50+ Things You Can Turn Into Tags for Your Junk Journal

One of the funniest things that happens when you start junk journaling is that your brain changes a little. Suddenly nothing looks like trash anymore. You start seeing potential everywhere.

Creative junk journal tag ideas using vintage paper, book pages, packaging, scraps, ephemera, and everyday items. DIY journaling inspiration for junk journaling, Bible journaling, faith art journaling, and mixed media journal embellishments for beginners.

A cereal box becomes sturdy tag backing.
An old library card looks like the perfect journaling card.
A vintage flashcard at the antique store makes your heart skip a beat because you know exactly where it’s going in your journal.

I joke with friends that junk journaling turns you into a professional paper scavenger. You start noticing things other people walk right past, old postcards in flea market bins, paper placemats at restaurants, interesting packaging from a local shop, even the paper sleeve from your coffee cup.

And the best part? Many of these things make incredible tags with almost no work at all.

Sometimes all they need is a hole punched in the top. Sometimes you trim the edges a little, add some stitching or ink, and suddenly you have a tag that feels layered with history and story.

That’s part of what makes junk journaling so fun. You’re not just creating something new, you’re giving old or ordinary things another life inside your journal.

Over time I’ve started keeping a little mental list of things I love to collect because they make great tags. Some come from antique stores, some from everyday life, and some from adventures out in the world.

Here are some of my favorites to keep an eye out for. Plus grab a free download: Tag Idea Booklet, that has this list plus more fun tag making ideas! Sign up at the bottom of this blog post.

The more you junk journal, the more you start to realize something really freeing. You don’t need expensive supplies to make beautiful pages!!!

Some of the most interesting tags are made from things that were never meant to be art supplies in the first place. Old paper, packaging, tickets, scraps from a trip, or a little treasure you found in a thrift store bin, all of it can become part of your creative story.

Grab some inspiration for your DIY junk journal of Texas. This is a great gift idea for someone missing their home state, a travel journal or just a vacation scrapbook! #journaling ideas #vacationscrapbook #DIYtraveljournal

That’s what I love about tags. They’re small, simple, and incredibly flexible. You can tuck them into pockets, layer them into collage, write prayers or thoughts on them, or just let them peek out of a page.

And once you start looking for them, you’ll see tag possibilities everywhere. Don’t be surprised if you start saving things you never would have noticed before. Welcome to the life of a paper scavenger. Your journals will thank you for it.