The childhood hobby making a grown up comeback as Australians rediscover the joy of stickers

The simple pleasure of peeling a sticker from its backing paper and deciding exactly where it belongs is something many Australians remember from childhood. Whether it was filling a well-worn sticker album, swapping scratch and sniff designs in the school playground or decorating every available surface, stickers once held a special place in everyday life. Somewhere along the way, they disappeared into the category of things we were expected to outgrow. Now, one Adelaide small business is making the case that perhaps we gave them up too soon. The Turtle Journal is tapping into a growing appetite for slow, mindful hobbies by encouraging adults to rediscover stickers, not as children’s toys, but as creative tools that inspire relaxation, self-expression and a little nostalgic fun. At a time when social media often presents crafting as something that has to be flawless or worthy of being shared online, the brand is championing something refreshingly different. There are no rules, no artistic qualifications and no pressure to create a masterpiece. Instead, it’s about the simple act of making something because it feels good. That philosophy has found a home within the growing popularity of journaling. From planners and scrapbooks to junk journals filled with treasured keepsakes, stickers have become an easy way to personalise pages without requiring artistic skill or expensive supplies. The Turtle Journal’s collection embraces a soft, vintage-inspired aesthetic, featuring botanical illustrations, delicate butterflies, muted creams, dusty greens, blush pinks and floral designs that give journals an elegant, timeless feel. Rather than chasing perfection, the focus is on experimentation and creative play. If a sticker ends up in the “wrong” place, it simply becomes part of the story. Founder Rachel brings more than 15 years of planning and crafting experience to the business and has built the brand around the idea that creativity should be accessible to everyone. The aim isn’t to create museum-worthy journals but to permit people to enjoy the process without worrying about whether the finished page looks perfect. That message has resonated with customers, many of whom say the brand reminded them that hobbies don’t need to be productive to be worthwhile. For some, it was the encouragement they needed to revisit a pastime they had dismissed as childish years ago. The sense of community has become just as important as the products themselves. Alongside its collection of stickers, washi tape and paper ephemera, The Turtle Journal has created spaces where paper craft enthusiasts can connect through initiatives such as its Brand Creators Circle and the Travelling Journal Circle, where crafters around Australia swap journals, ideas and inspiration. The rise of analogue hobbies has become increasingly noticeable as more people look for ways to switch off from endless scrolling. Journaling, colouring, knitting and scrapbooking all offer a slower pace that encourages people to spend time creating something with their hands instead of looking at another screen. Stickers fit naturally into that movement because they’re approachable, inexpensive and instantly rewarding. There is no steep learning curve, no fear of failure and no expectation that every page should look like it belongs in a gallery. For those looking to embrace their creative side, The Turtle Journal is currently offering readers 15 per cent off their first sticker purchase using the code STICKER15. The offer is available across the brand’s sticker collection, making it an ideal excuse to dust off an old journal or start a brand new creative project. Sometimes the hobbies we loved most as children still have something to offer. The only difference is that this time, nobody is telling you where the stickers have to go.