You know that feeling when you see a gorgeous art journal page online and think, “I wish I had the time to do that, but I have kids.”? I get it!
I started art journaling back in 2010, right before I got pregnant with my youngest son. I discovered it through YouTube, with Christy Tomlinson. I loved how approachable it seemed. Here was this creative outlet that didn’t require perfect technique or expensive classes – just me, and some art supplies.
The funny thing is, I’d been intimidated by art supplies all my life, which I just recently found out, is acutally a nornal thing with creatives. Art journaling helped release the pressure of thinking I had to create something super beautiful and artistic. This idea was especially put aside with my son.
Within months of his birth, he started crawling, which meant I had to keep him busy by my side if I wanted to squeeze in some art journaling. I could also wait until he slept—but that time usually went to cooking and cleaning.
Instead, I decided to have him enjoy some paint too.
Making Space for Both of You
Our spare bedroom became our art studio. I’d spread newspaper on the floor, put paint on my son’s tiny hands, and let him go wild while I art journaled at the table. In the background, I’d have Juan Gabriel or Mariah Carey playing, but his favorite was Shakira! Watching him get his hands and clothes full of paint was so much fun. By the way, looking back, I can’t believe I did this because I can be such a neat freak.
It definitely wasn’t always pretty, though. Hubieron berrinches (his and mine 😅), paint on the floor, and artwork “ruined” by flailing hands. Now, those are the ones I remember the most.
Growing Together Through Art
My son grew up watching me make art, and naturally, he wanted his own journal. Now, at almost 14 (can you believe it?), he has his own collection. He loves to draw and hand letter, and no por que sea mi hijo, but he’s good. When I look at his work, I feel this incredible mix of pride and amazement at how creativity can be passed down and grow in completely unique ways.
Some tips for art journaling when you have kids
Start small and stay flexible. You don’t need hours of uninterrupted time or a pristine workspace. Some of my favorite journal pages were created in 15-minute bursts while dinner was cooking.
Embrace the chaos. Those little fingerprints and scribbles that “interrupt” your work? They’re actually documenting this exact moment in your life. Years from now, they’ll become family treasure.
Create together. Set up your supplies alongside theirs. Kids love this! Plus, they’ll teach you how to be creative. And you’ll learn so much about them. Es mas, have them make art in your journal–trust me, you’ll LOVE these pages later on.
Create your ambiente. Put on music that makes you happy – whether it’s your favorite playlist or something soothing that sets the mood. Those background sounds become part of the memory you’re creating.
Let go of perfection. Your art journal doesn’t need to look like the ones you see online. It just needs to be yours – messy, real, and full of the moments that matter to you.
Use what you have. You don’t need expensive supplies to start. Crayons, markers, old magazines, and a simple notebook can create magic. Or go buy some art supplies “for your kids.”
The Real Gift of Art Journaling
Looking back now, as my son prepares to enter high school, I realize that art journaling gave us something precious: a way to keep our memorable moments safe and close. These journals are like time capsules, holding not just images and words, but feelings and phases that would otherwise get blurred in our faulty memory.
Your art journal becomes a conversation between who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming. And when you create alongside your children, it becomes a conversation between generations too.
Where Do You Keep Your Moments?
Maybe you’re someone who fills photo albums or writes in traditional notebooks. Maybe you have boxes of ticket stubs and drawings. There’s no wrong way to collect what matters to you. But if you’ve been curious about art journaling and worried that having kids makes it impossible, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t.
In fact, having kids might just make your art journaling richer and more meaningful! So grab whatever supplies you have on hand, spread out some newspaper (trust me on this one), and see what happens when you create alongside the little humans in your life. It’ll be fun, not always, but it will be!
