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Journal Sparks: Fire Up Your Creativity with Spontaneous Art, Wild Writing, and Inventive Thinking
Using words, drawing, collage, and observation-based list-making, award-winning author Emily K. Neuburger highlights the many paths into journaling. Her 60 interactive writing prompts and art how-tos help you to expand your imagination and stimulate your creativity. Every spread invites a new approach to filling a page, from making a visual map of a day-in-my-life to turning random splotches into quirky characters for a playful story. It’s the perfect companion to all those blank books and an ideal launch pad to explore creative self-expression and develop an imaginative voice — for anyone ages 10 to 100!
164 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
11 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 12, 2017
I have been journaling for many years now so when I saw this book I knew I had to have it to add to my collection. It's a fairly short book but chalked full of interesting ideas and prompts for both the seasoned and beginner journaler.
It has a very cool mixed media feel to it. With hand drawn graphics, and different fonts that make it very pleasing to the eye. It starts out with an introduction from the author. Along with some suggestions for different types of journals (notebook, steno pad, sketchbook, art pad.) Then the book is broken up into seven different chapters (OBSERVATION, INVENTION, COLLECTION, COLOR & CONSTRUCTION, WORDSMITH, JOURNAL CHALLENGES, JOURNAL MAKING & HACKING.)
Under each of those chapters, you are given a plethora of different ideas and prompts to help you along with your journaling. Ideas for different things to journal about. (draw all of the parts of a favorite meal, journal what you want to be doing 10 years from now, quotes, stories you've heard from other people.) Suggestions for journaling materials (newspapers, paints, magazine clippings, masking tape, watercolors, pastels, pens, brushes, cotton embroidery floss, stamps and stamp pads, vintage scraps etc.) Tips and Ideas on how to get those creative juices flowing (find a time of day that works best, group journal with friends.)
Project ideas (paint the sky, zoom in on something, color your mood, wonder walk.) Journal Hacks ideas (make a store-bought journal more personal, turn a plain spiral notebook into a woven beauty with yarn, make a paper bag journal.)
Along with the above here are a few more project ideas and challenges you will find in the book..,
-- An example of how to make you own stamps.
-- Merge pieces of photographs and pictures with your own drawings to create a unique hybrid creation.
-- Make your own comic strips.
-- Journal about things you collect and even add them to your journal (leaves, flowers, feathers, seashells, bark.)
-- Use the alphabet to compile a list of interesting things.
-- Use your journal to keep an ongoing collection of words
-- Make your own colors by mixing and matching.
--Paper Quilting (Make tiny paper quilts for your journal pages.)
-- Experiment with colorful tape.
-- Create a small pocket that can be fixed onto a journal page or on the inside of the back or front cover.
-- Create visual poetry (freestyle your way to happiness. Jagged or smooth, loopy or straight, bubbly or narrow.)
-- Create your own Mandalas
-- Experiment with fonts
-- Challenge yourself to journal about a different topic every day (meals, squares, buildings, lines, horizon etc.)
-- Challenge yourself to draw the same thing differently every day for a week.
As a seasoned journaler, this one gets a two thumbs up from me and a must have for anyone thinking of getting into journaling.
February 11, 2018
Very good collection of creative journaling ideas for those times when you need some inspiration. It also includes a section on making your own simple journals, plus has some stickers and artsy paper to use in your own creative journal.
December 22, 2016
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. First of all, I think this has the coolest layout I've seen in a long time for a journal how-to guide. It's actually very hands-on and user-friendly, but there is art in the details. The author has a million ideas for how to get your creativity going for all ages, so you could journal with your pre-schooler or your college kids or your spouse or your senior citizen mom. If you want to write, just write. If you want to draw, draw. If you want to finger paint, go for it. I love the flexibility with purpose. She not only teaches you how to journal, she teaches you how to make the journal itself. It's super fun and easy to do. At this point in my life, I was looking for something more concrete for myself but I absolutely love this for my kids. I would buy each of them a copy.
June 29, 2017
"The whole point to creative journaling is allowing yourself the freedom to be creative in whatever way feels right in the moment."
