5 Creative Journaling Supplies You Actually Need

The goal is not to own every possible creative material. The goal is to have enough to place something on a page, respond to it, and keep going.

You only need a journal, scissors, glue, a pen, and one decorative material of your choice.

1. A Journal

Your journal gives everything else a place to happen. It does not need to be made specifically for art journaling or mixed media.

A sketchbook, notebook, composition book, altered book, or handmade journal can all work.

Choose something you feel comfortable using instead of something so precious that you are afraid to touch it.

When choosing a journal, consider:

• A size that feels comfortable to hold and store
• Pages that open easily for cutting and gluing
• A price that makes experimentation feel comfortable
• A cover you enjoy seeing and reaching for

Paper quality matters less than your willingness to use it. Thin paper may wrinkle or buckle, but those qualities can become part of the finished page.

This is the journal I like using. View it on Amazon (affiliate link) →

2. A Pair of Scissors

Scissors allow you to turn ordinary paper into creative journaling material.

Magazine pages, packaging, receipts, photographs, old book pages, and junk mail can all become part of a spread.

You do not need decorative scissors or several different sizes. A comfortable pair of everyday scissors is enough.

Precise cutting is optional. Uneven edges often make collage pages feel more relaxed, tactile, and handmade.

These are the scissors I like using. View them on Amazon (affiliate link) →

3. Glue

Glue turns loose scraps into a journal page. A basic glue stick is one of the easiest options for beginners.

Glue sticks are portable, inexpensive, and relatively mess-free. They work well for most lightweight paper, magazine images, and everyday ephemera.

Liquid glue can be useful for thicker paper or dimensional materials. Use a small amount so the page does not become overly wet.

You may eventually prefer a tape runner, craft glue, or matte medium. You do not need to decide that before beginning.

This is the glue I like using. View it on Amazon (affiliate link) →

4. A Pen

A pen allows you to add thoughts, captions, lists, lines, symbols, and marks to your pages.

Writing can be the main subject of a page or a small detail hidden between layers.

You do not need beautiful handwriting. Your natural handwriting gives the page something that could not have been added by anyone else.

You can use your pen to:

• Write about why you chose an image
• Add a date, title, or short caption
• Draw borders around pieces of paper
• Connect separate parts of the composition
• Create patterns, symbols, or repeated marks

A basic black pen is versatile, but any pen you enjoy using will work.

This is the pen I like using. View it on Amazon (affiliate link) →

5. One Decorative Material of Your Choice

The final supply is intentionally flexible. Choose one material that makes the process feel playful or visually interesting to you.

You do not need every decorative option. One material is enough to create repetition, contrast, color, or texture.

Your decorative material could be:

• Markers or colored pencils
• Washi tape
• Rubber stamps and an ink pad
• Stickers
• Paint or crayons
• Decorative paper

Pick the option you feel most curious about. Curiosity is more useful than choosing whatever appears most professional or popular.

This is one of my favorite decorative supplies. View it on Amazon (affiliate link) →

You Do Not Need to Buy Everything at Once

With a journal, scissors, glue, a pen, and one decorative material, you can already make hundreds of different pages.

You can cut apart packaging, collect paper from your day, write over images, make pockets, test color combinations, and arrange scraps into unexpected compositions.

More supplies will not automatically make the practice more creative. Sometimes fewer choices make it easier to notice new possibilities.

Let your collection grow in response to what you actually enjoy making—not what you think a creative journaler is supposed to own.

A Simple First-Page Exercise

Once you have your five supplies, use this small exercise to begin your first page:

1. Find one piece of paper or packaging that interests you.
2. Cut or tear it into a shape.
3. Glue it somewhere on the page.
4. Add one sentence, word, or handwritten mark.
5. Use your decorative material in at least two places.

The page does not need to communicate a profound idea. It only needs to give you something to respond to.

Begin with the five things you have. Your preferences, techniques, and supply collection can grow naturally from the pages you actually make.