Day 115: Magic Of Journaling
In many posts before and probably in many more to come, I have mentioned journaling. For me journaling has always been a way of processing what's on my mind and documenting important parts of live. However, journaling can be every bit as artistic and creative as any time of art. Here are a few things you can do to make journaling an art.
- Add decorative tape
Nothing is more satisfying on a page full of handwriting than a bright splash of color or design. Using tape made especially for such things as scrap-booking or mixed media can add just the right amount of decoration to any entry. Using tape can also help you carry a theme throughout a journal. Keeping the same tones or patterns can add a dash of continuity between covers, making journaling just a tiny bit aesthetic. You can find tape at any craft store and anywhere online.
- Use as many stickers as you would like
I love wandering the halls of Hobby Lobby looking at all their fun and decorative stickers. There is literally something for every mood, holiday, or vacation. There variety is endless which is a wonderful touch to add to any journal. Because there is a sticker for every occasion there is a sticker to add to every page to your journal. Never underestimate the power of a well placed sticker with just the right entry. You can find stickers practically anywhere and everywhere.
- Secure pressed flowers with a wax seal
If you are a romantic like me, pressed flowers and wax seals are something very close to your heart. There's something so beautifully old fashioned about such a simple touch. It reminds you that hundreds of years ago some long lost princess might have done something similar in her own journal. I would suggest pressing and drying the flower before you add it to your journal, however I have used fresh ones directly. You can find flowers all year, although it is easier in the spring and summer, and in the fall it can be fun to experiment with leaves instead. You can find wax seals online and in several stores around you, the set I have is from Barnes and Noble. If you would rather not spend the money on a wax seal tape works well for this decorative element.
- Keep the brochures, tickets, etc.
Instead of chucking the movie ticket in the trash or passing up the brochure for the museum your visiting, keep these little items for your journal. Whether you tape them down, sew them in, glue them on, or simply secure them with a paper clip, these little pieces of paper give great insight into your every day life. They add a certain amount of tangibility to the words you write down with them. No longer are the words just words and the memories just memories, you have actual proof that that event did happen. You can find these pieces of paper practically anywhere, just keep an eye out for them.
- Put it all together
Take all of the above things, including other things such as book pages, photographs, post cards, letters, etc., and put them together. Using a little bit of glue and a hint of experimenting you can create beautiful masterpieces with the little things from your life. These little things, called ephemera by those who participate in mixed media, add a touch of magic to any journal. You can even buy packs of ephemera from your local craft stores or online. Not every creation will turn out just how you wanted, but it can be fun to flip through a journal and see all the layouts of meaningful little slips of paper. They add visuals to your story in a creative and unique way. When laying out your page experiment with different placements and just go with it. You never know what you'll create.
I hope this will inspire you to create something beautiful in your journal. Adding visuals to your story can add another level of magic. It can be a fun and relaxing addition to an already calming process of writing out one's thoughts.
Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt
