8 inspirational art journal THEMES for junk journals & gluebooks

#junkjournal #gluebook #margaretemiller
Are you looking for some inspirational art journal themes for your projects? Welcome to a world of creative possibilities! In this video, I help you brainstorm inspirational themes and ideas for your junk journals and gluebooks. If you're seeking fresh inspiration for your next art journaling project, you've come to the right place.
Discover 8 captivating themes that will breathe new life into your journaling adventures. I explores themes inspired by colors, locations, unique styles, activities, digital kits, and holidays or seasons throughout the year. Each theme is a doorway to lots artistic exploration.
Whether you're a seasoned journaling enthusiast or just starting your creative journey, there's something here for everyone. Get ready to infuse your journals with creativity, depth, and personal flair as you embark on these inspiring themes.
Art journaling through a junk journal or gluebook means that you are crafting something uniquely your own. I hope you'll be inspired to bring your creations to life in the most imaginative and beautiful ways.
So let's dive into the world of art journaling with these 8 inspiring themes.
What other themes am I missing? Let me know in the comments. 👏🏼
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Notebooks in this video:
Unemployed Philosopher's Guild notebooks: amzn.to/3TEBtkb
My favorites:
assorted inkpads: amzn.to/3YLjv0S
my favorite set of washi tape: amzn.to/3E3angu
favorite brand of gluestick: amzn.to/3lvC62T
double-sided tape: amzn.to/3xcFH8G
Caran d'Ache water soluble crayons: amzn.to/3Yo6MSl
Faber-Castell Gelatos: amzn.to/3IjgkIK
Camera: amzn.to/455tIsn
light+stand: amzn.to/43NDPRx
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I'm Margarete Miller - a collage artist who loves to work with vintage ephemera and vintage inspired papers in my art. ❤️

[@sharonharris2979]

I think I also need to do a giant journal/ gluebook with the theme of schematics. I am drawn to things like maps, architectural drawings, floor plans, mechanical drawings, botanical drawings, flow charts, etc. I knew I liked these things, but it never occurred to me they were all kind of connected

[@MargareteMiller]

YES! I'm right there with you, Sharon. I love those kinds of illustrations. Great idea❣️

[@lu-ellenhafner4968]

I like to always bring back a stone from whatever place I visit, seems like a glue book is the same idea , a souvenir

[@MargareteMiller]

What a lovely tradition you have! 💙

[@suzanneboily5224]

YOUR GRANDMA WAS SO PRETTY SHE LOOKS LIKE YOU YOUR ALSO BEAUTIFUL

[@Rose_is_a_Rose_]

❤Theme: remembrance book❤ My mom used to collect, well hoard, anything-paper… We had to clear out the house and it all went.. If i had known about the glue book hobby, i Would have saved a lot to create a book out of all her favourite interests… She loved all kinds of pictures and papers so much. I truly regret throwing away so much. Even though i had no other choice at the time, as it was SO much.

[@MargareteMiller]

It's ok. Find papers that you like or things that you shared in common with your mom. That will work, too.

[@caroltanzi29]

Margarete: this is a good video for many people. There are so many obvious themes out there that I’m sure crafters have thought of. However, reminding your viewers just to have some quiet time and think what gives them pleasure is an important way to tap into their creative being. And having a decorative box to put bits of paper in is always a handy thing to have. Carol from California

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks, Carol, for your supportive comments. Yes, it's knowledge that most of us have, but it's good to be reminded 😉💙👍🏻

[@irynaborisova2604]

I agree.

[@cherirose6660]

Margarete, I just found your channel! Been a mixed-media artist all my life, soon to be 75 yrs. old. Beginning to journal now for myself for the first time. I just love your calming voice and wonderful instructions, so professional. Thank you for sharing your gifts❤❤❤been collecting things for many, many years….lol. Now the fun begins❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much for the kind comments. 💙 I love your enthusiasm and your creative spirit. I’m so glad you will be using some of your saved materials you’ve been collecting 👏🏼

[@suzanneboily5224]

LOVE ALL YOUR WORKS THANKS FOR SHARING

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks for stopping by 💙

[@luannfischer747]

I appreciated your comment about ‘how’ to store your curated pieces until it’s time to work on them. I use both of your methods and I also use page protectors so I can visually see what’s inside each one. I make a removable label and attach with a paper clip or bulb pin to be used later. I keep coming across paper items, stitched pieces, etc etc from ‘past passions’ that will one day make their way into a glue book.

[@MargareteMiller]

A page protector is a GREAT idea. As a matter of fact. I've got a binder floating around somewhere that I can use for that, too. Thanks for the suggestion! 💜

[@hencrawford4934]

I love all the theme suggestions, perhaps an animal or nature theme or based on a particular environment would be good

[@MargareteMiller]

Good ideas!! Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻💜

[@kassycon1]

I am really getting a lot of inspiration and thoughts from your videos. One of my “issues” is actually creating something just for the fun/joy of it and it doesn’t have to be a useful item.

