reminder: write it all down
how I started journaling, the evolution of my journals, & the rise of DIY
I heard a commercial the other day that said: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Henry Ford, according to the internet. Seems like a Henry Ford thing to say. Regardless, I cannot stop thinking about it: I think it’s because it reminded me how far perspective and believing in yourself can take you, regardless of your experience or skills.
I never set out to become an artist, but I did set out to be a writer. The only reason I even started collaging—arguably the medium I do the most now—is because I wanted more color and texture behind the words I was writing for my Instagram aesthetic, which is ridiculous. I have taken exactly one art class since middle school after I graduated, but other than that, I have absolutely no real skills or techniques. It’s all feeling (you can probably tell) and it’s all in an effort to make meaning (I’ll let you know when I get there).
I have been keeping a consistent journal for 12+ years now, and hosting in-person collage + journal workshops every week for two years. one thing I have learned? People are either obsessed with journaling or deeply intimidated by the word/phrase/concept of journaling.
I don’t know if the fear is because of how aesthetic and beautiful some people’s journals are, whether they are worried about facing their own thoughts, or if they think there are rules to follow, but journaling intimidates people. Part of it is probably that I was using the wrong phrasing—I offered journal prompts for everyone to take home but we collaged the covers of blank journals, so we weren’t even journaling, really— but the end goal was the same: creating a space for your thoughts, dreams, documenting moments you didn’t want to forget.
I always get a lot of: “I’m not a writer” or “I’m not an artist.” But guess what! To journal, you don’t need to be either.
But all this to say, I understand the hesitation of not knowing what to put on the page or whether your dreams and words deserve to be on the page (they do!) I remember being very hesitant and unsure when I first started using a journal in high school. I didn’t know what to write, but I loved listening to music. So I wrote song lyrics. I remember it was when I was Super Depressed In High School and I remember writing lyrics from bands like The 1975 and The Front Bottoms as an angsty teen who lived on Tumblr and lived in Southern California does. I put their words on a page until a decade or so later when I found my own.
the DIY-ification of the world
You don’t need me to tell you in 2026 that the process has become just as valuable—if not, more valuable—than the product.
I learned this through collage. It wasn’t the end result that mattered to me, it was the act of creating and how ripping paper and rearranging it settled my nervous system instantly.
You also don’t need me to tell you in 2026 that it’s the year of creating analog. Market Research Future, a global market research company, projects the craft supplies market to steadily grow from $42.83 billion globally in 2025 to $64.95 billion by 2035 (It has never been trendier to analog collage. This is a win for the crafty girls)
This wasn’t what made me open up Unwind, a free craft cafe with a different workshop or activity every Wednesday in the back of said family store Rewind, but it did help assure me this was a step in the right direction. I found myself happiest when I was creating in flow state. I wanted to make a space that I could do that and encourage other people to join me: to create a space to unwind, unplug, decompress, and create with community. So far, we’ve hosted clay workshops, writing workshops, a workshop making your own herbal tea blend, vision boarding, love letter writing, and more. It’s funded by the nonprofit I created in memory of my sister, Cassidy, and building the bones of an entire new business, a nonprofit, while maintaining my own and a full time job has been nothing short of intense, but every time I walk in and see 10 people smiling and crafting and meeting new people, I remember why I’m doing this. I want you to find something you love.
real life reminders
I have been selling my cards, stickers, postcards, and DIY collage journal kits on Faire since early 2024.
At the end of last year, I looked at my lifetime analytics. My top selling product--shocker—is the DIY collage kit. Lifetime sales are 117. Last year? 105.
“Crafting is no longer just a hobby—it’s self care, a way to connect with friends, personalize your space, and even manifest change,” says Mandi Clark, the Director of Trend & Design at popular craft store Michaels. Online searches for guided craft kits increased by 69%, craft club searches up a whopping 850%, Personalized gift 719% increase, DIY decor 146% increase. 7 in 10 Gen-Z and Millennials prefer a craft night over dinner and drinks. When I saw this report, I actually felt relieved that I was not just assuming or centering myself and my own hobbies.
We don’t want a perfect finished product anymore. We want to do it ourselves; we want to feel proud.
This is why I am writing to you. Journaling—whatever combination of art, writing, and reflection that is going on here—has singlehandedly been the most important, sanity-saving, helpful coping skill I have ever learned. I actually think it has saved my life, which feels Extreme but so did the feelings that had no place to go when I was sixteen and so sad.
I’m going to include some prompts, pages, and journal spread ideas that I have loved throughout the years with hope this may inspire one (1) person to either try it or start again.
What you need to know:
Mindset and intention are critical to everything, and journaling is no different. This is a playground, not a masterpiece. It’s for you!!! My journals through the years are, truly, a disaster: I never finish them, I have anywhere from 2-6 different journals at all times (and not because I have a different journal for each category, because I start one, find a new one, and abandon the old) and they are a mix of personal, work, and school, somewhere in the middle of a diary, a junk journal, and a sketchbook. Most of the time, they do NOT look like the beautiful journal spreads by crafty girls on Pinterest and Instagram.
What you need to create:
Any journal, sketchbook, or vintage hardcover book (can be thrifted, can be new)
Acquire some kind of adhesive: a gluestick, tape, mod podge and a paintbrush
Permission to allow yourself to create something imperfect
Some things I would try if I was journaling for the first time:
Use multiple mediums! Something I always do when I don’t like how something looks is add more mediums. A little bit of collage paper on top of a watercolor painting (a little texture goes a LONG way)
Personalize it! Design the outside cover, the inside cover, the back cover. (One thing I love that people do in their journals is include a photo of themselves on the inside cover, and this is a relatively easy way to start because it takes up so much space. The best way is always a photobooth strip. If you live near the Hudson Valley, you can get all of your journal supplies from Rewind—my parents believed me that 2026 is the year of the analog and my family’s store Rewind Kingston acquired a photobooth. Write the year, where you live, get some mod podge or a gluestick and glue it down.
“What do I fill the pages with?”
Write one word about how you feel every day
Warning: this can be jolting and sad to look at, or really rewarding if you had a better year than I did in 2017.Collect stickers and put them all over. May I suggest some of these? Keep concert tickets, train tickets, souvenirs, cute napkins, fruit stickers. I recently realized you can “collage” with stickers by simply placing them in any random position. Very fun.
Lists of things you love (books, movies, people, words)
A dream board (vision boards are not just for January. What do you want for yourself this year? You can reevaluate any time)
DIY Collage Journal Kits are available for you to purchase for $10 here—for wholesale, here— and in my humble opinion, are a great entryway into journaling.
Join my monthly print club, reminders, for monthly reminders straight to your doorstep (or be a paid subscriber on substack and you also get a monthly kit in the mail from me)
The worst thing that can happen is that you hate it and never do it again (factually, this is not the worst thing that can happen). But the best thing that can happen? You discover something you love.
xoxo,
karlie
follow me on IG @reminderstomyfutureself and send me your journaling pics!!!!!!!! I will feature some in the next essay <3