Is It Safe to Glue In? Receipts, Photos, Tickets & More

💛 Introduction

If you love keeping little life scraps — receipts, train tickets, coffee sleeves, packaging — you’ve probably wondered: “Is it actually safe to glue this into my journal?”

Some papers fade. Some inks smear. Some pieces wrinkle or go greasy over time. It can feel confusing, especially when you want your pages to last for years.

This calm guide walks through which everyday papers are usually safe, which are risky, and how to prep special pieces so they don’t bleed, mold, or disappear. Think of it as a friendly “yes/no/maybe” chart for your junk journal treasures.

Note: This is general crafting info, not conservation-level archival advice. If you’re preserving irreplaceable documents or photos, consider scanning them and storing the originals safely.

✨ Quick Overview

If you only remember a few things, let it be these:

• Thermal receipts fade fast and can turn black with heat – scan or photocopy them instead of gluing the original.
• Cheap newsprint & flyers can bleed when they touch wet glue or gesso – seal first or tuck them into pockets.
• Photo prints prefer dry, acid-free adhesives (tape runner, photo tabs, double-sided tape) over very wet glue.
• Glossy packaging is usually safe if it’s clean and dry; use a strong glue like Fabri-Tac or double-sided tape.
• When in doubt: scan, print on good paper, and glue the print while you store the original elsewhere.

🧾 Common Papers & How They Behave

Let’s look at the everyday things that land in your hands and whether they’re usually safe to glue.

1. Thermal Receipts (Grocery, Post Office, etc.)

• Print feels slightly shiny or waxy and turns dark if you rub it or heat it.
• Very unstable: ink fades with time, light, and heat. Sometimes they go almost blank in a year.
• Wet glue, gesso, or sealer can make the text vanish or turn grey.

Safer option: photograph or scan, then print the receipt onto regular paper or sticker paper and glue that instead.

2. Standard Till Receipts / Card Slips (Non-Thermal)

• Thicker paper, usually with “dot matrix” style printing or blue/purple ink.
• More stable than thermal, though the paper can still yellow over time.
• Fine with glue stick or a light coat of wet glue.

3. Tickets, Stubs & Wristbands

Think train tickets, cinema stubs, wristbands from events, raffle tickets.

• Most are printed on coated but fairly sturdy paper.
• Usually safe to glue with glue stick, Fabri-Tac, or double-sided tape.
• If the ink feels “chalky” or powdery, test a tiny corner with glue first.

4. Magazine Pages & Glossy Ads

• Coated, glossy paper with heavily saturated ink.
• Can wrinkle with very wet glue, but generally don’t bleed.
• Best with glue stick, double-sided tape, or a very thin layer of gel medium.

5. Newspaper & Cheap Flyers

• Thin, porous, and very ink-heavy.
• Ink can smear or ghost when touched by wet glue, gesso, or matte medium.
• Paper loves to wrinkle and tear once it’s damp.

Safer options:

• Glue with a dry glue stick and press flat, or
• Seal first with clear gesso or matte medium on a scrap piece, let dry, then glue.

6. Photos & Photo Paper

• Glossy or matte coated paper, often thicker.
• Wet glue can cause buckling or leave bumps you can see through the picture.
• Some older photo papers don’t love acrylic mediums – they can become cloudy.

Best choices: photo-safe double-sided tape, tape runner, or photo corners. If you want a removable option, use a washi “hinge” or tuck photos into pockets.

7. Food Packaging, Boxes & Wrappers

• Cardboard sleeves, chocolate wrappers, tea boxes, bakery bags.
• Always make sure all food oils and crumbs are completely gone to avoid mold & smells.
• Shiny foil or plasticky surfaces stick best with strong glues (Fabri-Tac, tacky glue, or high-tack tape).

If something still feels greasy even after wiping, consider scanning it and using a print instead.

⚠️ Extra-Risky Items & When to Avoid Gluing

Some treasures are better as tuck-ins or copies instead of glued elements.

• Very old documents (birth certificates, letters, legal papers) – scan/photograph, use copies in the journal, and store originals safely.
• Receipts with important info (warranty, tax, or return info) – keep the original elsewhere, journal with a copy.
• Sticky or waxy packaging that still smells like food or oils – mold/bugs risk.
• Unknown inks that smear when you lightly rub them with a dry finger – assume they may bleed under wet glue.