[@MargareteMiller]

Good! I'm glad you are thinking things through and experimenting. Keep it up! 👍🏻

[@Karen3263]

❤

[@irynaborisova2604]

Fun! Another gluebook type worth mentioning is a napkin gluebook, where you start by gluing a layer of napkin in the background. I had so much fun with one!

[@MargareteMiller]

Great idea 💜. Thanks for sharing!

[@legsoffaith]

I absolutely love these ideas and definitely plan to start right in on some themed books using extra scrapbooking sets and kits that I have. I’m also going to use it to gather childhood memorabilia I have. Thanks! May I ask what the music is in this video? It’s absolutely beautiful & was so moving to me that I’d like to download it. Love your channel!

[@roxyjinks9643]

I bought one of your collage weekly planner and used it as a to do planner, but this year I’ve been under so much stress that I couldn’t really do anything in it so now that the year is almost done I’m going back through it and glueing things in it I’m not under any stress and I’m having a wonderful time! Thank you for sharing with all of us❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Great idea!! I'm so glad you though of that. The pressure is off. 😉💜👍🏻

[@AnnieDiscepoli]

Thank you, I needed this. I have so many ideas that I can never get started. I've started. Orange.

[@MargareteMiller]

Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear it 💜👍🏼❣️

[@sharonharris2979]

I plan to make, someday, a journal/gluebook with song lyrics, and then somehow create a collage or background to show my interpretation of those song lyrics. I already have dozens in mind, lol!

[@MargareteMiller]

Another awesome idea. And it's a pretty straightforward idea. I love it💙

[@priscillafriesen148]

I’m really intrigued by this-but I can’t picture how I would show my interpretation of a song. Can you tell me more?

[@YvonneCook-gv5pq]

I love these ideas! Thanks for sharing. Steampunk and/or modes of transport may be another idea

[@MargareteMiller]

Great ideas!! Thanks for sharing those 💜

[@TheCelestialhealer]

Colour!!! Yesterday I got an idea to have journals by colour and…. Here is your video.. I am starting with white… thank you🙏🙏

[@MargareteMiller]

Great!! You are off to a good start 👍🏼💙🌟

[@cherirose6660]

EXCELLENT VIDEO….❤ thank you!

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad you enjoyed it! 💜

[@lottesteeg3289]

Thanks so much for these great ideas. So helpful.

[@MargareteMiller]

So glad! 👍🏻

[@katietatey]

I loved these flip-throughs! At first I had so few ideas, now I have more ideas than I have time for. :) I always enjoy seeing what you're working on.

[@MargareteMiller]

Yay!! That's so awesome! I'm so glad you've got lots of ideas to play with 😉💜👍🏻

[@robinwebb2160]

I love working with themes. Thanks for sharing, Margarite. Your books are beautiful. ❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching. 💙

[@sheilabartlett6044]

Great ideas Margarete, I love your talents, thanks for the inspiration!

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much 😊

[@jackiepneal223]

Margarete, what a great video. So many super ideas! I would love to see how you create one of these. I am especially interested in your Women book and the Sewing book. Please let me know if you already have videos of these I missed or if you plan to make one. Also, looking forward to your Christmas book! Will you be sharing some of your journey with this? Thanks so much for sharing your ideas, inspiration and time! xx Jackie

[@deannabures9706]

16:54 Christmas theme.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

With all the short videos on KZbin about WW2 vets (as well as occasionally other conflicts) if you have someone in the military or know someone who is serving, you could do a book on the military. Past and present.

[@MargareteMiller]

Absolutely. That's a good topic for a gluebook or junk journal. 👍🏻

[@shellylucas5999]

I found so many wonderful tips and inspiration in this video, Margarete. A themed journal is a great idea for those of us who need a focus, but not too structured. And that Christmas envelope....yum!!!! One of my favourite themes, for sure! Thank you so much for sharing this, Margarete. P.S. Love your display on the shelves at the beginning of the video.😍❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much for your kind comments, Shelly❣️ I'm thrilled that you got a lot of ideas to play with because that means I get to continue to see what you are working on and creating! ❤️👍🏻😘

[@megmiranda9480]

I wrote story for my granddaughter and " illustrated" it with a journal. It was a lot of fun. I pulled images from magazines, postcards, books, stamps and stencils, etc so it was a collage of images.

