Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Dee
Buying gifts for junk journalers is actually fun once you know what to look for. They’re the people who hoard pretty paper scraps, get excited about vintage receipts, and can happily spend an hour arranging three stickers. (Guilty.)
So here’s my honest, tried-and-loved list of gifts that’ll actually get used—not shoved in a drawer. Everything here sits comfortably under $50 (~£40), and I’ve tucked in a free printable pack of 70+ vintage junk journal tags below so you can add a handmade touch to whatever you gift. Grab it first, then keep scrolling.
Free: 70+ Printable Junk Journal Tags
Pop your email in below and I’ll send you my collection of 70+ vintage-inspired printable tags—botanicals, ephemera styles, seasonal motifs, all in that lovely aged-paper look. Print them on cream or kraft cardstock and tuck them into a stocking, a new journal, or a handmade card. They make the perfect “gift within a gift.”
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the free printables coming. I only link to supplies I’d genuinely recommend.
Vintage Ephemera Paper Stacks
Junk journalers live for this stuff—the aged receipts, ticket stubs, old postcards and botanical bits that make a page feel like a little time capsule. A mixed ephemera pack is the safest bet you can buy, because there’s no such thing as too much. I keep reaching for the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Pack—the weathered textures and muted colours layer beautifully and suit almost any theme.
Vintage-Style Cardstock
Every junk journaler needs a good base to build on. A vintage-style cardstock pack gives them sturdy pages for pockets, tags and tuck-spots—and it’s exactly the kind of thing people love to have but never think to buy for themselves. Bonus: it’s perfect for printing those free tags below.
Decorative-Edge Scissors
Not just any scissors—the ones that cut fancy edges. Scallops, waves, zigzags. They turn a plain paper scrap into instant vintage charm with one snip. A decorative-edge scissors set gives them a whole handful of patterns to play with, and good ones last for years.
Vintage Washi Tape
You can never have too much washi. It’s the duct tape of the junk journal world—it holds things down, adds a pop of pattern, and quietly covers up mistakes. A vintage floral washi tape set is an easy win for anyone who loves that old-world, botanical look.
A Good Glue & Tape Runner
Boring? Maybe. Essential? Absolutely. Nobody wants to run out of adhesive mid-spread. A refillable Tombow Mono adhesive runner lays down clean, wrinkle-free lines for layering paper, and a pack of Scotch adhesive dots handles the fiddly little embellishments that glue sticks can’t quite grab. Practical gifts that get used the same day.
Mini Embellishments
The finishing touches that make a page come alive—little charms, buttons, brass fasteners. A jar of assorted vintage buttons and a set of mini brass brads will keep a journaler happy for months. They’re the kind of thing you sprinkle on at the very end that makes the whole spread feel intentional.
Lace & Ribbon
A little length of lace ribbon peeking out of a page adds instant softness and that heirloom feel. A lace ribbon assortment gives them lots of textures and neutral tones to tie tags, edge pockets, or bundle up a little book—pretty and useful.
Paper Trimmer & Bone Folder
Once someone’s serious about their junk journal supplies, the tools that make life easier are a genuinely thoughtful gift. A Firbon paper trimmer takes the wobble out of straight cuts, and a bone folder set gives crisp folds and clean scores for pockets and mini books. Unglamorous, deeply appreciated.
Distress Crayons
Want to gift the magic? Tim Holtz Distress Crayons are how journalers age bright new paper into something that looks a hundred years old—smudge them round the edges, blend with a damp finger, done. They turn crisp printables (like those free tags) into believable vintage in about ten seconds.
White Gel Pen & Fineliners
Small but mighty. A Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen with a Micron set handles the fine details—little dots, faux stitching, journaling lines, tiny highlights on dark ephemera. It’s the pen combo I’d slip into any journaler’s stocking without a second thought.
A Wax Seal Kit
If you want the gift that gets an actual gasp, this is it. A wax seal kit with their initial feels wildly fancy for the price and gives their journals, envelopes and tags that sealed-letter, old-correspondence finish. A little bit special, and endlessly reusable.
Junk Journal Gift FAQs
What’s the best gift for someone just starting a junk journal?
A mixed ephemera pack plus a good glue runner. Beginners need something to stick down and something to stick it with. The ephemera gives them instant variety without having to hunt for materials, and a refillable adhesive runner makes their first pages look tidy instead of wrinkled. Add the free printable tags below and they’re ready to make something on day one.
Ephemera or washi tape—which is the better gift?
Both get used, but they do different jobs. Ephemera is the “soul” of a page—the vintage papers and images you build around. Washi tape is the workhorse that holds things down and adds pattern. If you’re buying one gift, go ephemera for someone who loves collage and washi for someone who journals quickly and often.
What’s a good junk journal gift under $10 (~£8)?
A vintage floral washi tape set, a jar of assorted buttons, or a white gel pen all land under $10 and get used constantly. Small, but exactly the kind of thing journalers are always running out of—so they never feel like filler.
What do experienced junk journalers actually want?
Tools and “treat” supplies they wouldn’t splurge on themselves. Think a good paper trimmer, distress crayons for aging paper, or a wax seal kit. They already have the basics—what delights them is the special-touch item that levels up their pages.
Are printable junk journal kits a good gift?
Yes—especially paired with cardstock so they can print right away. Printables are endlessly reusable (download once, print forever), they don’t take up space, and they suit any theme. The free printable tags on this page are a lovely no-cost start, and a membership like the Artsydee Creation Club makes a thoughtful gift for someone who journals constantly.
What’s a good stocking stuffer for a junk journaler?
Anything small and consumable: washi tape, brass brads, a length of lace ribbon, or a white gel pen. Print a set of the free vintage tags onto kraft cardstock, tie them with ribbon, and tuck them in alongside—instant handmade extra that costs almost nothing.
Want More Than Supplies?
If the junk journaler in your life (or, let’s be honest, you) blows through supplies faster than they can restock, the Artsydee Creation Club is the gift that keeps giving. Inside you’ll find 200+ exclusive junk journal resources—full kits, printable ephemera, tags and embellishments, including the ephemera kits I design for that layered vintage look—with fresh pages added every week. No more scrambling for materials or waiting around for freebies. Just download what you need and start creating.
The Bottom Line
Junk journalers are easy to shop for once you know the essentials. They love supplies that feel vintage, help them layer creatively, and make the process a little easier. Any of these gifts will get immediate use—probably that same day. Pair one with the free printable tags above, and you’ve got a gift that feels handmade and heartfelt.
Looking for more gift ideas for creative types? Have a peek at my guides for artists who draw and thoughtful artist gifts, or start their whole journaling journey with my DIY junk journal guide.