12 Satisfying Creative Journaling Ideas to Try Right Now

Journaling has become really popular lately. Whether it’s to manifest goals, sort out your feelings, or find inspiration, journaling is being recommended for all manner of reasons.

I’ve been writing about journaling ever since I started this blog almost a year ago. I’ve written about the best journaling prompts, the best supplies for journaling, and gratitude journaling.  I even featured scripture journals in last week’s post.

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The articles I’ve written in the past on journaling have focused on what most people think of when they hear the word, “journaling.” And that would be writing down thoughts on a piece of paper.

This is my primary form of journaling, and I do journal every day. That said, I tend to like having some sort of artistic element to the notebooks I use to journal in beyond just a pretty cover.

Lately, I have been really enjoying writing in a Papaya Arts spiral notebook. I’ve mentioned this in prior articles. They have lots of options, and the illustrated pages are always really unique and beautiful. This is the next one I plan to get:

That said, I stumbled upon a new form of journaling as I’ve scrolled through Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, and that is Creative Journaling.

What is Creative Journaling?

There are lots of blogs and creative websites out there that are talking about creative journaling. Basically, creative journaling is a form of journaling that combines written words set within a 2D artistic medium.

Like it’s purely-written counterpart, creative journaling is typically done in some sort of notebook and has at least at some writing in it. However, there are no rules for how this needs to be done.

A creative journaling layout can be one or two pages long. And, it can consist of mostly art with a few words or lots of words with a few artistic elements.

You can try creative journaling in a any sort of notebook (see supplies list below) and experiment with a mix of different styles and art media. You can get fancy with the pages or keep them streamlined and minimalist.

I used to be pretty obsessed with scrapbooking. I would chronical everything from monthly activities to big family events. I loved creating colorful layouts using different crafting techniques.

But, once my kids were born and I became a full-time working mom, I didn’t have the time to spend on developing photos and making big 12 x 12”, 2-page layouts. It made me feel guilty that I was unable to devote that time, which had been such a fun and relaxing hobby. 

Creative journaling has provided me with the same enjoyment but without the massive time commitment. And, because the journals are so unique to the journaler, I don’t feel the need to create in them with any sort of regularity. I just jump in when the inspiration strikes me.

I first tried it when my kids gifted me a notebook, and I had no idea what I would do with it. I was using my journals to work through some tough feelings at the time, and I didn’t want to fill up the pretty journal they had given me with anything negative.

I decided to use the notebook my kids gave me as a travel journal for our family vacations. It was like a mini scrapbook, but with lots more writing, which the kids helped with. This has led me to try other types of creative journaling, and I have some ideas for new notebooks I own that I think will be a fun way of tracking certain things I’ve been doing lately.

While many people share their creative journaling layouts on social media sites, the process is not necessarily meant for public display. Just like a word-only journal entry, a creative journal entry can be very personal and heartfelt. In fact, it can have any number of benefits.

Why Try Creative Journaling?

There are many reasons why folks enjoy creative journaling. Here are a few:

• Creative Outlet. For those of us who may not have a lot of time to spend on creating art or crafting, it is pretty freeing to write and decorate a small page or two of a notebook. With the right book (the paper is key), you can play with watercolor, gouache, acrylic, alcohol markers, and other crafting and artistic techniques. The result will be a wholly unique creation that will be fun to look back on once your books are complete.
• Promotes Mental Health. The main aspect of the process that creative journaling shares with other types of journaling is the effect on the writer or creator. Just like regular journaling, creative journaling can be a beneficial experience. So long as you enjoy working with paper, pens, and artistic media, creative journaling can be relaxing, cathartic, and healing.
• Create a Gift or Keepsake. As you will read below, depending on the type of journal you create, you may wish to gift it to someone. Those may include recipe journals, junk journals, or a journal of inspirational quotes. If you choose to keep the journal for yourself, you may be surprised at how satisfying it is to review your completed pages and books. Depending on the notebook you use to journal in, you may end up with a pretty enough book to decorate your bookshelves.
• Uses up art and craft supplies. If you are like me, you may have invested in a bunch of different art and craft supplies that you got because they looked great at the store. Or, you have leftover items from prior craft projects or school projects your child worked on. You don’t need a lot of paper or supplies to create a page in a creative journal, so those little scraps of leftover paper, the pens you haven’t used in a while, or the new paints you got as a gift can finally be put to use!
• Join a fun online community. One thing that’s really neat about doing any sort of artwork, planning, or journaling is that if you choose to share it on social media with others, you can usually make some new friends in the process. I’ve been enjoying posting my work to Instagram and getting feedback from others. It’s also a lot of fun to see how others are expressing themselves with their journals.

For me, creative journaling is a form of self-care. It blends my love of writing with my love of creating art. And, I love that there is truly no wrong way to do this.

Where to Find Information on Creative Journaling

Obviously, a Google search will bring up information if you type “creative journaling” in the search bar. However, there are some resources for how to get started and ideas to try in your own journal.

Books– There are a number of books on Amazon. Again, search for “creative journaling,” and you’ll get several hits. However, there are two that I recommend:

• Creative Journaling by Renee Day is like the bible of creative journaling. She explains different techniques and how to use mixed media in your journals.

