There’s something about old paper that makes you want to slow down. Soft brown edges, a faded ledger full of somebody’s errands, a letter that starts with “My dearest…” That feeling is exactly what a junk journal is made of, and you can print a whole stack of it at home tonight.
This free printable vintage junk journal kit has 8 pages of ready-to-cut ephemera: tea-stained paper, an antique ledger, a handwritten letter, journaling cards, tickets, apothecary labels, postage stamps, shipping tags and a pocket envelope template. Everything is sized for US Letter paper at print resolution, so it prints crisp on an ordinary home printer.
What’s inside the free vintage junk journal kit
Each page works on its own, or layered with the others. Here’s what you’ll find in the download.
1. Aged tea-stained paper
A full-page background with soft coffee rings, foxing spots and darkened edges. Use it as a journal page, cut it into strips for tuck spots, or print it on the back of another page so both sides look old.
2. Antique ledger page
Blue rules, red columns and a few handwritten entries from a pretend 1897 household account: seeds for the kitchen garden, lamp oil, a new ribbon for a Sunday hat. Ledger paper is one of the most-loved junk journal textures, and the empty lines at the bottom are perfect for your own notes.
3. Handwritten letter page
A sweet, slightly faded letter from Margaret to her sister Eleanor, dated June 1904. Fold it into thirds and slip it into the pocket envelope, or tear the edges and glue it behind a photo.
4. Journaling cards
Six lined cards in dusty rose, sage, mustard and blue: Memories, Notes, Today, Remember, Dear Diary and Wishes. They’re big enough to write on and small enough to tuck into a pocket.
5. Tickets and apothecary labels
Four old-fashioned tickets (theatre, rail, garden exhibition and tea room) plus six apothecary-style labels like Lavender, Rose Water and Chamomile. Labels make lovely page titles, and tickets add instant story to a spread.
6. Postage stamps, shipping tags and airmail card
Four perforated stamps, four kraft-coloured shipping tags (With Love, Par Avion, Keepsake, Fragile) and a striped airmail card. Thread twine or ribbon through the tag holes for a little dimension.
7. Pocket envelope template
Cut on the solid line, fold on the dashed lines and glue the side flaps. It takes about two minutes and gives your journal a place to hide tickets, cards and that letter from Margaret.
How to print your junk journal pages
- Paper: plain 20–24 lb printer paper is fine for layering. For tags, tickets and the envelope, use 65 lb cardstock or light kraft paper so they hold their shape.
- Printer settings: choose “Actual size” or “100%” (not “Fit to page”) and the highest quality setting your printer offers.
- Matte, not glossy: matte paper looks more like real old paper and takes glue and ink better.
- Double-sided: print the aged paper page on the back of the ledger or letter for an extra vintage feel.
Make it look even older (optional)
- Tea or coffee staining: brush cooled black tea over the printed page, dab with a paper towel and let it dry flat. Laser prints handle this best; inkjet ink can bleed, so test a corner first.
- Distress the edges: tear them by hand or rub them with a brown ink pad.
- Crumple and flatten: scrunch the page gently, smooth it out and press it under a heavy book overnight.
7 ways to use these vintage printables
- Tuck spots: glue only three sides of the pocket envelope so you can slide journaling cards inside.
- Page titles: use an apothecary label as the heading for a garden, tea or memory spread.
- Layered clusters: stack a ticket, a stamp and a tag at an angle, then add a paper clip.
- Belly bands: cut a strip of the ledger page and wrap it around a signature.
- Gift tags: the shipping tags double as gift tags for handmade presents.
- Planner inserts: trim the journaling cards to fit a travelers notebook or planner.
- Mail art: decorate envelopes for pen pals with the airmail card and stamps.
Making Christmas pages? My free printable Christmas gift tags include a kraft vintage set that looks right at home in a junk journal.
A few notes from me
I drew every element in this kit from scratch rather than scanning old documents, so the colours stay soft and the pages print cleanly on any home printer. The ledger entries and the letter are written to feel like real 1890s–1900s paperwork, small everyday details that make a page feel lived-in.
If you only print one page, make it the tickets and labels. They’re the quickest way to make a plain notebook look like a junk journal.
Frequently asked questions
What is a junk journal?
A junk journal is a handmade book built from scraps: old papers, tickets, labels, fabric, envelopes and printables like these. It’s part scrapbook, part diary and part art project, and there are no rules about what goes in it.
Do I need special supplies?
No. A printer, scissors, a glue stick and some string or a stapler are enough for your first junk journal. A paper trimmer and a corner rounder are nice extras, not requirements.
What size are the pages?
All pages are US Letter (8.5 × 11 in). To print on A4, choose “Fit to printable area”; the designs shrink very slightly.
Can I sell journals made with this kit?
This free kit is for personal use only. You’re welcome to use it in your own journals and share photos of what you make (a link back is always appreciated), but please don’t resell or share the files themselves. See the Terms of Use.
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Happy journaling!
Hakan
