On Earth Day this past April, I made a junk journal in anticipation for Junk Journal July 2026—which is about to start in a few days. (It feels good to be ahead of the game this time!)
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| Junk Journal July 2026 prompts. |
In the past, I followed the prompts from @MegJournals but I think she stepped away from hosting the JJJ Challenges a year or so ago. So for this summer’s Junk Journal Challenge, I decided to “ask the box” for various creative prompts to curate my own prompt list.
For anyone that is new to the Junk Journal Challenge and wants to play along with me, I made the prompts practical and easily interpreted. For folks in the US, I intentionally chose the prompt, “patriotic,” for July 4—which should allow for numerous options for a journal page.
What is the Junk Journal Challenge?
Junk Journal July is a fun, creativity challenge that goes from July 1 through July 31. The junk journal encourages recycling and repurposing found materials and supplies [aka “junk”] such as junk mail, paper bags, envelopes, brochures, and other ephemera.
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| My new junk journal for Junk Journal July 2026. |
My junk journal is an 8” x 8” format with seven signatures (including the front and back covers) that is coptic bound. The pages/signatures are [mostly] from the recycle bin—old sales brochures, catalog pages, packaging paper, brown paper bags, envelopes from the mail… with a couple of sheets of pristine mixed media and watercolor papers.
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| Inside pages of my new junk journal. |
Paper scraps, images, text, fabric bits, and other ephemera are then combined with a myriad of art supplies and drawing/painting utensils to interpret a daily prompt—or to just fill up a page in the journal for fun with no regard to the prompt. The Junk Journal Challenge is similar to the 100 Day Project in that it gets you in the habit of doing something creative on a regular basis.
There are No Rules!
There are no rules and there are no judges. You can use the prompts for inspiration or do your own thing. Sometimes my journal entry is one page, but it can also be a page spread (two pages). Sometimes I combine two prompts in a single entry. There are no rules, just play! You’re doing it right if you’re having fun.
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| Two pages from my Junk Journal January 2025. |
The junk journal is also a vehicle for trying out different techniques or new art supplies with no expectations. Found something intriguing at the art supply store? Did you come across an interesting technique tutorial online? Bought a few new paints or markers on sale? This is your opportunity to give them a test drive.
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| A two-page spread from Junk Journal July 2025. |
Prepping for a month of Junk Journaling
With the start of July in just a few short days, here are a few warm-up exercises that get me excited to start a new junk journal and into the journaling groove:
- research quotes or poems related to the prompts. This can provide a direction in which to respond to a prompt and a source for hand lettering.
- gather paper scraps and ephemera and tuck them into envelopes or boxes for collage fodder.
- fussy-cut images and/or words from calendars, junk mail, catalogs, etc. for collage fodder.
- pull out your paints and brushes and paint backgrounds on the journal pages. An interesting/colorful page is more approachable than a daunting blank white page.
- pull out those new art supplies you’ve been curious to try.
- replenish the supply of glue sticks.
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| The junk journal work table. |
My 7th junk journal
The junk journal for July 2026 will be my 7th junk journal. I’ve done both the Junk Journal Challenge in January and in July the past few years and they have all been fun. This Challenge helps me be accountable and devote time to my art practice.
It’s time to get messy and have some journaling fun again.