Journal Sparks is divided into seven chapters -
1) Observation
2) Invention
3) Collection
4) Color & Construction
5) Wordsmith
6) Journal Challenges
7) Journal making & Hacking
Each chapter gives a lot of fun art journal ideas! Some examples:
Draw macro sketches of the things around you. Map your day or your neighborhood. Make a personal stamp! Draw non-dominant hand creatures. Merge pieces of photos with your own drawings to create hybrid creations. Draw and describe your perfect day. Trace bits of nature. Challenge yourself to draw something in 20 different ways.
Invent your own paint colors and give them creative names. Make paper quilt collages. Draw your own mandalas. Write tiny poems. Pick a theme to draw every day. Personalize your storebought journal with paint, decoupage, or washi tape. Create an accordion journal by folding a long piece of paper! Staple pages together, or tie them together with ribbon, to create a journal.
SO.MANY.IDEAS!!!
Journal Sparks is divided into seven chapters -
1) Observation
2) Invention
3) Collection
4) Color & Construction
5) Wordsmith
6) Journal Challenges
7) Journal making & Hacking
Each chapter gives a lot of fun art journal ideas! Some examples:
Draw macro sketches of the things around you. Map your day or your neighborhood. Make a personal stamp! Draw non-dominant hand creatures. Merge pieces of photos with your own drawings to create hybrid creations. Draw and describe your perfect day. Trace bits of nature. Challenge yourself to draw something in 20 different ways.
Invent your own paint colors and give them creative names. Make paper quilt collages. Draw your own mandalas. Write tiny poems. Pick a theme to draw every day. Personalize your storebought journal with paint, decoupage, or washi tape. Create an accordion journal by folding a long piece of paper! Staple pages together, or tie them together with ribbon, to create a journal.
SO.MANY.IDEAS!!!
February 9, 2017
I am now a full-time Bullet Journal-er, so when I saw this I wanted it. I'm always looking for cheats, tips, and tricks to make my journal look great, and this book it full of them! The layout of has a journal feel to it, making it even more enjoyable to read. This book has “60 interactive writing prompts and art how-tos help you to expand your imagination and stimulate your creativity.” I got this from NetGalley and would love to have a physical copy! Therefore, if you are new or long time journal-er this is a wonderful book for teens or adults!
-NetGalley Review-
-NetGalley Review-
July 16, 2017
Oh this book came to my house for review juuuuust before I moved house.
Finally I am all settled and had time to really get into it.
What can I say? I went and bought a brand new journal.
This book is really going to make your fingers itch to try out the journal inspirations.
The sparks are fun and different to what I have seen before on blogs online.
I love that some of it, you could start in advance (like the dot people) and add to as you go along. Some are so deliciously silly, you can't help but smile when you work on them (name that colour, look and tell thumbnails, to name only two).
The book also contains a few collage papers and stickers. I adore that! It is an art journal help, but it makes it not feel like you have to sit down and create super duper amazing art, every time. It is more geared to make it fun and relaxing and take it out of the "oh this is just a quick sketch I did in my journal.... nothing big." realm. (We all know those posts lol.)
Lets be honest: Art happens. Seriously. It just does. When you least expect it.
This book is a reminder that having fun is the most important part about art. Let it flow!
I am immensely grateful to have gotten this book when I did. I was in a real slump and this was just the pick me up I needed.
Thank you, Miss Emily K. Neuburger. For all your hard work and thank you, Storey publishing for yet another great book.
Can you guess the next sentence? Yep! I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY! <3
Finally I am all settled and had time to really get into it.
What can I say? I went and bought a brand new journal.
This book is really going to make your fingers itch to try out the journal inspirations.
The sparks are fun and different to what I have seen before on blogs online.
I love that some of it, you could start in advance (like the dot people) and add to as you go along. Some are so deliciously silly, you can't help but smile when you work on them (name that colour, look and tell thumbnails, to name only two).
The book also contains a few collage papers and stickers. I adore that! It is an art journal help, but it makes it not feel like you have to sit down and create super duper amazing art, every time. It is more geared to make it fun and relaxing and take it out of the "oh this is just a quick sketch I did in my journal.... nothing big." realm. (We all know those posts lol.)
Lets be honest: Art happens. Seriously. It just does. When you least expect it.
This book is a reminder that having fun is the most important part about art. Let it flow!
I am immensely grateful to have gotten this book when I did. I was in a real slump and this was just the pick me up I needed.
Thank you, Miss Emily K. Neuburger. For all your hard work and thank you, Storey publishing for yet another great book.