[@MargareteMiller]

What a cool project! I can imagine it was fun to work in. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼💙

[@dakielty]

I mostly don’t really do themes. I prefer more eclectic styles. But this is encouraging to me to create one. I have pictures from my sister, niece, and my trip to Norway. My intention is to create a digital using our pictures and then create 3 journals, one for each of us using some of the other things i picked up in Norway to decorate them. Haven’t gotten it done though. Maybe I’ll get on that soon

[@MargareteMiller]

That sounds so nice, Dorothy. If you are capable of devoting the time for it, then I know it would be something they'd treasure. 💙

[@sandradowkes481]

Not an idea for a theme, but I'd love to see you make a page or two from those Etsy print-outs that already look like book pages; how would you add to them/embellish them to make them yours? I never use them because I can't think of what to add to them - they already look finished, albeit very flat :)

[@MargareteMiller]

They are really beautiful and there isn't much you need to add to them, though you certainly can. I have some videos of me using a few of these printouts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX_ZpYOZfLaMaJI kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3qpl6GkiLJ1jrc kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHTPfKGVr7Bjhs0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/anyyanlnZ9-Sl6c

[@sabrahawkings7867]

This is the video I have been looking for! Thank you for sharing. This inspired me to do my first glue book!

[@MargareteMiller]

Wonderful! I'm so glad you'll be making one❣️

[@hazelanakadesign7071]

Hi Margarete, thanks for doing this quick show & tell of some of your projects & for so neatly categorizing possible themes. Well done! Hazel

[@MargareteMiller]

You are so welcome, Hazel! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 💙

[@petriekaspardlov7787]

Themes are fun !! Thank you for the ideas . I did pull out a Christmas themed journal I had started last year . I have so many lovely bits to add 💕

[@DonnaVintageSnippets]

I only have one gluebook but I do two-page spreads on different themes in it. One spread is France, one Britain, one is Victorian, one Civil War, one Abe Lincoln, one 1700s, one religious, and so on. I always have enough ephemera for a two-page spread, and sometimes I will repeat the theme on another two-page spread if I have lots of ephemera for that theme.

[@MargareteMiller]

Neat!! I like this method. It must be a great book to flip through. 👍🏻💜🙂

[@DonnaVintageSnippets]

@@MargareteMiller 💗

[@debzehr3244]

So much inspiration. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE this tutorial. Thank you so much Margaret’s. 💖💖💖

[@MargareteMiller]

You are so welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed it❣️ 🙂

[@ruthiams8165]

Thank you Margaret this helps so much!

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad it was helpful! 🎉

[@sylvietoussaint7839]

Thank you for suggestions and ideas. I hope you are well. Nice day. Regards

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you, Sylvie! 😘

[@pampusscat4513]

Thank you for your help and information it's going to be very helpful 😂❤

[@dawnyWestScotland]

You have such nice inspiring ideas for us all. Yes looking forward to the Christmas collecting! ✂️📙

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much 😊 and thanks for stopping by 💙

[@lole-21ruff63]

You read my mind❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Great minds think alike. 😉

[@noreenhennessy9299]

Such great ideas …thanks

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks so much, Noreen❣️

[@gagaforgluing8247]

Great video. I love themed journals/gluebooks. I have several on the go at the moment. I have Christmas, Halloween, colours, dogs, en masse and Christianity ones started. And ive got ideas for lots more, including: favourite movies, gardening, birds, sharks, teddy bears and now because of you mentioning places i want to make one of my all time favourite place Scotland 😀

[@MargareteMiller]

What a great list! I want to do a gardening gluebook. That's next on my to-do. 😉

[@marja864]

How convenient! Just today I was wondering, what kind of themes I might choose when starting new collage projects. And then I noticed this new video of yours :) Thank you Margarete!

[@MargareteMiller]

Perfect! So glad You've got some ideas to play with 😉👍🏻💜

[@pamelaburke9250]

This was very inspiring!❤

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it ❣️👍🏼😉

[@st1tches189]

Great examples. Do you ever use these collage pieces in your junk journals? Or are your glue books stand alone projects?

[@MargareteMiller]

I definitely add collages to my junk journals. That’s my preferred goal for most of my jjs 😉❣️👍🏼

[@barbaradaly4930]

Wonderful video. I love your aesthetic.

[@MargareteMiller]

Thank you so much! 💜

[@Dana-fn5zt]

Love this informational video!! Perfume & Perfume bottles is a journal I am going to make!!

[@MargareteMiller]

GREAT idea! Love it ❣️

[@michelevass238]

Margarete! Thanks so much for this great video. I have been feeling overwhelmed by my stash and lately at odds at what to do with journals I've created. I'm not a 'diary' type journal keeper. I love the idea of themed journals. In fact, when I think of it the most favorite journals I've created are travel junk journals filled with photos and ephemera I've picked up along the way. The possibilities are endless. Thanks again.

[@MargareteMiller]

Exactly! There you go... . So many options and opportunities to play with 😉💙👍🏻

[@colleenmckeeman1342]

I am just discovering you, but you have some great ideas in here. I’m going to go through some more of your videos. Thank you.

[@MargareteMiller]

Thanks, Colleen. I'm glad you found the material useful 👍🏻💜😉

[@BigGrannydb]

This session was so inspirational. I have been thinking of doing a hopes & dreams journal - Bucket list theme. Collecting ideas for the next house I build, decorating my Airstream/Studio. Garden planning journal for next Spring, Snowmen, Sea Life, etc

[@MargareteMiller]

I LOVE that idea! I can imagine that you’ve saved all kinds of things for that. 👍🏼💙

[@erikachapman5808]

How are you binding in your pages to your glue books?

[@MargareteMiller]

I showed many different examples. 💜

[@marybeko9921]

This is a very informative video. I can't think of anything else at the moment, but I sure enjoy every video and all of your ideas.....thank you.....

[@MargareteMiller]

Glad you like them, Mary❣️ Thanks for watching. 💙

[@amyb82941]

💜💜💜

[@pampusscat4513]

Forgot to say I have started a Christmas Journal 🎄

[@megancampbell3914]

This is a good idea, I have bits of paper from so many travels, I may just call the glue book "Some of the Places I've Been". Are you creating a base journal for each one? How do you prevent that from being too busy?

[@MargareteMiller]

Travel gluebooks are great. I guess it depends on how much material you have. If you've got a lot a particular place, then you can devote the entire gluebook to that place. 👍🏻

[@dawnc8755]

Lovely ideas and beautiful glue books. I so enjoy seeing your gorgeous collages...even multiple times! I'm intrigued by your concept of not finishing books, and being OK with that. I have a bunch of unfinished projects and it does bother me a bit. Can you explain more your thinking about this? Do you see things in daily life and say to yourself, this would look good in my space glue book? Or do you search for things for a particular glue book? Or do you think, I haven't played in the space glue book for a while, let me get that one out? Or do you see some paper or item and think, hey, this would make a good glue book theme? I'm wondering how that works for you.

[@MargareteMiller]

Yes, to all of your questions 😁. First I do gather some things with the intention of starting or making a good dent into a project. Then, once I've already begun, if I see things in daily life I'll collect it and set it aside. And if a long time goes by, I do say to myself, "I haven't worked in that gluebook for a while...". 💙

[@cynthiahogue7724]

Great video! If I’m making a journal for someone in particular I obviously make it according to their preferences. Most often when I start a random journal I seem to fall into the color trap. I would love to be more eclectic but I’m not!

[@MargareteMiller]

I know what you mean by "color trap" but it's also nice to sometimes be able to fall back on that 😉

[@lucybanta7311]

This is so inspiring! Do you start by collecting or by making the journal? Your pages in the journals are fun and unique. I’d also love a theme for Christmas photo cards I receive. I never want to throw them away but don’t have a good way to save them over the years. Thanks for sharing this wonderful video!

[@MargareteMiller]

Most of the time I have something in mind before I start creating the journal. But there have also been lots of times when I create a journal and then think, "Now what should I use this for?" 😉💜👍🏻

[@judiemjacobson4613]

I have an ongoing blue book that is about people smiling and laughing and things that make me laugh I have a silly banana in there and pets and whatever makes me feel happy. I got the idea from Janet Nash

[@MargareteMiller]

I love that uplifting idea, Janet! 💜

[@Not2late2create]

Thank you for the inspiration! Did you make your journal books or purchase them? The bindings caught my eye! I would love the source if they are purchased❤

[@MargareteMiller]

I made them all. I used a cross stitch binding. I made a video about how to do it, a long time ago. It was one of my early ones! 😉

[@Not2late2create]

Thank you! Is the video still on you tube? Is there a title or link to find it?😊

[@annemillion1501]

Very informative video. I think the only theme you left out might be eclectic, but maybe that's too broad of a description to actually be a theme. I usually start out with a theme or idea but somewhere along the line it just kind of expands to include other ideas.

[@MargareteMiller]

I was thinking about eclectic, but as you said, it's kind of broad. Though I've got 3 eclectic gluebooks I've already completed, so it's something I work in all the time. 👍🏻

[@lisarosemcpherson944]

Love you videos and your book I purchased from you. I am making a journal myself from scratch, can you tell me where you got the clasp for the book? I have been looking for them every where., I think I must be calling them something by the wrong name.

[@MargareteMiller]

The clasp from the red journal? It’s a jewelry necklace clasp. I don’t remember where I got it. I think a jewelry supply store. The clasp opens and closes with two magnets. That’s it. 👍🏼❣️😉

[@celinerobichaud1986]

You’ve mentioned the idea of a junk journal themed on a person… could this apply to a glue book? 😅

[@MargareteMiller]

Absolutely!! 👍🏻