Journaling for Beginners: How to Start and Keep Going

Tear a strip of 25mm or 30mm tape and apply it flat across the top of your page. This becomes your header area — write the date, week number or section title directly on the tape with a fine-tip pen. Press firmly from one end to the other to avoid air bubbles.

Apply a 10mm or 15mm strip along the left edge of the page, running from top to bottom. Add a matching strip on the right edge. This frames the writing area and makes the blank page feel like a designed space rather than an empty one.

Use a 5mm or 10mm strip applied horizontally to separate sections — for example, a to-do list at the top, notes in the middle and a habit tracker at the bottom. Tear the strip slightly shorter than the page width and leave a small gap on each side.

Tear a 2–3cm piece of tape and press it diagonally across one corner of the page or a photo — half on the page, half folded over the edge. Repeat on the opposite corner. This adds a finished, framed quality to any layout with minimal effort.

The most common beginner mistake is decorating too much before adding content. Apply tape to the edges and structural elements first, then leave at least half the page open for writing, photos, stickers or other content. The tape is the frame — the content is the picture.

Apply a 75mm strip across the top quarter of a scrapbook page. This creates a strong colour block that anchors the entire layout. Layer a 30mm strip in a coordinating pattern just below it. Mount photos and journaling in the remaining space.

Cut a piece of cardstock 2cm larger than your photo on all sides. Apply 25mm tape strips around the perimeter. Mount your photo centred on the mat — the tape becomes a visible decorative border when the mat is placed on the scrapbook page.

Tear strips of varying lengths from 5–6 different rolls. Layer them horizontally in a cluster — short pieces (5cm), medium (10cm) and longer (15cm) overlapping slightly. The variation in length and pattern creates a ribbon-like decorative band.

Use washi tape to mount flat items — tickets, receipts, postcards, dried flowers, small maps — directly onto scrapbook or journal pages. Apply a small piece of tape over each corner of the item like a photo corner. The tape holds the item while remaining visible as a decorative element.

Apply a 25mm strip of tape across the top of a weekly spread as a header banner. Write "Week of [date]" directly on the tape. Change the tape colour or pattern each week to create a visual rhythm across the planner as you flip through it.

Assign one tape roll to each category of task — work, personal, health, creative, appointments. Cut a 2cm piece and apply it at the start of each planner entry as a colour flag. You can write directly on the tape flag or leave it as a visual marker.

Print the IEEBEE free habit tracker template. Instead of colouring each completed cell with a marker, cut small squares of washi tape and press them into the cell. Assign one tape roll per habit — the finished tracker is a colourful, tactile monthly record.

Dedicate the first page of each month to a decorative cover — choose one theme set per month and build the composition using tape strips in different widths and lengths. Write the month name in the open space. Each month gets its own distinct visual identity.

When applying tape, press one end down first then smooth across to the other end. Starting in the middle creates bubbles and uneven edges that are hard to fix without lifting the tape entirely.

Hold a ruler firmly against the tape where you want to tear. Pull the tape upward against the ruler edge — this gives a much cleaner tear than tearing freehand.

The fastest route to a cohesive spread is to use only rolls from a single theme set. Every roll is designed to work together — so even if you combine widths and patterns freely, the result will look intentional rather than chaotic.

A spread with too much tape looks cluttered. Leave open space intentionally — a few well-placed strips on a mostly plain page reads as confident and designed. Tape should cover no more than 30–40% of any page.

If a strip isn't placed where you wanted it, peel slowly from one end at a low angle. Pulling straight up tears the paper. Test on the last page of a new notebook before working in the main pages.