Can you guess the next sentence? Yep! I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY! <3
May 21, 2017
What a super book - filled with really interesting ideas to spark the imagination and challenge you to go out and start something, anything creative.
I think it really appeals to the senses - visually it catches your eye and requires you to then look a little further. I think anyone with a young person in their life would find this a great leaping off point to get them writing and drawing- classroom, holidays, just because.
I found myself going back to pages to check in and see what else I could do with the ideas. I definitely will need to get a hard copy for myself and to encourage the young people in my life to take up journal-ling. (mmm not sure that's a word but it works with this book)
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I actually downloaded it once and had to go back and download it again because I didn't write a review at first because I started looking at it, got sidetracked and then absolutely knew I had to come back to it. It honestly is that interesting that it would have been a shame not to go back and work through it properly.
I think it really appeals to the senses - visually it catches your eye and requires you to then look a little further. I think anyone with a young person in their life would find this a great leaping off point to get them writing and drawing- classroom, holidays, just because.
I found myself going back to pages to check in and see what else I could do with the ideas. I definitely will need to get a hard copy for myself and to encourage the young people in my life to take up journal-ling. (mmm not sure that's a word but it works with this book)
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I actually downloaded it once and had to go back and download it again because I didn't write a review at first because I started looking at it, got sidetracked and then absolutely knew I had to come back to it. It honestly is that interesting that it would have been a shame not to go back and work through it properly.
December 18, 2017
There are indeed lots of ideas to help you fill out those blank pages, but there's nothing new here for me. It is very colorful and bright, and while it's not labeled as a young adult book, I think kids as young as 10 might find this a fun and useful book. If you are a person who has never kept a journal, would like to, and have no idea where to start, this might be the book for you.
March 26, 2018
I dug this book because it was a hybrid betwixt journaling practice AND sketching exercises, with illustrations included. Sometimes when journaling I do get stuck, I don't want to write about this or that and well, we all need books like this to instill a bit of flow.
May 24, 2017
Full of wonderful crafty journaling ideas!
August 12, 2018
Best book I've read on the subject. I like how the book is divided up into observation, invention, collection, color & construction and wordsmith. Great examples and visuals. Definitely makes you want to start some fun projects.
March 27, 2017
I don’t see myself as an art journaler, but I know the value of regular focused practice. I requested a review copy of Journal Sparks with the desire to find ways to improve my doodling and my creative thought process. Neuberger has created a beautiful and thorough book with many different ideas and prompts that will inspire; my notes of the title have many more doodles than I expected. I think this would also be fun to work through with another Storey title, Knit the Sky. The creative possibilities are endless and I have many new ideas to help nudge my creativity when I feel stuck.
This review also appeared at little acorn creations.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
This review also appeared at little acorn creations.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
March 3, 2017
First things first, this book is absolutely visually appealing. I stared at it for approximately 10 minutes before reading it. It was that beautiful. No I have not lost my mind. Yes, I have a day job.
Emily starts by defining what journaling is and how you can have a journal for a variety of reasons. She encourages the reader to think of other purposes for journaling and adopt it.
She shows you how to encourage creativity in yourself. Chapter 2 (on invention) was my favourite chapter; especially the part about writing a description of what your life will be like in 10 years.
Rating: 4/5
Favourite Quote: “Slow down, pause, sit, and investigate. What do you notice that no one else does? Using your eyes is important, but don’t forget your nose and ears!”
First things first, this book is absolutely visually appealing. I stared at it for approximately 10 minutes before reading it. It was that beautiful. No I have not lost my mind. Yes, I have a day job.
Emily starts by defining what journaling is and how you can have a journal for a variety of reasons. She encourages the reader to think of other purposes for journaling and adopt it.
She shows you how to encourage creativity in yourself. Chapter 2 (on invention) was my favourite chapter; especially the part about writing a description of what your life will be like in 10 years.
Rating: 4/5
Favourite Quote: “Slow down, pause, sit, and investigate. What do you notice that no one else does? Using your eyes is important, but don’t forget your nose and ears!”
