One of my favorite past-times is letting my imagination run wild in my art journal. I have always enjoyed putting pen to paper and writing out my thoughts and feelings. I think that all forms of journaling are therapeutic, and as a more-than-slightly OCD, prone to anxiety, hyper-imaginative woman, all forms of therapy are welcome here! When I discovered art journaling, I knew that I had found a little slice of relaxation heaven for my restless, creative mind.

In this post, I want to share with you some of my essential tools for creating a beautiful art journal. The biggest rule to follow when starting your art journal is to remember that there are no rules! Your art journal can be anything that you want it to be! My 9-year-old stepdaughter Madison has glued golf tees, smeared pizza grease, stuffed brochures, and even applied make-up to her art journal. All forms of creative expression are welcome in our house!  Just a quick FYI for everyone–this article contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something by clicking one of the links, I will receive a small commission.  I promise there are only links to products that I use and LOVE!  🙂

Some essential tools that will help you get started:

• A journal– This item is pretty obvious, and you can use any kind of notebook that you want.  Some things that work well include:  Moleskins, Sketchbooks, Composition books, and my personal favorite:  Smashbooks!  Smashbooks are these awesome, color and quote-filled books that are made especially for art journaling!  The one below is what I bought for myself and Madison.  It comes with a double-sided pen/gluestick combo, a mini journal, a cute little mini tablet, a cool band to hold your journal with (it has places for pens and markers!), and lots of other extras!  To get one for yourself, click the picture below:

• Scissors– A good pair of scissors is essential!  Just make sure you don’t run with them.
• Magazines, scrap paper, construction paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, toilet paper-  Well, you might not need that last item…but then again, I did say there are no rules when art journaling, right?!?
  
• Gluestick– Just a basic ole’ gluestick will do.  I like to use the ones with purple disappearing glue, so I make sure that I cover all the corners of whatever I am gluing down.  Nothing bugs me more than a corner without glue sticking up off of my page!

• Modpodge- If you aren’t familiar with ModPodge, you have not LIVED!  Modpodge is a decoupaging medium that comes in a variety of choices–matte, glossy, sparkly, etc.  It really gives your art journal some extra “oomph!”  It’s a great sealant and it also protects your pages so that they last for years to come.  Depending on your mood, you may want a sparkly finish, glossy finish, sparkly finish, matte finish, did I mention a sparkly finish?  I also appreciate that ModPodge is water-based and non-toxic, because it means that I don’t have to worry about the kiddos breathing in any harmful fumes when modpodging their artwork.  It’s a win-win!

• Pens, colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc.-  Anything to draw and doodle with.  Because in the world of art journaling, doodling reigns supreme. 🙂 While I use a variety of drawing tools, I am ABSOLUTELY in love with Sakura Gel Pens, and I recently splurged and bought myself an entire set of them.  Think doodling with neon gel, writing with glitter, and pretty much making any and everything you write on prettier and more sparkly!!  This is a product that I am behind 100% and I have taken to writing everything with hot pink/peacock green/gold glitter….you get the picture.  I notarize quite a few contracts for a local builder, and my husband had to reign me in when he caught me notarizing a contract with pink ink.  Oopsy!

• Bits and pieces of your life- Out of all of the essential tools need to get started art journaling, this one might be the most essential!  You can have all the crafts in the world, but what really makes your art journal yours are the movie tickets, pictures, napkin scraps, cards, and other memory snip-its that are so uniquely you!  I am kind of a hoarder of things of this nature, so I can always dig into a drawer, box, or old purse on any given day and come out with a memory snip-it to add to my journal.  I would suggest that you become a hoarder of these things too!  If not for anything except the smile on your face when you come across an old love note from your husband or comic-strip that your almost-teenager step-son drew when he was 7!  Aww…yes I am speaking from experience here.  <3

Well folks, that’s it for my essential list to get started art journaling.  Stay-tuned for my next post where I delve into my personal art journal and give you step-by-step instructions on how to make yours beautiful and unique!

Sending Creative Juices and Positive Energy your way,

Casey