31 Creative Ways to Use a Sketchbook as a Visual Journal

The name’s journaling, visual journaling. And it’s about to shake up your entire world!

Journaling is a practice that almost everybody has tried at least once. However, we know that these personal writing projects usually end with someone falling off the bandwagon — oops.

Guilty as charged! How are we supposed to keep writing boring sentences about our lives over and over? 

Enter the visual journal, an amazing new idea that we probably should’ve thought about sooner. Unlike a blank notebook, daily calendar, or diary, the visual journal converts an empty sketchbook into an incredible medium for discovery, recovery, and exploration.

As a mixed media project, the elements of your new visual journal can range from old ticket stubs to photographs to pieces of string or fabric. If you’re the artistic type, you can even draw or paint pictures of memories you want to keep. And let’s not forget about those A-listers! Keep a detailed list of your to-dos, tasks, and ongoing projects, all from the same journal.

The concept behind making a visual journal sounds great, but how do you get started building one the way you want? Answer: some creativity!

There are about 31 days in the longest months of the year, which means you will have just about that many sketchbook pages to use up (give or take). Use the following 31 creative tips for making a visual journal to help compliment your efforts every single day of the month!

Turning A Sketchbook Into A Visual Journal — 31 Engaging Design Tricks

You may not be able to (or even want to) include each of these design tricks in your personal visual journal. Just make sure that you are trying out anything that interests you. You’ll never know what direction it can take you in!

1. Use watercolors to enhance headers.

2. Implement different colors to emphasize different emotions.

3. Fold pages to use as ‘pop out’ edges.

4. Turn entries into a ‘scratch off’ for ‘future you’ to discover. 

5. Use interesting media for backdrops, including old maps, newspapers, or business cards.

6. Emphasize important dates with something different — glitter, special colors, or pens.

7. Try using sketchbooks with graph paper rather than blank paper for a unique look – and whatever route you take, prioritize sketchbooks made of post-consumer paper, for a lighter burden on the environment.

8. Add decoration to your pages ahead of time, getting the creative juices flowing.

9. Record the time you finished your entry in a different font each time.

10. Experiment with using full two pages for an extra special journaling day.

11. Leave a little white space in your entries. Let the eye be drawn to a single element.

12. Convey your emotions through small, 10 minute sketches.

13. Write the names of important things, people, or places you saw that day.

14. Use paper mache glue to create a collage of found paper.

15. Reinforce the cover of your sketchbook with cardboard or another heavy material. Decorate this well!

16. Experiment with macro-micro drawing. Sketch tiny things on a large scale, and large things on a small scale.

17. Let thick oil paint dry in interesting shapes, adding some texture to your pages.

18. Add additional texture to your visual journal by gluing unique items to the page.

19. Leave something for ‘future you’ to find. A little note, a photograph, or even a $10 bill can be a sweet surprise.

20. Instead of writing words, cut out letters from magazines, letters, and recycled books for a unique font all your own.

21. Use a lightbox to sketch out photos of important events or circumstances.

22. Glue a small plastic bag to the page. Add some bits and bobs that enhance the context and flavor of your journal.

By the way, looking for journals? <- check out these travel sketchbooks that will be perfect for the occasion!

23. Challenge yourself to use only a single medium on one page. Markers, pencils, watercolors — the choice is yours.

24. Use a set of several pages to tell a 3 act story. Explain the context, detail the rising action, then provide a solution.

25. Sketch out the events of the day — without lifting your pencil from the page.

26. Try putting together a page that is in black and white only.

27. Distress, tear, or create holes in pages to add dimension and depth. Adding some light paper burns may also be possible.

28. Create letters out of objects, people, or animals, gluing them together to create a story.

29. Add some scents to your pages — even scratch and sniff!

30. Journal about a specific situation. Draw a line down the middle. Present the subject from two different perspectives.

31. Cap off the month with a compilation page of your favorite memories.

When Do You Get Started?

As a wise man once said, ‘a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.’ If you want to take your blank sketchbook into the next level through visual journaling, the best time to start would be right now. Good luck!

Author’s BIO: Lori Wade is a journalist & content writer from Louisville, who has experience in small editions. She enjoys creating news and conceptual articles about efficiency and productivity in life. You can find her on LinkedIn. Hope you appreciate Lori’s useful insights!