PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

Diaries are a great way to record your daily life, thoughts, and feelings. They can also be used as planners to keep track of upcoming events. Unfortunately, a store bought diary does not always feel very personal. Luckily, this is easy to fix with some decorating and knowing how to start off. With some time and creativity, you are sure to end up with a unique diary that will be something truly special to you!

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Decorating the Outside of a Diary

PDF download Download Article
  1. Even if your diary is already fancy, you can still glue some pretty gemstones to the cover. If your diary is plain, but you don't want to go through a lot of effort of making it fancy, you can always add some pretty stickers to the cover.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    [1] This works great for those plain, composition books! For an added touch, add some embroidery to the fabric first, before you glue it on. It can be as simple as several rows of a straight stitch.
    Advertisement
  3. You can use scrapbook paper, maps, or wrapping paper. You can even design your own cover on the computer, print it out, and use that instead! [2] Use glue to make the cover permanent, or tape to make it temporary.
    • Cover your finished journal with decoupage glue (such as Mod Podge) or contact paper to protect the paper from getting dirty or wet.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Cover the front of your journal with a thin layer of liquid glue, then shake some glitter onto it. Wait for it to dry, then brush some glossy decoupage glue (such as Mod Podge) onto it. [3]
    • If you want multiple colors, work with one color at a time. Let each color dry first before moving onto the next.
    • Make sure that your sealer is glossy. If it is matte, your glitter won't sparkle anymore.
    • Sealing the glitter is important. It will prevent the journal from shedding all over the place. Consider sealing the edges of the cover as well.
  5. Wrap duct tape around the cover. Fold the ends of the tape over onto the inside of the cover by 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters), then trim off the excess. If you are using patterned tape, make sure that the patterns line up!
    • Cover the spine of your journal with contrasting tape. For example, if you use patterned tape for the cover, use solid-colored tape for the spine.
  6. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Decorating the Inside of a Diary

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    There is so much more to decorating than using glue, stickers, and glitter; it also includes things like color, font, and text size. In this section, you'll find lots of ideas for how to decorate the inside of your diary. You don't have to use all of them—choose a few that are the most interesting to you!
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    They don't have to be very big or fancy. A simple sketch, such as a flower, heart, or cat can really make your page stand out. Just make sure that it has something to do with what you are writing about! [4]
    • If you don't want to draw, you can always use colorful stickers instead!
    • This is great for calendars. For example, if you have a party coming up, add a doodle of a cake, present, or balloon!
    • Another idea is to glue items inside your diary that have something to do with the entry, such as maps, postcards, ticket stubs, and postage stamps!
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    This can easily make a plain page look more interesting. You can do this for entry titles, but you can also use it for random words throughout your entry, such as: "I went to a PARTY and had so much FUN!" [5]
    • Try using caps, bubble letters, block letters, or even cursive.
    • To create glowing text, write your word first, then trace over each letter using a highlighter. [6]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Write your header using a different font from the rest of the page, then draw a cloud or zigzag border around it using a highlighter. For example: [7]
    • Write "My Birthday List" using bubble letters, then draw a cloud-shaped outline around it using a highlighter.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Lay down a strip of washi tape, then write your header on top of it using a pen. Another simple background is to simply highlight the text you want to stand out.
    • Turn the background into a banner by cutting a V-shaped notch into each end before putting it down.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Draw a banner using a pen, then color it in with colored pencils. You can also use a banner-shaped stamp to create the banner instead. Write your header inside the banner.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Cut a 1-inch (2.54 centimeters) piece of colored tape, then cut a V-shaped notch into one end. Use this in your calendar to make important dates stand out.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    A simple way to do this is to draw pretty vines and leaves around the borders of your page. You can also use squiggles, zigzags, and other designs as well. This can turn a simple page into a more fancy one.
    • You don't have to decorate every page, nor do you have to use the same border each time.
  9. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Starting a Diary

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Some diaries may already have a special first page where you can write your name and the title of your diary. Other diaries have a blank first page. In either case, you'd want to make the first page extra special. Here are some ideas to get you started:
    • Write your name, the title of your diary in large letters.
    • If you want, you can add a message that says "TOP SECRET" or "KEEP OUT", but be warned, if someone finds your diary, this will most likely make them want to read it even more.
    • Use lots of bright colors. Sparkly or metallic gel pens are great for this!
    • Decorate the corners and borders with doodles and stickers.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    The act of writing something down will help you get over the anxiety of writing in your diary for the first time. If you'd like, you can decorate the page further with doodles, sketches, or illustrations.
  3. This is a great way to start a diary that you plan on keeping for the entire year. Include things like your likes, dislikes, hobbies, and other stuff. This way, at the end of the year, you can go back to the beginning of your diary and see how much has changed!
  4. If you don't know what to write about, try to answer some general questions, such as what you are doing or feeling at this exact moment. Alternatively, you can have a box filled with slips of paper that have words and writing prompts written on them. When you don't know what to write about, pick a slip of paper from the box.
    • You can find all sorts of writing prompts online.
    • Writing your observations about the world and people around you are a great way to beat writer's block.
  5. If you can, try writing at the same time each day as well. This can be a precise time, such as 9:00PM or an arbitrary time, such as "after dinner" or "when you wake up."
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Start and Decorate a Diary
    Some people are afraid of writing in a pretty journal because they don't want to "ruin" it. If you are one of these people, you might feel better about writing in a cheap, plain notebook. Once you get comfortable writing in one, you can move on to fancier, more expensive ones.
  7. A planner can make a great diary! Instead of writing your plans in each of the sections, however, write something about what you did, saw, or felt that day! The small spaces will force you to keep your writing focused and to the point.
  8. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Is a journal like a secret book?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it can be.
  • Question
    My parents are suspecting me and so they tried once to read it. How can I hide it from them?
    Community Answer
    See How to Hide Your Diary for some tips.
  • Question
    Can I write in my diary with a colorful pen?
    Community Answer
    You can write with whatever you'd like, it's your diary! Personalize it and do whatever will make it special for you.
See more answers
Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Reader Videos

      Submit a Video Tip!

      Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

      Submit a Video

      Tips

      • Don't write very secret things if you know someone can easily get access to your diary! Make a fake diary and a real one. Write fake entries in the fake diary and leave it out in the open. When you catch him or her, it'll be very embarrassing for them to explain what they were doing. That'll teach them a lesson!
      • Don't ever write something that isn't true! Later on, you might think it was and make a mistake that could change your life forever.
      • You can draw and write poems, stories, or lyrics in your diary too! Remember title and date!
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If you want to be able to re-read your old diary, like in 10-15 years, writing in pencil is a no-go because it smudges and fades over time. Writing in pen is better for that. Some erasable pens fade in certain temperatures too, so you'll be better off doing research for long-lasting ink.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about writing in a diary, check out our in-depth interview with William Gardner, PsyD .

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 149,142 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • April Paewhenua

        Oct 27, 2018

        "This helped me so much. My diary is looking good and fancy with wikiHow's help. Their information is really ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement