Have you tried art journaling?

Have you tried art journaling? It's also known as mixed media journaling or most commonly, junk journaling.

I've yet to give it a try (though I'm thinking about doing so this year); however, several Figg Street Co. customers have mentioned their enjoyment of this activity. It's a more visual way to journal. Some may say it's a version of scrapbooking. Others may call it a book that is made by hand. It varies by person, but typically includes a mix of materials, including found and recycled items.

The Inside

What goes inside? Anything you want and can fit. Some examples include:

paper
fabric
envelopes
photos
nail polish
washi tape
stickers
old book pages
pressed flowers & foliage
paper clips
tickets
magazine cutouts
yarn or string
ribbons

The Outside

You can use an existing journal or sketchbook to begin. Even an unused agenda or diary will do. Or, you can make your own book to fill, using the paper and materials of your choice. Some people enjoy learning about bookbinding and try this out. Others prefer something simpler, just as using elastic bands to hold pages together. There are several approaches and examples online.

Approaches

While some see making a junk journal as a way to make use of items already on hand, others begin afresh by choosing a particular theme or topic. For example, a notebook may be made to contain items related to travel, such as post cards, receipts, transportation tickets, museum passes, holiday photos, etc. Another may be devoted to gratitude and include reminders from pleasant days and experiences. Journals may be experimental in nature and explore possible colour combinations, motifs or themes.

When we use mixed media instead of just words on paper, we enrich the process and add another dimension to journaling. It becomes a more visual way to create mementoes of one's day or life. Each book can be as personal as you like. As structured or carefree as you choose. The collage-like effect can be a play on prints and designs, and also texture. Introducing pressed flowers, fabric and ribbons, for example, will make for a more tactile experience.

Layering

The use of pressed foliage, fabric and ribbons not only adds texture but creates a layer upon the page. Layering in a junk journal can be expressive and less restrained than in other forms of scrapbooking. You may choose to glue or staple or tape in a piece of paper or image, then write or draw a quote or poem upon it. Or layer it with stickers, washi tape or nail polish. Add watercolour sketches of your own or a small pressed flower. Use crayons, markers or have fun with fountain pen and calligraphy inks. Cover an image with lace to create a peek-a-boo effect or a vintage romantic mood.

Techniques

Add some more embellishments and special effects:

pop-up images & pages
decoupage
coffee or tea dyed paper
cutout windows
make a pocket from an envelope or by folding sheets of paper

Benefits

Of course, such an activity results in a beautiful journal. Aside from this, there are many advantages to junk journaling. For one, it's a wonderful creative exercise. Trying something new and the making of a unique journal each time allows us to use our imagination and come up with new ideas. Using existing materials also allows us to recycle and repurpose items, as well as create visual reminders and memories.

If you're someone who enjoys personal development, you may know that Martha Beck just released her new book, Beyond Anxiety, a week or two ago. In it, she discusses how creative activity quells anxiety. Other research has shown the mental and physiological health benefits of learning a new activity, especially when it involves the use of our hands. There's also the reward of having fun and learning the importance of accepting imperfections. Since each journal is personal, there will be specific insights each one of us is bound to have. You may discover more about what you like or want in life.