Creative Journaling

I've been journaling since I was in college, actually I think even as early as high school.  I love buying cute notebooks and I write my diary using different colored pens.  There was actually a point in time when I went into depression and thanks to our college guidance counselor, she suggested journaling as a way for one to get out of depression.  I also had a dream journal. During that time wherein I would write what happened in my dream and would interpret them.

Last year, I came across "creative journaling" wherein people were adding drawings, paints, watercolor into their journals.  Then there was also kawaii journaling wherein you add cute or "kawaii" stuffs into your journal such as stickers, papers, postcards, stamps etc.  It's like scrapbooking minus the rules and regulations of layout.  I was hesitant at first because there were these doubts such as: not artistic enough, I can't draw, it's tedious, it's expensive and do I have the time? etc, etc, etc....

Then I said, "The heck! Why not just try it on some extra notebook I have and check if it will work on me.

It may seem intimidating because if you see these journals in the internet, they were "AMAZING!!" But what's wonderful with this is, it's your personal journal, whatever makes you happy, there are no rules, you just release your creativity in whatever way you want.

So how to get started?

Materials you will need are:

• Notebook - there are different types:
• lined
  
• dotted
  
• blank
  
• grid 

• Pens, Highlighters
• Stickers, Post-it Notes, Washi Tape

So what to write about?

Just write your heart away.  You can start with writing what happened to you that day for starters.

How to put/design?

It doesn't matter if you put all the stickers first or you put them while you are writing.  I do a little bit of both.  I started with writing then placing stickers as I go along.

Where to buy stickers?

I bought mine in National Bookstore, The Common Room, Miniso and most of the time through Shopee.

What pens?

I use M&G pens (only Php 9.00!!!), Muji pens, Pilot pens

What if I make a mistake?

You can use correction tape or just cover it with a sticker and no one will ever suspect it.

Below are just some examples of from my own journal.

This is the journal I'm using right now, it's a soft-bound notebook I got years before (bought out of impulse).  This has blank pages, and I think I bought this for Php 100+.

I'm the type who doesn't have any talent in calligraphy, so I just buy stickers and washi tapes with calligraphy in it, and just stick it in the notebook.  It gives you that aesthetic feel of calligraphy in your journal page.

Til next time 😚.  Happy journaling!