As a person who strongly believes creativity in journaling is essential, I always try to experiment with new ways of expressing my thoughts and ideas. That’s why I did this post on 110 different types of journals you could have. However, I also often ask myself: How can I make my journal more interesting? How to make it more creative?
Having a creative nuance to journaling would actually get me to write more often and express my feelings in more than one way.
Why is Creativity So Important?
Creativity keeps your mind active and engaged with the world around you. It is connected to curiosity, exploration, and discovering new ideas and experiences.
You want to poke your creativity every day, so you stay inspired and enjoy life more. It helps you solve troubles easier and see a problem as an opportunity instead of an obstacle.
When you are creative, it is easier to express yourself fully and share positive emotions with others. Simply put, creativity is painting happiness from the inside out and adding shapes and colors that make life vivid and beautiful.
Why would you need to make your journal more creative?
Of course, writing in your journal is the essential part, and nothing could replace that. Yet, being creative and having fun while journaling is what could make you stick to the process at first. Creativity turns journaling into a habit.
I’ve experimented with journaling in many ways, yet I don’t consider myself creative. I cannot draw, sketch or paint. I rarely have originality when putting together creative pieces. Yet, I never miss the chance to tickle the creative part of my brain and put it to use.
How To Make Your Journal Creative
Today, I share with you 15 ways to make your journal more creative. Please, note that this post isn’t about creating a creativity journal. Instead, it shows you ways to add creativity to your journaling, I still emphasize the writing, but I offer you 15 ways to make it more fun and engaging.
1. Doodle
Doodling is so easy and requires no additional tools; you could do it with your pen. Doodling on the sides of the page or between the text is a great way to break the huge writing blocks without putting too much effort and gluing stuff.
See the short video below for some cute and easy doodling ideas for beginners.
2. Paint
Whether you can paint masterpieces or just watercolor the page’s background before writing on it, using a mix of different colors could actually add a huge dose of creativity to your writing journal. See below a short video on some very easy watercolor tricks that will fit in your journal great (and you might not even need watercolor paint for it).
3. Stickers
I love using stickers because I cannot paint or draw (or at least I haven’t tried in 20 years or so). Stickers are those beautiful tiny pieces of sticky paper that someone else did for me, and I can just choose where to place them. I usually order my stickers from Etsy or AliExpress, but you could even check Amazon for some awesome options.
4. Upcycle Paper
This is one of my favorite things to do. Every time I see the paper on the horizon, I immediately think of how I could use it. Here are the things I never throw away:
- Cute tags from new clothes – I just attach them to pages with a paperclip or a stapler
- The paper that’s inside the box of new shoes – I glue it to the journal page and then write on top of it (if it’s not patterned) or I glue it, paint with white on top of it and then write.
- Boxes from cereals, cookies and so on – they usually have cute images I might repurpose later on
- Any craft or wrapping paper
5. Use Colorful Pens
That isn’t a surprise for you, but it deserves its own spot on this list. Writing with different colors in your journal will make it fun to look at, and you might not even do anything else to break the page. It’s easy, eye-pleasing, and smart as you could choose different colors for different topics you write or just play with various color palettes.
6. Sketch
Of course, if you are good at it, just sketch in your journal. It goes great with travel journaling, but it’s an excellent idea for your bullet journal too.
7. Stick Newspapers/Book Pages
Another technique I love is ripping off newspaper pages and gluing them in the corners of the journal. The same goes for old book pages. I know not everyone approves the usage of old book pages, but I believe it’s another way to honor the book instead of forgetting it in the garage and letting it get moldy and completely useless.
8. Using Washi Tapes
Just as it is with stickers, washi tapes are that sticky colorful pieces of goodness that turn a boring page into an eye-pleasing piece of art. Stick it to the sides of the page, and you’ve got your page frame. Use it in between the paragraphs or simply fill every blank space on the page. There aren’t any rules to how you use them.
Washi Tape Suggestion For You
9. Cut Words from Newspapers and Books
If ripping off the pages of the books and the newspapers isn’t your thing, this one might be. Cut off words from books and newspapers and create your own sentences or just use them as a decorative accent to the page. A great way to add more positivity to your journaling is to stick big positive words on the page. Why not searching for a “word of the day” and use it as a headline? Your options are unlimited.
10. Add Quotes
In my Sunday’s Read emails (you could sign up for them by clicking here), I always send a positive quote of the day. Why not doing something similar in your journal too. Start or end your journaling session with a quote that matches the mood or encourages you to change your point of view?
Need some inspiring ideas? Check our endless quote library here.
11. Use Coffee or Tea to Stain Your Pages
Another favorite technique of mine. I love old-looking stained pages, and I use coffee or black tea to do that. It makes the pages crinkle and gives them that vintage look you’ve seen in the old movies. You could even use your cup of coffee to create simple patterns on the page. All you need to do is to make sure you leave it to dry properly before writing on it.
12. Caligraphy
One of my goals for 2021 is to learn calligraphy. I’ve already tried it a few times, but I lack the discipline (and maybe the time) to sit and learn how to do it. However, since I’ve got a subscription with Skillshare, I watch some great calligraphy classes, and I must say it’s way easier than trying to figure it out on my own.
Writing your quotes with beautiful fonts or simple titles of your journaling sessions, your signature at the end of the pages (if you have such), or even random words (wherever possible), is a great way to add that pinch of creativity to your journaling.
13. Create Hidden Pockets
How to make your journal creative? Add pockets and hide your letters and journaling pages inside. All you need are some extra pieces of paper or envelopes, and some glue or tape. It makes the pages a bit bulky, adds texture to the journal, and it’s so fun. On top of that, you could almost double the usage of the journal as now you have pockets that fit more than one page for journaling. See the video below with some options to add pockets to your journal.
14. Choose a Color Theme
Choosing a color theme or palette for your journal pages is creativity itself. You could either paint the pages, select the right washi tapes or use specific color pens, or maybe all at once. It all adds up to give you a themed creative journal experience.
15 Mix and Match
Mix and match each one of these ways to make your journal more creative. Combine watercolor with calligraphy and upcycled paper. Spill some coffee on the pages, and then add aesthetic washi tapes. Choose your perfect combination, experiment, and don’t forget that the goal is to have fun and journal as often as you can.
Conclusion on How To Make Your Journal Creative
Creativity, in a nutshell, is the free expression of emotion and feelings in a way that you understand. It doesn’t obey any rules, and it shouldn’t. It is your choice how you approach your journaling and the extend of your combinations. You may be just fine with writing and add nothing else. On the other hand, you might be mixing and matching more than you actually write. It is still journaling, and it is still stress-relieving and enriching.
How to Make Your Journal Creative
Blogger, dreamer, procrastinator, and lover of everything soul-touching. My mission is to make you laugh, provoke your thoughts, light up your day and inspire you to fall in love with life and yourself.