• Journal with Purpose by Helen Colebrook is a great resource. She is my favorite creative journaling YouTuber and has included a lot of her original artwork in this book. The pieces are simple and easy to recreate in your own journal.

YouTube– I find that when it comes to art and journaling, I am a pretty visual learner. I also find watching these sorts of videos really relaxing. Again, a search for “creative journaling” will bring up a ton of instructional videos where you can observe the creative process in action. My favorite YouTuber, as I noted previously, is Helen Colebrook. She is a British artist (I think she does HR as her day job), and she creates the most lovely journal spreads in her traveler’s notebooks and bullet journals. She also has a website. My one regret is that her craft products are not easy to find in the US.

Pinterest and Instagram– If you search on Pinterest for “creative journaling,” there are a ton of images that will pop up. These will link to websites and other social media pages where you can see the creators’ other works. Instagram is a great place to find and follow creative journalers. Just look for #creativejournaling to get started. Many people on IG not only post their finished pages, but they often upload short videos of their journaling process.

I could spend hours (days probably, if I let myself) scrolling through different webpages or watching videos on creative journaling. Everyone has their own style. Some people create very chic, streamlined journal pages, while others have busy and colorful spreads. Hunt around to see what resonates with you and you’re bound to find inspiration.

12 Satisfying Creative Journaling Ideas

As I said before, there is no right or wrong way to engage in creative journaling. It can be as simple or as complex a process as you would like it to be. Here are some ideas to get you started and help you think outside the box when it comes to this unique form of creative expression:

1. Feelings. This is the most common form of journaling, and it can be done creatively. Use a creative journal to not only write about your feelings but to explore those feelings through artistic media.
2. Books. This is going to be my next project- creative journaling about the books I’ve been reading. In my case, I plan to write a little bit about each of the books I’ve been reading from my list of race equity must-reads. Because I want to remember my impressions and the lessons from each book, I am hoping that a creative journal will allow me to record those both visually and in written form.
3. Art. Of course, you can use these journals as a kind of sketchbook. Now, if you only use your books for artwork (and no wording), that would make it a true artist’s sketchbook. However, if you write a little about the type of artwork you are creating or the techniques you’ve used on the page, you can explore your impressions of the different art media you are trying in your book.
4. Memory-keeping. This is a bit like scrapbooking. In a memory-keeping journal, you would write down (on a regular basis), your memories of the day’s events. You can include photographs or other memorabilia to go along with your written entry.

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5. Travel. As I explained above, this was the first type of creative journaling I tried. I have a small, portable photo printer that prints pictures on sticker paper (see supply list below), so I can easily add them to my notebook. I travel with colored pens, markers, and a glue stick. The only other things that go in the journal are our written memories and any paper items we find on our travels (tickets, restaurant labels, national park stamps, etc.).

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6. Recipes. This is my latest project. There are so many cool journals and planners out there, and one in particular caught my eye for its simplicity. The Daily Planner by JM Planning Essentials, is a beautiful, undated daily planner. Because it only has a column of check off boxes and another column of lines, it seemed like the perfect place to write down our family recipes. I bought 2 in her buy one, get one free sale, and have started to write recipes for each of my kids. When I finish filling up each book (with the same recipes, for the most part), each child will have a keepsake of all their favorite foods.
7. Theme. Another idea is to have a theme-based journal. You can write and decorate pages devoted to movies you watch with your family, theater performances you attend, sporting events you go to, or holidays.
8. Diary. This is the classic version of a journal- a book that chronicles your daily life. If I had the time to do this, I would, as I find daily journaling to be so helpful. To be able to journal and have time to include some artwork would make that journaling time even more enjoyable and meaningful. I have seen videos where folks take a notebook with a weekly spread and decorate it on a Sunday night so they have a pretty place to write out their thoughts for the week. The smaller daily entry space on a weekly spread would make the journaling part less daunting and more manageable.

9. Favorite Quotes. I’ve been keeping an inspirational quotations journal since college. I only wish I had thought to try some creative journaling in it. In the same way that you can find quotations in pretty memes and graphics on the internet, you can certainly write out a quote to go along with artwork in your journal. Many folks will use a favorite quote lettered in their creative journal and then add their own journal entry around it, using the quote subject as the inspiration.
10. Junk Journal. This is one of the coolest creative journals I’ve seen, and if I get around to making my own, I will definitely write a separate post about that process. Basically, a junk journal is homemade book made from random pieces of paper such as sheet music, postcards, parts of maps, pages from old books, or scrapbook paper. They are strung together and are a work of art on their own. Most folks add some papers or pages that will also allow for artwork and writing. There are a number of tutorials on YouTube on how to make your own junk journal.
11. Planner. A creative journal can be used as a planner when you write out your day’s plans in paragraph form and add some sort of decoration or embellishments. Some folks use a bullet journal to do this (usually a dot-grid A5 journal) or will use a thin, traveler’s notebook. This is particularly popular for those who are using an alternative form of goal-setting and planning, called the “scripting method.” See the Planner Perfect website for examples.
12. Dreams and goals. Creative journaling is particular well-suited to exploring your dreams and desires. In this way, it can be like a vision board that spans several pages rather than living on a bulletin board or poster. Another nice thing about creative journaling in this way is that the book evolves with you. As you cross off goals, you can add new visuals to the pages of your journal. You may choose to dedicate one page per goal or dream. If you are working on a particular goal that month, you can carry the journal with you or leave it on your desk open to that goal’s page.

Recommended Supplies for Creative Journaling

There is no right or wrong way to engage in creative journaling. However, you will probably want to use some crafting and art supplies so that your writing and artwork are preserved in the way you envisioned it.

Notebooks and Journals

Paper is the most important consideration when you are planning your creative journal. If you only plan to use a glue stick and add a few embellishments or photos to your page along with some writing (using a gel or ball-point pens), regular paper (like in my travel notebook) should be fine. However, if you want to use watercolor, fountain pens, or alcohol markers, you may want to consider the following:

Watercolor sketchbooks– even though these are used primarily to create watercolor paintings, these spiral and book-bound notebooks will allow you to use watercolor, acrylic, and sometimes oil pastels.

This one is book-bound.

This is a spiral bound watercolor notebook that I’ve used in the past:

Tomoe river paper– I’m obsessed with this thin, Japanese paper, which is known for its ability to take fountain pens, brush pens, and watercolor. Although the paper crinkles when wet, it will not bleed through. Once the notebook is dry and shut, some of the crinkle straightens itself out.

For a Traveler’s notebook that can handle watercolor and fountain pen, try the notebooks by JM Planning Essentials.

Bullet journals. Some bullet journals are also known to have paper that stands up to some moisture. This one is used by a lot of people just for this purpose:

I currently use this Stalogy notebook, which also has thin paper that can handle wet media:

Many people use a Traveler’s Notebook system to keep their creative journals. I discussed how to use one of these notebooks as a holiday planner. However, I also use a Traveler’s notebook for my current creative journaling notebooks. I like the standard size as it is thin and small, which means less pressure to fill it up with art or words. Here are some affordable supplies you can try to see if this notebook system works for you:

Midori notebooks are also known to handle watercolor and other wet media well:

This one has a weekly spread that lends itself to decorating once a week (primarily on the right side of the page) while writing down daily journal entries in a small space allotted for each day (on the left side of the page).

Traveler’s Notebook covers can run you more than $100 dollars, but if you are only going to use it to store your creative journals, I recommend getting one of the pretty (but less pricey) covers on Amazon. Here is one my daughter recently got to try creative journaling, which is like mine except in purple (it comes with three inserts, a pen, and other accessories):

Here’s a simpler version, which also comes with accessories:

Stamps and Stamp Pads

There are a lot of ways people use stamps in their creative journals. I prefer getting clear blocks to go with sets of replaceable cling stamp sets. They allow you to see exactly where you are stamping. Ones like these also have a grid to make sure your stamp is straight and aligned:

I like to use natural elements in my creative journaling spreads. This is a particularly lovely stamp set I purchased recently for my creative journaling, which also happened to be a great value:

In order to age your paper and give it a vintage look, try distress ink pads. I use them for both distressing my pages and with my stamps. They have lovely muted colors that you can even press onto a plastic surface and then add water to use like watercolor paint!

In order to stamp an image and color or paint it in later, you need a waterproof ink pad. This one works well:

A pretty date stamp is a fun way to mark the day, month, and year you’ve created your entry. Here is one that has a biblical theme but can be used in any journal:

Die cuts, Decorative Paper, and Stickers

Many creative journalers give their layouts a vintage feel using die cuts and stickers. A great key word for finding these sorts of embellishments is “ephemera.” These are ones I recently got to embellish my pages:

This is a mixed bag of vintage elements I’m currently using:

These papers are double-sided maps (color map on one side and vintage sepia on the other) that can be torn into strips. I think they’ll be fun to use in my  travel journal:

To add texture to my page, I love mulberry paper. Getting a collection of scraps like this makes it easy to decorate your pages and add variety to your journal:

I have these vellum stickers leftover from a school project my son did. I plan to use them in a journaling spread later this month:

Supplies for Photo Journaling

For my travel journal (and any memory keeping journal), I highly recommend investing in the Cannon Ivy photo printer. We take this little portable device on every trip. It creates perfectly small photos that easily stick in your journal:

The Cannon Ivy printers use ZINK photo paper. I try to keep some on hand when we travel.

There are so many ways to get creative with your journal. Use washi tape to add journaling cards for a small flap that can hold additional words. I’ve also seen people use pop-up book elements in their pages.

Using everyday items can also add variety to your journal. Magazine cuttings, doilies, pretty envelopes, wrapping paper, or bits of string or twine can make the page stand out.

I’ve even seen folks use really pretty embellishments that you might find in cardmaking such as dried flowers, quilling, or vellum elements.

This is such a relaxing and rewarding way to journal. I hope these ideas inspire you to give it a try. Do you do some form of creative journaling? Share your ideas in the comments below!

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**Image credits-vintage background on featured image, Ephemera collage, journal with fresh flowers in graphic, and image of craft supplies found on Pixabay.