June 17, 2017
I loved every page of this book full of creative prompts, ideas, drawings, pictures, and papers for art journaling. I love playing with paper and glue, but sometimes I have a hard time coming up with inspiration. Emily's ideas made me want to jump up and run for my craft room, so I could start cutting and sticking! For adults and children, this book has a broad range of creative suggestions for book-making, collage, writing, water color, thumb prints, nature journals, maps, and lists. Most of them can be created or adapted to assemble with inexpensive or free materials you have around your home. I circled ideas, wrote notes in the margins, and dog-eared the corners of several pages I plan to do with my grandkids when they come for a visit in July.
February 27, 2018
A visual treat! If you are into journaling, bullet journaling, or just doodling and creating art, get this book and play! I am the kind of person who enjoys being creative, but sometimes I need a boost to get started. That is what Journal Sparks did for me. From making mandalas to collections of items (reminiscent of those in Wreck This Journal or How to Be an Explorer of the World), I found great ideas that sparked a flood of creativity in my journal. Featuring simple language and instructions, this book is perfect for young readers as well as adults.
June 27, 2018
The title says it all. This colorful book is full of prompts and examples to help you in your journaling endeavors, whether you use words or pictures, are young or old, new to keeping a journal or have been at it for years. Many of the ideas presented are not new but it's always fun to be reminded of prompts or techniques you've forgotten about. As I've mentioned, this book is good for all ages, but if you're an experienced, seasoned journalist, you'll want something a bit more advanced. Punch-outs, printed papers, and stickers are included in the back to help you with your creativity.
April 19, 2017
Something to bost your Creativity, but I found the target has to be lower in age as I expected, because most of the times I didn't find the things proposed interesting enough.
Un diario che, in teoria, dovrebbe aumentare la creativitá, ma credo che il target del prodotto forse sia l'adolescenza, perché la maggior parte del tempo le cose proposte mi annoiavano, piuttosto che farmi sentire creativa.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
Un diario che, in teoria, dovrebbe aumentare la creativitá, ma credo che il target del prodotto forse sia l'adolescenza, perché la maggior parte del tempo le cose proposte mi annoiavano, piuttosto che farmi sentire creativa.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
October 29, 2018
This book gets five stars because it is one I would recommend that friends get. I borrowed it from the library and have checked it out more than once. I may end up even buying this book.
Besides the fact that it has a lot of good ideas about things to write /draw in a journal, it also has wonderful graphics, stickers and pages to be creative. I've gotten other books about journaling but this one just spoke to me more than the others.
Besides the fact that it has a lot of good ideas about things to write /draw in a journal, it also has wonderful graphics, stickers and pages to be creative. I've gotten other books about journaling but this one just spoke to me more than the others.
June 28, 2017
I'd joined a giveaway where this book was the prize. I didn't win, but I also grabbed the book from the library because I was curious to see what information it could give me toward more creativity in my daily journaling. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to branch out into art-style journaling.
March 21, 2020
Great book with journaling prompts and activities. I love how I can skip around and try something new every day! The paper and stickers in the back are cute and I will find use for them in my bullet journal. Great read
July 12, 2019
Clear, fun, basic book for those wanting to begin an art journaling practice.
July 5, 2025
During a recent, very serious health scare, my fingers ached to continue my love of creative journaling. I started out, as I became aware of my surroundings, aching with a bone deep NEED to journal, create, write. But, to be truthful, I needed a place to document MY OWN BIRTHDAY. The first question any medical personnel at Duke had for me started with asking me to confirm my birth date. And um, I could not….
My husband listened as I begged for pen and paper. During his travels from his motel, he stopped at a Walgreens and found me a one subject, thin little notebook and a sturdy ink pen. I kept the first note, with my birth date scribbled on the first page to practice.
When we got home, a miracle in itself, I improved, but any sort of journaling was too much as we began The Great Purge, letting go of anything we don’t use or love. This wondrous book was hidden on a small table beside my comfy chair. I grabbed onto it and have not let go. It reflects how my brain works. It combines papers, stickers, and oodles of ideas.
Just set up an envelope for capturing all the little fortunes from Chinese restaurants to Christmas crackers. This book allows you to write, to play, to draw, to do multiple found art pieces. I have pre-ordered her next book. Her
My husband listened as I begged for pen and paper. During his travels from his motel, he stopped at a Walgreens and found me a one subject, thin little notebook and a sturdy ink pen. I kept the first note, with my birth date scribbled on the first page to practice.
When we got home, a miracle in itself, I improved, but any sort of journaling was too much as we began The Great Purge, letting go of anything we don’t use or love. This wondrous book was hidden on a small table beside my comfy chair. I grabbed onto it and have not let go. It reflects how my brain works. It combines papers, stickers, and oodles of ideas.
