If you've spent any time on crafting Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube lately, you've probably noticed the creative world falling hard for a new trend: junk journaling. But this isn't the old-school scrapbook you might remember - today's junk journaling blends collage, mixed media, recycled bits, heartfelt storytelling, and bold artistic play. And right at the center of this trend sits a perfect companion: the Dina Wakley Media Journal.
Let's dive into why crafters everywhere are reaching for this journal to bring their junk journaling visions to life.
What Makes Junk Journaling So Popular?
Junk journaling is more than just crafting - it's freedom.
Crafters love it because it:
- Encourages creative play without rules
- Uses scraps, packaging, ephemera, and "junk" you already have
- Blends beautifully with mixed media, paint inks, fabrics, and more
- Doubles as a memory keeper, art diary, or creative outlet
- Works for any style - vintage, grungy, colorful, whimsical, minimal, or chaotic
In a world that moves fast, junk journaling gives creatives a place to slow down, explore, and express themselves with no pressure.
Enter the Dina Wakley Media Journal: The Junk Journaler's Dream Tool
The Dina Wakley Media Journal has become a fan-favorite for junk journalers because it's designed for mixed media experimentation. Unlike standard paper journals, this one includes:
Multiple Surface Types
In one journal you get:
- Heavy watercolor paper
- Kraft paper
- Textured canvas pages
- Soft handmade cotton rag paper
Each surface invites a different technique, making the journal feel like a treasure hunt before you even add anything.
Built for Wet & Messy Media
Whether you love:
- Acrylic paint
- Sprays
- Collage gloss
- Gesso
- Scribble sticks
- Gel printing
- Distress inks
...this journal can handle it all without warping, piling, or falling apart.
Perfect for Layers
Junk journaling thrives on texture - think tissue paper, old book pages, lace, packaging, tags, gel prints, envelopes, stickers, and found ephemera.
The Media Journal's sturdy binding and heavyweight substrate pages make it easy to build chunky layers without stressing the spine.
How Crafters Are Using the Dina Wakley Media Journal for Junk Journaling
Here are some popular ways artists are combining the junk journaling trend with this mixed media staple:
1. Collage Storytelling Pages
Layered book pages + tissue scraps + focal images + acrylic paint patches = storytelling magic.
2. Texture-Heavy Canvas Spreads
The canvas pages are perfect for neutral grunge, abstract marks, stitched elements, or big textured layers.
3. Mixed Media Memory Keeping
Photos, ticket stubs, receipts, postcards, and handwritten notes come to life with Dina Wakley's signature bold colors.
4. Gel Print Junk Journaling
Add your leftover gel prints as backgrounds, pockets, flips, and tags.
5. Recycled Ephemera Art
Tags, clothing labels, Starbucks sleeves, packaging - everything becomes art in junk journaling.
Why This Trend Isn't Going Anywhere
Junk journaling marries nostalgia with creativity. It's tactile, sensory, expressive, and deeply personal. Whether crafters are using it as a mental health outlet, an art adventure, or a way to repurpose scraps, the trend only continues to grow.
And with its mixed substrates, durability, and artistic versatility, the Dina Wakley Media Journal is becoming a cornerstone tool for anyone jumping into this movement.
Final Thoughts
Junk journaling is all about embracing the imperfect and celebrating what you already have - and the Dina Wakley Media Journal gives creatives the perfect playground for it. Whether you're new to the trend or already deep into layered, textured art, this journal invites you to experiment boldly and create with joy.
If you're ready to dive into junk journaling with mixed media flair, the Dina Wakley Media Journal might just become your new creative best friend.