A SHARED interest in preserving memories using journals with stickers, stamps, creative writing and washi tape has brought together a group of people from different ages and backgrounds.
Calling themselves the Penang Journalers Clan, members are involved in “junk journalling”.
Artist Elsie Fun Yue May said interest in the hobby had grown in Penang since she began teaching journalling in 2017.
She said her efforts to disseminate journalling trends from abroad in Penang eventually led to collaborations.
“Junk journalling is basically about collecting memories.
“We call it ‘trash to treasure’ because anything can become part of the journal.
“It could be tickets, tissue paper, receipts or anything that can fit inside your journal,” she added.
Business opportunities
Elsie said the growing popularity of journalling had also created opportunities for artists and businesses.
She produces handcrafted rubber stamps and stickers.
Her products are priced between RM16 and RM75 and she has customers in Europe, United States and China.
According to Elsie, materials used to make the stamps are sourced locally.
“We chose meranti, a tropical hardwood, for our wood-mounted rubber stamps because we want them to represent Malaysia.
“Producing a handcrafted rubber stamp can take up to a month, from the initial design and paper sketches to the painstaking process of turning the artwork into a finished stamp.”
To date, she has created close to 130 designs.
She said journalling could also encourage people to spend less time on their phones and engage more in meaningful face-to-face interactions.
“Join the local community and visit different places.
“You do not need anything fancy – just an open heart, a book and the desire to start hunting.”
She urged newcomers to start locally by supporting local artists and artisans.
“Once you get familiar with stamping and art, you will want to meet more people and make more friends. You will spend less time on your phone.
“When we get together, we have conversations about similar interests and build human connections.
“That is why I think it is very important, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.”
Elsie said the activities could also contribute to tourism by encouraging visitors to explore different locations while in search of stamps and collectibles.
She believes the hobby has growth potential.
“Most journallers collect stickers and stationery.
“They are willing to travel and spend money just to visit a place for its stamps,” she noted.
Travel mementos
Another popular hobby is collecting souvenir stamps at tourist attractions, which has become a meaningful way to document travels and preserve memories.
The “stamp rally” concept originated in Japan, where participants collect themed stamps around a circuit of locations.
It is gaining popularity beyond Japan, as attractions typically have a rubber stamp for visitors to mark their notebooks as mementos. (See sidebar)
Draftsman Alexa Ung takes part in stamp rally activities.
She said that one of her most memorable experiences during a trip to China was at Shanghai Disneyland, where she took part in the “Magic Passport” activity, collecting stamps featuring cartoon characters.
In Suzhou, she collected stamps at museums, public parks and places of worship.
Ung, who is hearing impaired, said she first learned through social media that stamp rallies were popular in Japan, China and Thailand.
She started participating in stamp rallies during a family trip to Japan last year.
“Whenever I visit a castle, aquarium or other tourist attractions, I collect the stamp.
“The appeal is not only in the designs but also in the memories they evoke.
“When I look back at a stamp, I can remember the place I visited, the culture I experienced, the things I learned and the people I met. So, each stamp represents an experience,” she said.
Since then, Ung has taken part in several stamp rallies in Penang.
The hobby has also encouraged her to visit places she might not otherwise have considered exploring.
She said the activities had also given her opportunities to meet people who were also interested in journalling and stationery.
“I’m really happy to see the number of stamp rallies growing, especially in Penang,” she said, noting that similar activities are also being held in Perak, Melaka, Pahang and Johor.
Kuala Lumpur, she added, has also emerged as an important hub for stamp rally activities.
Stamp hunting
The search for elusive souvenir stamps can be challenging.
Janice Loh Sze Wei said collectors often had to contend with stamps hidden in unexpected locations, counters closing before they arrived and limited-time events and exhibitions.
She said poor-quality ink could be frustrating, particularly after travelling a long distance to collect a particular stamp.
“Sometimes, the ink is too light, too wet or the print is slightly smudged.
“It can be frustrating, especially when you have travelled all the way there.
“But strangely, even these little failures become part of the story.”
Loh said the hobby had changed the way she explored tourist attractions, as she often spent considerable time searching for stamp stations.
“I check the information counter, souvenir shop, entrance, exit and every possible corner.
“There is also a certain excitement when you discover a stamp that you did not know existed.
“You might simply walk into a cafe, museum or heritage building and suddenly spot a sign saying that a stamp was available there.
“For a stamp collector, it feels a bit like unexpectedly finding treasure,” she added.
Loh said collectors often looked for stamp stations while other visitors focused on taking photographs or viewing exhibits.
“We notice things that other people ignore. We get excited when we see a small wooden table in the corner because we know there may be an ink stamp waiting for us.”
Loh said the hobby’s greatest appeal was in the memories attached to each stamp.
“When I look back at my stamp journal, I remember where I got the stamp, who I went with, whether it was raining that day, how far I walked and even the funny moments that happened during the search,” she shared.
She said stamp collecting had encouraged her to visit places she might otherwise have overlooked, including small galleries, old buildings and neighbourhoods, while also learning more about local history.
“In that sense, the stamp becomes more than a souvenir. It becomes a reason to explore.”
Loh, who works at the state exco Tourism and Creative Economy office, said stamp rallies had also been incorporated as side events at several major state events last year, including the Yosakoi Parade, Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta and George Town Festival.
“We wanted to encourage different communities, especially stamp collectors, to enjoy the events while creating a memory they could take home, such as a postcard,” she said.
She also sees stamp collecting as having potential to contribute to tourism, particularly in George Town where stamps featuring heritage buildings could encourage visitors to explore the city on foot.
“We encourage people to come out, walk around and collect the stamps as they explore different places.”
Loh also collects stickers and has travelled to Taiwan, China, Thailand and throughout Malaysia in search of items for her collection.
Bringing people together
Nurashikin Ahmad enjoys putting her thoughts to paper using fountain pens, reflecting the appreciation for fine writing instruments that often accompanies the hobby of creating beautifully decorated journals.
She said the hobby had evolved considerably over the past decade, with Malaysia developing more local brands and communities influenced by journalling trends from Taiwan and Japan.
Civil servant Hasanah Akhir, said her journey began with scrapbooking in 2013 before she gradually moved into junk journalling.
“I started in 2013 with scrapbooking. I did it monthly, highlighting important moments,” she said.
She eventually began collecting washi tape, stickers and other stationery.
“I think it became an obsession,” she quipped.
Exchanging stationery and journalling materials has also become an important part of the hobby.
Engineer Yishen Kuma said enthusiasts often exchange stamps, stickers and other items from their collections, which fosters camaraderie.
“Usually, I ask around. When I first started, I found them through TikTok and other platforms.
“In Malaysia and Penang, there are many places where you can find them,” he said.
Yishen now has four journals.
He said travelling had become another opportunity to discover new stamps and stickers.
“Whenever I travel, I like to look for shops.
“Sometimes, when I find out that a restaurant has stamps or stickers, I will visit it,” he added.
