I started art journaling over 30 years ago. When I first started art journaling, I was working from whatever I had on hand (mostly crayons and basic markers, some magazines and clear packing tape. But as my own creative practice has grown, and as I have taken on more teaching and creative mentoring, my tool chest has grown too. Experimentation is part of the process, and so I am always on the lookout for new (to me) materials and tools to play with at my art table. I get asked regularly about what tools and supplies you need to set up your creative space. The truth is you need very little, and can probably cobble together enough to get going from a number of things you have laying around your home just like I did in the beginning. When I returned to art journaling as an adult, I did not have a space to leave my supplies out and instead created a couple of small boxes that held my supplies that I could pull out whenever I wanted to play. Many years later, I am fortunate to have a space I can keep most of my supplies out in the open. I have learned over the years that the more accessible your supplies are, the more likely you’ll be to use them. Whatever you choose to add to your own creative tool chest, keep this in mind. And remember, that while it’s tempting to blame our frustrated creative efforts on our lack of supplies, creativity by its very nature is flexible. It’s inventive. It can work with what’s around. Add a few things to your tool kit if you like, but don’t feel like you need to spend thousands of dollars to art journal.

If you’re not sure where to begin, or just need some fresh tools to play with, click the button below to download my list of supplies.