Put a finger down if you've ever stood in the journal aisle of a store, picked something up, put it back down, and walked away feeling like you weren’t sure what would work for you.
The terms creative journaling, junk journaling, art journaling, etc., mean similar things, and they all have a bit of an image problem. They can conjure elaborate, gallery-worthy spreads on Instagram, or the feeling that you'd need to take a class before you even uncapped a marker. In reality, that version of it is only one tiny corner of the whole picture.
I believe that creative journaling is for anyone who wants to show up on a page, and can take any form that person wants. No training or special supplies are required. And the finished product does not need to impress anyone. It is one of the most personal practices a person can have, and it belongs entirely to the maker.
So, What Actually Is Creative Journaling?
Creative journaling is a personal practice that combines writing, visual and artistic expression, and creative play. All in one place, usually on paper.
There are no rules about format. You might fill a page with handwritten thoughts and then paste in a magazine clipping that somehow says the rest. You might paint a background, write nothing, and call it done. You might make a list of things you're grateful for, then draw tiny stars next to each one. All of it counts.
The word 'creative' means that you bring yourself to the page in a way that feels expressive. That's it. That's the whole bar.
How Is It Different From a Regular Journal or Diary?
A regular journal or diary is often text-only: a record of your day, your feelings, your ideas. That version is wonderful and has its own power.
Creative journaling opens up the format. It invites color, texture, image, and collage into the conversation alongside your words. The visual elements are part of how you process and express, just as much as the writing is. Sometimes a torn piece of tissue paper communicates something your pen can't.
Think of it as giving your inner world more tools to work with.
What Do People Actually Do in a Creative Journal?
Write. Starting with an idea, a prompt, a memory, a phrase or even a single word to express something.
Draw, paint, stamp and doodle. Using art techniques to add color and visuals to the page.
Repurpose Junk. Including things that speak to them from their existing environment, such as a patterned napkin, a cutout from a box, a scrap of newspaper, a wrapper from something beautiful.
Showcase supplies. Adding to the look and feel of the page with store-bought paper, cards, washi tape, stickers, ephemera, etc.
Keep memories. Adding in photos, ticket stubs, dried flowers, handwritten notes, etc., to record specific moments. People often include items they’ve acquired when or where the memory was made.
Stay organized. Keeping tasks, tracking, calendars, lists, or other things that they’d use to stay organized.
Each of these individually, together, and in any combination are more than legitimate. In my opinion, the only “right” way to journal creatively is the way that makes you want to keep going.
Why Do Women Love It?
There's a reason creative journaling keeps finding its way back to women, and it has nothing to do with craft trends.
It's a way to nurture a space that's entirely yours. No performance, no audience, no rules, and no correct answer. In a life full of obligations, decisions made for other people, and a constant low-grade pressure to be productive, a creative journal is the rare place where nothing is required of you except showing up.
It also does something quietly powerful. It gives your inner life a place to land. Processing hard feelings. Celebrating small ones. Remembering who you were at a particular moment in time. And when you look back at a filled journal, messy, layered, completely yours, there is a particular kind of pride in that. Evidence that your inner life is rich and worth capturing.
What Do You Actually Need to Get Started?
Trust me, you need less than you think. If you are just starting out, here’s what I’d grab:
A notebook or journal. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. Some women prefer blank pages and some prefer lined. Some prefer watercolor or repurposed paper. Start with what you have.
Something to make marks with. A ballpoint pen, a few markers, some colored pencils. That's plenty.
Something to stick. A glue stick and an old magazine, wrapping paper scraps, or printed images you love.
That's it. You can build from there, and you probably will, because that's part of the joy. The bar for entry is low, and the practice rewards consistency far more than expensive supplies.
At Hola Paperie, this is exactly what we're built around.
We curate goods and inspiration for women who want to show up on the page. Our shop, our membership, our events are all designed to make creative journaling feel accessible, joyful, and deeply worth your time.
You don't need to know what you're doing. You don't need a finished vision. You just need a little space, a little permission, and maybe a glue stick.
Come make something beautiful.
P.S., Want to try it with us? Join The Hola Society or come to an event. No experience needed.