When a piece feels precious or unstable, think: “Tuck, tip-in, or copy?” instead of committing it with heavy glue.

🎨 Sealing & Prep Tricks (So Things Don’t Bleed)

You don’t need fancy supplies, but a few simple tools make “iffy” papers behave much better.

Clear Gesso

• Adds a slightly toothy, matte surface.
• Helps seal absorbent papers like newspaper, flyers, and book pages.
• Apply with a soft brush in a thin coat; let it dry fully before gluing or writing.

Matte Gel Medium / Matte Medium

• Great as both a glue and a topcoat.
• Works well with collage elements and glossy magazine pieces.
• Use thin layers to avoid too much moisture that can warp your base page.

Spray Sealers (Acrylic / Fixative)

• Helpful for things that smudge easily, like charcoal, certain inks, or printed napkins.
• Always spray outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, following the can’s safety instructions.

Washi & Tape “Hinges”

When you’re nervous about gluing something delicate, try a hinge instead:

• Place a strip of washi or clear tape along the top or side edge of your item.
• Stick the other half of the tape to the page, so the piece can still flip up.
• For extra security, add a very thin line of glue under the tape, not directly on the piece.

Photocopying or Scanning First

This is the ultimate prep trick. By turning fragile or important pieces into digital files, you can:

• Print extras if you make a mistake.
• Resize items to fit different pages or pockets.
• Adjust contrast or color so text is easier to read.

📸 Originals vs Copies: What to Glue, What to Scan

A simple way to decide:

• Would I be sad if this disappeared or got damaged? → Scan/photocopy and store the original.
• Is this likely to fade, bleed, or crumble? → Use a copy or tuck the original into a pocket.
• Is this just cute packaging or a random flyer? → Go ahead and glue it with a bit of prep if needed.

You can also mix both: glue a printed copy on the page and tuck the original behind it in a secret pocket or envelope.

🧺 Mixing “Real Junk” with Printables

One of the magic things about junk journaling is how real-world bits and digital printables play together.

• Use printable ephemera (like tickets, labels, and tags) as sturdy bases, then layer real receipts or stubs on top.
• Let digital papers carry the structural load (backgrounds, pockets, flips) and add fragile pieces as small accents.
• When a real piece is visually busy but fragile, glue a printed version on the main spread and tuck the original into a side pocket as a “treasure.”

This gives you the storytelling and authenticity of real life, with the print quality and stability of good clipart and digital papers.

✅ Safe-to-Glue Checklist

Before you commit a piece to your journal, run through this quick list:

• Is it clean and dry (no food, oils, or sticky residue)?
• Does the ink stay put when you rub it lightly with a dry finger?
• Is the paper strong enough to survive a thin layer of glue?
• Do I have a scan or photo if it’s something I’d be sad to lose?
• Am I using a glue that fits the surface (dry glue stick for thin paper, strong glue/tape for slick surfaces)?

If something fails a question, try sealing it, using a hinge or pocket, or printing a safer copy.

📚 Helpful Related Guides

If this topic has you curious, these articles make a lovely next step:

• Which Glue Should I Use? Adhesives & Fasteners for Junk Journals and Moving Pieces
• What Counts as ‘Junk’ in a Junk Journal? Everyday Items You Can (Safely) Use
• Why Do My Journal Pages Warp, Wrinkle or Stick Together?

🎁 Free Clipart Sampler

If you’d like some printable ephemera that’s already high-resolution and clearly licensed, there’s a free sampler waiting for you from WondersArtist.

Pop your email in below and the sampler will arrive gently in your inbox — perfect for testing papers, glues, and sealing tricks in your next journal spread. 💌

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🌷 Final Thoughts

Your journal doesn’t have to be “perfectly archival” to be meaningful. But a little knowledge about which papers behave well and which need extra love can save you from smeared ink and vanishing receipts.

If you:

• Scan or copy the fragile, important pieces,
• Use gentle glues and sealers for risky papers, and
• Let printables carry some of the weight,

…you’ll end up with pages that feel both cozy and confident — full of real life, without the worry. 🧡