How to Preserve Fading Thermal Receipts for Your Junk Journal

Junk journaling is all about capturing memories in a creative, meaningful way, and receipts can add a special touch—whether it’s from a memorable coffee shop visit, a thrift store haul, or a road trip stop. But there’s one big problem… thermal receipts fade.

If you want to keep your receipts readable for years to come, there’s only one foolproof way: snap a photo or scan them with your phone and print a copy.

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Why Do Thermal Receipts Fade?

Thermal receipts don’t actually use ink. Instead, they’re printed on heat-sensitive paper that darkens when exposed to heat. Cash registers and receipt printers apply heat to create text and images. The problem? That same heat-reactive coating continues to be sensitive long after printing, meaning exposure to sunlight, heat, friction, or even certain adhesives can cause the text to fade away over time.

Because of this, thermal receipts aren’t designed for long-term preservation—making it essential to digitally save and reprint them if you want to keep them in your journal.

1. Snap a Photo or Scan with Your Phone

Since thermal receipts start fading as soon as they’re printed, it’s best to capture them immediately.

• Use your phone’s camera to take a high-quality photo.
• Even better, use your phone’s built-in scanner (like the Notes app on iPhone or Google Drive’s scan feature on Android) to create a clear, black-and-white version.
• Save the scan as a PDF or high-resolution image for easy printing later.

For more daily journaling tips, check out our journaling blog!

2. Print a Copy for Your Junk Journal

Once you’ve saved the receipt digitally, print a copy on regular printer paper or sticker paper to make it journal-friendly.

• For an authentic look, use lightweight paper similar to receipt paper.
• For a creative touch, try printing on vellum or transparency film for a layered effect.
• For a sticker effect, print on clear or matte sticker paper and stick it straight into your journal.

This method ensures your receipt stays legible forever, even if the original fades.

3. Add a Decorative Touch

Since you’re printing a copy, why not get creative?

• Resize the receipt to fit better on your journal page.
• Print it in a sepia tone for a vintage look.
• Layer it with scrapbook paper, washi tape, or stamps to make it pop.

4. Keep the Digital Copy for Future Prints

Even if your printed receipt gets damaged, you’ll always have the scanned version saved. Consider:

• Storing receipts in a dedicated folder on your phone or cloud storage.
• Backing them up to Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox for easy access.

That way, if you ever need another copy, you can just print a fresh one!

Final Thoughts

Thermal receipts are meant to fade, but your memories don’t have to. By snapping a quick photo and printing a copy, you can keep them clear, legible, and perfectly preserved in your junk journal.

Want more creative ways to journal? Check out this post on daily journaling trends!

Looking for the perfect journal? Explore our collection of hardcover journals to start preserving your memories today!