extra
Ribbons or packaging used to tie items you buy together
Here’s the key: I keep a small mesh zip pouch in my bag just for collecting bits like these. I can’t tell you how many times I have intended to keep a receipt and then thrown it away because it was loose in my purse and I forgot it was actually a treasure. Don’t be like me.
Step 2: Choose Your Themed Page Ideas
If you’re like me, you might need a little time to let the ideas marinate—and that’s totally okay. Sometimes the best creativity takes time. But if you’re itching to dive in or just need a nudge in the right direction, I got you. Check out our list of 20 Summer Junk Journal Spread Ideas for a full dose of inspiration. And if you're already feeling the creative spark, here are a few fun and easy page prompts to help you out:
“My Road Trip Playlist” – Fill the page with your favorite summer jams, doodles of cars or road signs, and even a printed Spotify code so you (or a future you) can listen back.
Polaroid Collage + Washi Tape Frames – Snapshots of summer moments framed with your cutest tape—instant charm.
“Things I Ate This Summer” – Glue in food wrappers, and receipts, or sketch out your most memorable snacks.
Nature Finds – Pressed leaves, a sprinkle of sand, tiny twigs—this is your mini scrapbook of the great outdoors.
Envelope Pocket for Secret Notes – Hide love notes, ticket stubs, or little letters to your future self inside a flap or envelope.
Mini Museum – Create an envelope “exhibit” with torn pieces of menus, packaging with pretty fonts, or mini magazine clippings that feel like tiny works of art.
These junk journal prompts are just the beginning!
Supplies You’ll Want to Bring or Keep Handy
Gotta be honest - the truth is, you can’t bring it all every single time. If you’re traveling light, at LEAST bring a lil mesh pouch to carry around your treasures. But if you can afford some extra room, then it’s time to build your Junk Journal Travel Kit. Think of it like your journal’s little adventure sidekick—ready to leap into action when the perfect scrap appears. Here’s what I love to keep tucked in mine:
Mini glue stick - Perfect for on-the-go sticking, and less likely to explode in your bag than the liquid stuff (trust me).
Foldable scissors - They fold up so they won’t poke anything important, and they’re ideal for trimming down brochures or snack labels when inspiration strikes mid-layover.
Traveler’s notebook or small sketchpad - Your main journal might be back at the Airbnb, but a slim notebook keeps your thoughts and scribbles safe until you’re reunited. Bonus if it’s already got some coffee stains or crinkled pages—it adds charm.
Zip pouch for collecting scraps - This is your treasure sack. Toss in ticket stubs, pressed leaves, napkins with cute logos, or literally anything that feels memory-ish. Some days it’ll feel like you’re foraging for paper gold.
Small washi tape rolls - Washi is the fairy dust of journaling. Use it to tape down photos, add pops of color, or just because it’s pretty. You can even wrap a little bit around a playing card if you don’t want to bring the full rolls.
Pen + marker set - I like one pen that writes like a dream and one marker for dramatic emphasis. Bonus points for anything with sparkly ink, pastel highlighters, or brush pens that make you feel like a poet.
Optional but extra (if you love to be prepared):
A mini stapler (for when glue won’t do)
A tiny envelope or two (for secrets)
Stickers you almost don’t want to use because they’re too cute (use them anyway)
Tuck all of this in a pouch or pencil case, and you’re officially ready to journal your way through every ferry ride, field picnic, and lemonade spill of the season.
Don’t Forget the Stories
Not everyone loves to write in their junk journal - but I encourage you to give it a try. Remember - there are no rules to junk journaling. And no rules means no mistakes. So failure is never an option. Here are some prompts to get you started if you want to add some memories to your junk journal journey:
“The best thing I ate this trip…” Describe it like a food critic in a romance novel. Was it gooey? Crisp? Did it make you close your eyes and sigh dramatically in a parking lot?
“A funny moment I don’t want to forget…” Maybe you got caught in the rain without an umbrella. Maybe someone accidentally sat on a croissant. Write it all down—messy, real, hilarious.
“I felt so alive when…” When the wind whipped through your hair on that overlook. When you jumped into a lake without checking how cold it was. When your playlist hit just right on a road with no end.
“My top 5 moments of the summer” They don’t have to be big. Think: laying in the grass. Drinking something fizzy. Seeing stars through a skylight. Little moments deserve a list too.
“Things I learned about myself on this trip…” Whether it’s “I actually do like hiking” or “I am a person who needs snacks every two hours,” this is your chance to reflect with tenderness and maybe a little humor.
A few bonus prompts, just for fun:
“A place I never expected to love…”
“Something I packed but didn’t need (and something I forgot and wished I hadn’t)”
“Three colors that remind me of this trip”
“The sound that defined my summer”
“A stranger I’ll probably never forget…”
Even one sentence is enough. Scribble it, smudge it, write sideways in the margins if you have to. Your travel memories don’t have to be perfect—they just have to be yours.
Happy junk journaling and ~ trinket on ~
xoxo - Jam
P.S. If you want to shop my amazon list of items I bought for my junk journal, it is here.
Wanna Get Exclusive Spread Ideas?
I’m launching The Little Object Files May of 2025!
The Little Object Files is a dreamy 5-page digital PDF download, lovingly curated around May’s monthly theme (think Summer Picnic Vibes)—designed to spark inspiration and joy around junk journaling. Perfect for junk journalers of all experience levels—whether you’re a seasoned sticker-layerer or just discovering the joy of tiny scissors. Inside:
2 Exclusive Spread Ideas (you won’t find them on my blog)
1 Page of Journal Prompts
A 1-Page Monthly Themed Junk Journaling Scavenger Hunt
Either 1 Page of Tips & Tricks or 1 Page of Printable Collage Items
Get on the waitlist to be notified:
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