Journaling for Beginners: Where Do I Even Begin?
If you've ever sat down with your die cuts and stared at a blank page, wondering where to begin, you're in good company. It's the question I hear most in my Journaling 101 classes, and I completely understand it.
Here's the good news: journaling isn't new, and there's no wrong way to do it. People have been keeping books like this for centuries. In the 1300s, Italians kept commonplace books filled with recipes, quotes, and ideas. Families recorded births and marriages in their Bibles. Scrapbooks took off in the 1800s, and junk journals grew out of that same collage tradition. Every one of these books was made by someone who wanted to keep a piece of their life.
A journal can take many forms. A junk journal is a layered, collage-style book built from patterned papers and found pieces. An art journal puts color and texture first. A scrapbook tells the story of an event, a person, or a season. A diary is a private record of daily life, and a planner looks ahead to goals and plans. Most journals end up as a mix of several styles, and that's exactly how it should be.
The best part for us as card makers is that you already have the skills. The papers, dies, stamps, and layering you use for cards carry right over. Even cutting pages from leftover paper or sorting embellishments that coordinate counts as time spent on your journal.
Start Here: The Journaling 101 Workbook
When you're ready for real guidance, our Journaling 101 Workbook walks you through the basics, from finding your why to setting up your binder. It's the full roadmap for starting your journal with prompts and ways to organize your journal.
Get your copy of the Journaling 101 Workbook here.
Try It Free: Page Templates and Journaling Prompts
Not ready to buy yet? Download my free page layout templates and journaling prompts, then make one page this week. It's the easiest way to see how journaling feels at your craft table.
Download the free templates: access here
Learn With Us: Journaling 101 and Journaling 102
Journaling 101 covers the foundations: what your book is for, how to organize it, and how to make your first pages without the pressure of perfection. The upcoming Journaling 102 workshop builds on that and goes deeper into the Keepsake Studio curriculum. Visit our calendar for dates.
Keep Journaling With Us: The 2027 Keepsake Society
If you want a steady rhythm and a community to share it with, the 2027 Keepsake Society is for you. Registration is open now, and we'll journal together all year long. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/sSvsUFLiZd5LMT3e6
Try It Now: Roll the Dice
Stuck on what to make first? Let the dice decide. There are six page types in the Journaling 101 guide: reference, photo and memory, art, collage, written, and planner. Roll two dice, then combine the two page types you land on. If you roll the same number twice, roll again or make a page that's all one type. Roll a 2 and a 3, for example, and you get a photo and memory page with an art background. It's a fun way to get past the blank page and see how the styles blend together.
How We Help You Use the Products
Sometimes the best way to understand a product is to see it in action. The page dies are cut to fit Spellbinders Keepsake Studio binder, so your pages line up without fiddling. If you use a different binder brand, though, the pages may not fit as neatly, so check before you buy. You can watch Esther Glas introduce the line here.
A few samples from my own books and classes showing how the Keepsake Studio dies, stamps, and embellishments come together on real pages. We even converted card making kits into a journal page.
Andrea's tip: Don't wait for the perfect paper. If you hold out for paper that matches a photo, you may never finish or even start. Cut your base pages in colors you like, and let the story come later.
Some weeks you'll finish a full page. Other weeks you'll only cut base pages or sort embellishments. Both count. What matters is that you keep coming back to the table.
Ready to start? Pick one template from above and try it this week. Not sure how to organize, make the first page, and see where your creativity takes you. Sometimes, you just need to start. Once you get your first page completed, come back and tell me what you made. I love seeing where your books take you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Spellbinders Keepsake Studio supplies to start journaling?
No. Any paper, dies, stamps, and embellishments you already have will work. Keepsake Studio makes the process easier because the dies are cut to fit its binder, but you can start with what's in your stash.
Do I need a special journal or binder?
Not to begin. Many people start with a simple notebook or a binder they already own. If you're using Keepsake Studio, the pages are designed for its binder, and a different binder brand may not line up as neatly.
Do my pages have to be perfect?
No. Some weeks you'll finish a full page, and other weeks you'll only cut base pages or sort embellishments. Both count. The goal is to keep coming back to the table.
What's the difference between a junk journal and a scrapbook?
A junk journal is a layered, collage-style book built from patterned papers, ephemera, and found pieces. A scrapbook is built around photos and memorabilia that tell the story of an event, a person, or a season. Many journals mix both styles.
Where should I start if I'm overwhelmed?
Download the free page layout templates and try one page this week. When you want a full roadmap, the Journaling 101 Workbook walks you through finding your why, choosing your page types, and setting up your binder.
What comes after Journaling 101?
Journaling 102 goes deeper into the Keepsake Studio curriculum, and the 2027 Keepsake Society is a way to journal with a community all year. You can register here: https://forms.gle/sSvsUFLiZd5LMT3e6