The One Journaling Method That Actually Sticks (Bullet Journaling)
Your Life, Organized by Dots
I had tried to keep a journal a dozen times, but I always failed. The blank page was intimidating. Then I discovered the Bullet Journal method. It’s not about writing long paragraphs; it’s a system of rapid logging using different symbols (or “bullets”) for tasks, events, and notes. The flexibility was the key. My journal became my planner, my diary, and my sketchbook, all in one. Because it was a tool that adapted to my life, not the other way around, it was the first journaling habit I ever stuck with.
I Made a “Smash Book” Style Scrapbook From a Road Trip
The Art of Curated Chaos
After a road trip, I had a pile of ticket stubs, maps, and receipts that I didn’t want to throw away. A traditional scrapbook felt too formal. I decided to make a “smash book.” I took a simple notebook and just started gluing things in, with no rhyme or reason. I’d add a photo next to a gas station receipt. I’d write a quick memory over a coffee-stained napkin. The result was a chaotic, vibrant, and incredibly authentic memento of the trip that captured the feeling of the journey far better than a perfect photo album ever could.
How to Make Your Handwriting Look Amazing, Even If It’s Bad
The Faux Calligraphy Trick
I love the look of beautiful brush lettering in journals, but my handwriting is terrible. I learned the simple trick of “faux calligraphy.” I just write a word in my normal, messy cursive. Then, I go back and look at all the “downstrokes”—anywhere my pen was moving down the page. I simply draw a second line next to all those downstrokes and then fill in the space between them. It instantly creates the thick-and-thin look of real calligraphy, and it works with any handwriting style.
Stop Buying Expensive Stickers: How to Print Your Own
The Sticker Paper Secret
I was spending a fortune on cute stickers for my planner. I realized I could make my own for a fraction of the cost. I bought a pack of printable, matte sticker paper. I found images I liked online, arranged them on a single page in a document, and then just printed them out on my home inkjet printer. I could then cut them out and have a huge sheet of custom, high-quality stickers for the price of a single sheet of sticker paper.
The “Secret” to Creating Beautiful Layouts That Aren’t Cluttered
The Power of Negative Space
My scrapbook pages always looked messy and cluttered. I was trying to fill every inch of the page. I learned a key design principle: the power of white space (or “negative space”). I started being more intentional with my layouts. I would group my photos and embellishments into one or two clusters on the page, leaving large areas of the background paper completely empty. This breathing room made the pages look more professional, elegant, and actually drew more attention to the photos themselves.
I Used a Vintage Book to Create a Junk Journal
A New Story in an Old Volume
I found a beautiful but damaged vintage book at a thrift store. The story was unreadable, but the cover was gorgeous. I decided to turn it into a “junk journal.” I carefully removed the old pages. I then started sewing in my own collection of “junk”—pages from old magazines, security envelopes with cool patterns, tea-stained paper, and glassine bags. The old book cover became the foundation for a new, unique journal, giving it a second life as a place for my own stories and art.
How to Digitize Your Old Family Photos for Scrapbooking
Your Phone is a High-Quality Scanner
I had boxes of old family photos I wanted to use in my digital scrapbooking, but I didn’t have a scanner. I learned that the camera on my smartphone is more than good enough. I used an app like Google’s PhotoScan, which guides you to take multiple pictures of the photo from different angles. It then stitches them together, automatically removing glare and correcting the perspective. The result was a high-resolution, perfectly cropped digital copy of my old photo, ready to be used.
The Washi Tape Trick That Every Journaler Should Know
The Repositionable Page Marker
I use washi tape for decoration in my journal, but its best use is functional. Because washi tape has a low-tack adhesive, it’s completely repositionable. I use a small piece of it to create a “tab” on the edge of the page for my current week or month. It acts as a perfect, easy-to-move bookmark that helps me find my place instantly without damaging the pages. I also use it to temporarily tape in notes or reminders that I can move later.
I Started a “Commonplace Book” and It Changed How I Think
A Scrapbook for Your Brain
I was constantly coming across interesting quotes, ideas, and snippets of information, but I had nowhere to put them. I started a “commonplace book,” a centuries-old practice of keeping a single journal to collect knowledge. It’s not a diary; it’s a scrapbook for ideas. I would write down quotes from books, tape in interesting articles, and sketch out my own thoughts. Over time, this book became a physical manifestation of my own mind, a personalized encyclopedia of wisdom that I could always refer back to.
How to Art Journal Even If You Can’t Draw
The Collage and the Text
I wanted to start an art journal but was paralyzed by the fear that I “can’t draw.” I decided to approach it differently. My pages became collages. I would cut out interesting images and textures from magazines and glue them down to create a mood. Then, I would write over the collage, using words as a design element. I learned that an art journal isn’t about technical drawing skill; it’s about visual expression, and you can create powerful, beautiful pages with nothing more than a glue stick, some scissors, and a pen.