Essential List for an Art Journaling Supply Kit 

Essential List for an Art Journaling Supply Kit 

Here is my ultimate essential art journal supply list for your kit. If you’re ready to dive into the world of art journaling and create something on those blank pages but feel overwhelmed you’re in the right place.

Let’s explore a comprehensive list of my favorite supplies in my art journal kit. However, don’t go out and buy all these supplies! You can truly start your art journaling supply kit with a few supplies. You may even have what you need. Then you can decide what you enjoy using and add to your art journal supply kit over time. I will highlight a few supplies in bold below that I believe are good essentials to start your art journaling supply kit.  

Before we explore the big list of my favorite supplies in my art journal kit, I want to tell you where to find these art journaling supplies. As a creative art journaler, I find many of my supplies around my house. You will be surprised how many household items can be used in your art journal supply kit! Think junk mail, kitchen utensils, make-up sponges, office supplies, and your children’s art supplies. Other supplies can be found at your local big box or craft store, but many items can be found online through Amazon or my favorite art supply store: Blick Art Materials.  

Heads up, creative friends! This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I only recommend products I genuinely love and think you’ll enjoy too.

I am including links to both Amazon and Blick Art Materials. I do shop both depending on pricing – I find Blick can typically be less expensive. However, Amazon is convenient when ordering one or two items as I have free shipping with Prime. 

Here is a direct link to my Art Journaling Supply Kit List on Amazon. You can follow that list and check it occasionally as I keep it updated when I discover new finds!

Also, many of these items can be found at your local big box or art stores so no obligation to shop my links, but if you do, I want to give you a big THANK YOU for supporting my little space online.😊  Now, let’s get our art on! 🎨

My Favorite Art Journal Supplies

1. A Journal That Speaks to You: The first step in your art journaling supply kit adventure is finding the perfect journal, whether store-bought or handmade. Look for a notebook or sketchbook with thick, sturdy pages that can handle a variety of mediums. The journal you choose should resonate with you and make you excited to fill its pages with your creativity. TIP: I work in more than one at a time. 

• Dylusions Journal  Also find it on Blick  
• Spiral Sketchbook  or another good option that I use: Talens Sketchbooks on Blick 
• Watercolor Journal  or this Hand Book Paper Co. on Blick   
• Composition Notebook –  Be sure it is made in Vietnam. I pick mine up at my local Walgreens. 
• Handmade Books and Journals – I have a unique handmade journal tutorial on my YouTube: Soft Spine Journal Tutorial. There are many other ways to make handmade journals from simple to more complex, or purchase one from your favorite artist. (I do sell some from time to time if you are interested in getting on my ‘first-to-know’ list) 

Join the List for my Handmade Journals

2. Best Pens and Markers for Art Journaling and Mark Making: Keep it simple and grab a trusty black pen for outlines and some colorful markers for that pop. No need to break the bank. Build your art journal supply kit collection over time. I like a mix of waterproof and water-soluble mark-making tools. 

• Uniball Air   Also find it on Blick 
• Faber Castell Pitt Pens  Also find it on Blick  
• Sakura Micron Fine Liners   Also find it on Blick   
• Uniball Signo    White, Gold, and Silver
• Sharpie. You probably have one somewhere!
• Posca Paint Pens   Buy them individually on Blick   
• Elegant Writer  Also find them on Blick  – These are water soluable and are so fun to experiment with in an art journal or for sketching. 

3. Pencils and Water Soluble Media – Your Sketchy Friends:  Pencils and crayons- graphite and colored – are a must in an art journal supply kit for sketching and mark-making in creative journals. Some of my go-to’s are water-soluble crayons in my art journals. They can add some beautiful color and texture to your pages.  

• Stabilo All   Also find on Blick  
• Derwent Inktense  I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
• Caran D’Ache Neocolor II   I recommend purchasing individually on Blick 
• Stabilo Woodys I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
• Gelatos  I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
• Dina Wakely Scribble Sticks
• Tim Holtz Distress Crayons  Purchase individual sets on Blick   

4. Paints – Acrylic and Watercolor:   Acrylic paints are bold and versatile, while watercolors bring a dreamy vibe. A small inexpensive set of each in your art journal supply kit can make your pages pop with vibrancy. I am including a variety below and selecting them can be overwhelming. Start small and inexpensive and find what you like, then invest more as you grow your art journaling practice. White Gesso is essential in my opinion and can be used as your white paint.