Just set up an envelope for capturing all the little fortunes from Chinese restaurants to Christmas crackers. This book allows you to write, to play, to draw, to do multiple found art pieces. I have pre-ordered her next book. Her
November 14, 2021
'Journal Sparks: Fire Up your Creativity with Spontaneous Art, Wild Writing and Inventive Thinking' by Emily K. Neuburger is an ebook about upping your creative game using a journal.
In the 7 chapters of this book you will find lots of projects meant to stimulate creative thinking. From Getting Started where the concept of a journal is deconstructed (or was for me, at least), to the chapters on Invention, Collection, etc. this is an approach at throwing things at the wall to see what sticks, or gets you unstuck. There are lots of examples, guest journal bloggers and some nice paper at the end to help out.
I'm a pretty orderly journal keeper, so this messy unkempt approach had me thinking outside of my box. I like the ideas, even though I don't see incorporating them in to my journaling. Your mileage may vary. I did appreciate the approach and how accessible it was.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Storey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
In the 7 chapters of this book you will find lots of projects meant to stimulate creative thinking. From Getting Started where the concept of a journal is deconstructed (or was for me, at least), to the chapters on Invention, Collection, etc. this is an approach at throwing things at the wall to see what sticks, or gets you unstuck. There are lots of examples, guest journal bloggers and some nice paper at the end to help out.
I'm a pretty orderly journal keeper, so this messy unkempt approach had me thinking outside of my box. I like the ideas, even though I don't see incorporating them in to my journaling. Your mileage may vary. I did appreciate the approach and how accessible it was.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Storey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
May 15, 2023
If you want to reconnect with a playful artistic side of your personality this is the book for you. I loved the suggestions that were in this book to spark your creativity. The suggestions were simple and could be used by an anyone at whatever age. I appreciate that there was such a variety of choices to be inspired by be it multi-media, writing, drawing, painting etc.. I liked the puppet show ideas and even bought some wooden people cut outs from the craft store and people skin color paint. I have some ideas on what I'm trying to do, possibly a puppet show for an audience of one, too chicken to show something like that at this time. If you read this book get ready for a big kick to your creative zingiest. Go have fun!
October 20, 2020
A visual treat! If you are into journaling, bullet journaling, or just doodling and creating art, get this book and play! I am the kind of person who enjoys being creative, but sometimes I need a boost to get started. That is what Journal Sparks did for me. From making mandalas to collections of items (reminiscent of those in Wreck This Journal or How to Be an Explorer of the World), I found great ideas that sparked a flood of creativity in my journal. Featuring simple language and instructions, this book is perfect for young readers as well as adult
September 17, 2025
2025 Book Haul TBR
The author packs her book with lots of ideas to spark creativity in one's journal. The tone throughout is positive and encouraging. The guest interviews enriched the author's collection of technique and approaches presented in this book. Neuburger also includes some collage papers and stickers at the back of the book to spark creativity. There are several ideas that I want to incorporate into my own journals in the future, and I'm sure that I'll revisit this book again and again.
The author packs her book with lots of ideas to spark creativity in one's journal. The tone throughout is positive and encouraging. The guest interviews enriched the author's collection of technique and approaches presented in this book. Neuburger also includes some collage papers and stickers at the back of the book to spark creativity. There are several ideas that I want to incorporate into my own journals in the future, and I'm sure that I'll revisit this book again and again.
January 4, 2021
I’d highly recommend this if you love bullet journaling or are an avid doodler looking for new things to draw, list or capture. I think if you have artistic kids this would also be really fun to go through with them and pick out a project. I’m using some of these ideas to fill up my Wreck This Journal.
November 27, 2018
This journal was exactly what I needed to spark my creativity in new and fresh ways. It also gave me more than a few aha moments. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs writing ideas or art ideas.
June 12, 2019
This is a book of creative ideas for people who want to journal, but I felt it seemed more geared toward young children than adults. That being said, I will expand on some of the ideas in this colorful and inventive book.
May 15, 2020
I thought it had some good ideas but a lot of them were for younger audiences I think, I was unaware of that when I got the book. I do plan on using some of the ideas but I don’t think all of them will work for me but overall I think it was worth it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews