Happy 2026!

I still cannot wrap my head around it being 2026 already! But a new year means a new journal, and that dreaded first page. For me, I like to leave the very first page blank and open up the first double page. Here, I used the December kit to create a beautiful, positive, pastel spread to document what I am most looking forward to this year. I don’t do New Year’s resolutions because I just break them and feel pressure to do the whole ‘new year, new me’ thing. The truth is, there is no such thing. Life is for living, and working over Christmas has cemented that belief in me. Life is too short to live by restraints and rules. Do what makes you happy, and that is what my very first page of 2026 is about. What I am looking forward to and what has made me happy.

The most used item on my page here is the cut apart postcard and ‘zine. I find these fun to cut apart and collage on the page. I have kept my journal this year very neutral, plain and beige so I do not feel creatively restricted with colours and won’t feel as bad covering the entire page over if i want to.

I love creating pockets within the pages, especially if my chosen signature papers are too big. Fold them over, use double sided tape or staples and you have instantly maximised your journaling space. A pocket is great for letters, happy mail or hidden journaling.

For the base of the page, I took two of the 6×6 papers, tore them into halves and used them to layer up to create a pastel base to work on. Then I used some scrap paper and a section of the zine to create journaling focus spots. Then I used some of the stickers. some washi from my stash and some word/phrase stickers from my sticker book to add the finishing touches. The transparent garland like stickers that came in the kit are perfect for framing photos or creating a banner.

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Let me know what you think of my first spread of the year, and how you are using your kit!