• Gesso  Also find on Blick  
• Acrylic Craft Paint  I like these matte paints from Blick   (good starter paint)
• Acrylic Paint (So many options here!) 
  • Basic Set. Also purchase individual colors and sets on Blick 
  • Golden Fluid Fluorescent set  Also purchase lots of colors on Blick
• Watercolor: 
  • Basic Starter
  • Daniel Smith (this was my Daniel Smith starter set); Also find them individually on Blick
  • Finetec Metallic   Also find them on Blick 

5. Other Medium: There are many other mark-making and painting supplies that don’t fit into a category, but I find them to be as essential in my art journal kit. 

• China Marker  Also find it on Blick 
• Black Waterproof India Ink  Also find it on Blick   
• Acrylic Ink: 
  • Daler-Rowney  Also find it on Blick  
  • Amsterdam  Also find it on Blick    
• Oil Pastels   Also find it on Blick  
• Chalk Pastels   Also find on Blick 
• Tempera Paint Sticks   Also find on Blick 
• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide and Spray Stain (Warning: this can be a rabbit hole you can’t come back from 🙈)   Also find these on Blick  

6. Adhesive Magic: Finding the right adhesive for your art journal can be overwhelming. I find I like certain adhesives for certain jobs in my mixed media projects. These are the must-haves for my art journals, but I continue to experiment and will update as I find new ones that you should try.

• UHU Glue Stick   Also find it on Blick   
• Matte Medium  
  • Liquitex  Also find on Blick   
  • Golden   Also find on Blick   
• Liquitex Gel Medium  Also find on Blick   
• Reptile Glue  + Needle Nose Bottles
• Yes! Paste.  Also find on Blick   
• Fabritac  Also find on Blick    
• Tapes
  • Book Binding Tape
  • Gummed Kraft Paper Tape
  • Washi Tape: (There are many designs and styles to try and can be found many places)

7. Brushes – The Stroke of Genius: Get the right brushes for your painting adventures. Whether it’s small detail brushes or broader strokes, having a variety can make all the difference. Some of these can also be an investment, so experiment with the more inexpensive brushes in your art journaling supply kit before diving in. If you are serious about watercolor, I highly recommend better brushes. It makes a huge difference to those mixed media projects. 

• Black Velvet Round Watercolor Brushes   Also find these on Blick  
• Inexpensive Assorted Brushes or These; Also find some on Blick
• Cheap Chip Brushes  Pick these up at any discount or hardware store
• Mop Brush:  Mop Brush on Blick 
• Round Brushes on Blick
• Flat Brushes on Blick
• Spotter Brushes on Blick
• Other Various Brushes on Blick
• Sumi Calligraphy Brushes
• Catalyst Wedge  Also find on Blick   

8. Paper – The Foundation of Creativity: Explore different papers and collage materials to use in your art journaling projects. Smooth, textured, or even handmade—find what complements your style and mediums. For collage, anything goes! From magazine pages, book pages, fabric scraps, and junk mail, collect what you love to see visually and resonates with your mixed media style to add a personal touch to your art journals.

• Watercolor Paper (9×12)   Also find it on Blick  
• Sketch Paper (18×24)   Also find it on Blick 
• Mixed Media Paper (11×14)  Also find it on Blick   Amazon
• Wet Strength Tissue Paper
• Tea Bag Paper
• Rice Paper
• Tracing Paper  Also find it on Blick

9. Miscellaneous Tools and Supplies – The Extras: For those odds and ends that elevate your art journaling kit game. Think rulers, cutting tools, or any other fun ways to elevate your art journaling and mixed media practice. 

• Gelli Plate   Also find on Blick   
• Speedball Brayer  Also find on Blick   
• Stencils Many to choose from!
• Stamps  again, many to choose from here. 
• Ink pads 
• Metal Ruler
• Scissors – Use what you have but these smaller scissors are great for fussy cutting
• Heat Gun (or use a hair dryer)

10. Bookbinding Supplies – Bind It Beautifully: If you’re into creating your own journals, stock up on bookbinding essentials. From needles and bookbinding thread, it’s all about making your DIY handmade art journal uniquely and creatively yours.

• This is a great inexpensive Starter Kit
• Bookbinding Thread
• Beeswax if you want to use embroidery or other thread

Other Optional Supplies: 

• Sewing Machine
• Small Spray Bottle for Water
• Stapler
• Masking Tape
• Security Envelopes and other found paper
• Book pages and old book covers
• Map pages
• Wooden chop stick, plastic fork, bubble wrap, and other mark-making items found in a junk drawer or headed to the trash bin.