What Do I Actually Put in My Journal? (Ideas for Beginners Who Want to Start But Don't Know Where to Begin)

Junk Journaling Tips, Beginner Guides, Creative Inspiration

 

If you've ever sat down with a beautiful blank journal, a pile of supplies... and then done absolutely nothing for 20 minutes - this one's for you.

"What do I even put in here?" is probably the most common thing I hear from beginners. And honestly? It's such a valid question. You've got the journal. You've got the stickers. Maybe you've even got some gorgeous patterned papers. But the blank page is just sitting there, looking at you.

So let's fix that. Here are some of my favourite ways to fill a junk journal or creative spread - with zero pressure and plenty of play. 🐢

 

1. Let the Theme Lead You

One of the easiest ways to get unstuck is to give your page a theme before you even touch your supplies. Themes remove the endless decision-making and just let you go.

Think about things like:

• A season or month (hello, autumn spreads with golden patterned papers!)
• A feeling you want to capture - cosy, adventurous, dreamy
• Something you love - books, tea, travel, botanicals, retro things
• A colour palette that's calling to you

Once you've got a theme, you pull out everything that matches. Suddenly the decisions get so much easier.

→ This is actually the magic behind the Turtle Treasure Box - every month I curate a themed bundle of papers, stickers, washi and embellishments that all work together. You open the box, and the theme is already decided for you. Past themes have included Romance, Dreamland, Paris, Picnic and Bottles & Books.

The hardest part is just picking where to start! 🎁

 

Check out these creations from subscribers recently who shared what they made with some of the Turtle Treasure Boxes - they will for sure inspire you!

2. Document the Ordinary

You don't need to be doing something extraordinary to fill a journal page. Some of my favourite spreads I've seen from the community are about completely ordinary things:

• What you had for dinner and why it made you happy
• The song you had on repeat this week
• A walk you took and what you noticed
• Your favourite corner of your home
• A book you're reading (or have been "reading" for six months 😄)

Everyday life, when you slow down and look at it, is actually really rich material. Junk journaling is beautiful for this because you're not scrapbooking a big event - you're just capturing a moment or a feeling.

 

3. Collect and Collage

Junk journaling is literally named after the "junk" you collect and use - so start collecting! Keep a little pile of things that catch your eye:

• Tags from shopping, tissue paper, pretty packaging
• Old postage stamps or stickers from letters
• Catalogue clippings, magazine pages, maps
• Wrapping paper, envelope liners, napkins
• Pressed flowers or leaves

Lay them out on a page, overlap them, add some stickers on top, a strip of washi — and suddenly you've got a spread that tells a whole little story without you needing to write a single word.

 

4. Write a List (Lists Are Underrated!)

If you love the idea of journaling but don't want to write paragraphs, lists are your best friend. They're quick, low-pressure, and they look amazing layered over a pretty background.

Some ideas to get you started:

• 10 things making me happy right now
• Places I want to visit
• Movies/shows I want to watch
• Things I want to try making or doing this season
• My favourite memories from [month/year]
• Things I'm grateful for today

Write your list in your neatest handwriting (or deliberately messy — both are valid!), stick it on a layer of patterned paper, add some stickers around the edges, and done. You have a page.

 

 

5. Use Your Stickers as the Story Starter

Here's a little trick I love: instead of choosing a theme first and then finding stickers to match, do it the other way around. Pick a sticker sheet that catches your eye, and let the stickers tell you what the page is about.

If you grabbed a botanical sticker sheet - maybe this page is about nature, or growth, or something you're nurturing right now. If it's a whimsical sticker sheet with mushrooms and stars - maybe this is your dreamy, escapist page. If it's food-themed - hey, maybe you document your favourite recipe!

Your stickers already have a personality. Follow their lead.

 

 

6. Capture a Season

Seasons are one of the most natural themes for journal pages because they already come with built-in moods, colours, and textures. You don't have to explain what "autumn vibes" means - everyone just gets it.

For beginners, picking a seasonal theme is an incredibly low-pressure way to start because:

• There's no wrong way to interpret it
• The colour palette is basically decided for you (think warm ambers and greens for autumn, pastels for spring)
• It feels timely and personal without being too revealing

What does this time of year feel like to you? What are you noticing, eating, wearing, doing? That's your page.

 

 

7. Don't Forget - You Can Layer Without a "Plan"

One of the most liberating things about junk journaling is that messy and intuitive is not just allowed - it's often the most beautiful result. You don't need a plan. You just need to start.

Pull out a few papers. Tear them. Arrange them. Overlap. Add washi. Stick some stickers. Doodle if you want. Write a word or two. Done.

The page doesn't need to mean something profound. It just needs to exist. And once you have one page, the next one is always easier.

 

START WITH A KIT!

And if you'd love someone to just curate it for you each month with a fun theme already decided - that's exactly what the Turtle Treasure Box is. Every month I handpick a themed collection of papers, stickers, washi and embellishments designed to work together beautifully - plus a Visual Guide for inspiration so you're never staring at the blank page alone.

It's $44.90/month, shipped from Adelaide Australia-wide, and you can cancel any time. No lock-in, no pressure. Just a little crafty surprise on your doorstep. 🐢

→ Check out the Turtle Treasure Box here

Remember - there's no wrong way to fill a journal. The only "rule" is that it's yours.

Less pressure. More creative play. 🐢

Rachel xo