Your ArT
What is your art? Do you capture images on your digital camera? hand-letter? doodle? watercolor? dry flowers or herbs? use scissors to cut and collect bits of magazines and other printed materials? save ticket stubs or candy wrappers?
Basically … What do you want to add to your journal pages to embellish and make ‘em pop!?
Paper/Journal book
Using watercolor paper (or another type of heavy-weight paper—I recommend at least 24-lb paper quality) or a bound journal book (I recommend a spiral bound journal book, as it is easier to work with since it will open flat on your work surface …) Find a journal with a ring binding. This will allow you to open the journal flat with two blank pages facing up.
Theme
Determining a theme is optional (this is your journal, my friend!). However, if you begin with a theme, it is likely you will be less of a perfectionist and.or critic.
Theme ideas: by the event, week or month (review of activities, feelings, ponderings, highs, lows, “words-to-describe”)
Basics to Attach
Using adhesives (double-sided tape, glue sticks, glitter-glue, even stickers); scissors (straight-edge and decorative); paper punches; rubber stamps or various colors of pads; random stickers; threads, ribbons or cords; glitter or confetti pieces; leaves or grasses; decorative papers (even various wrappers or cuttings from junk-mail) — and other favorite tools with most any flat (or semi-flat) item that makes you smile! 
Be creative and freely create a journal that reflects your personal style, unique personality or blend of interests!
Personally, I save all sorts of colorful papers and wrappers! I cut-out shapes and items from mail-order catalogs — anything colorful, unusual or thematic.
The Collage Part
Again, thematic pages are an easy way to start collage journaling. I started a page today with a red ticket from a door-prize drawing. From there, my theme was “Winning” (quotes, gold stars, journal notations, etc.)
You might want to choose a color for your mood; a photograph or cut-out image to build a theme around. From the focal theme or image, begin to place your items on the page. Start from the center or a corner … Or just any place on the page you elect to begin! 
Building Layers
Once your decide where you will write (or how much of the page you want to write on later) begin to tape or glue the base-level items. Then select the other elements that will compliment your theme or design (random or orderly).
Remember: This is art. You are a designer. Your personal style — your art — is unique and part of a semi-experiment as you begin to explore collage journaling.
Once you begin to attach elements on your page(s) you will add finishing touches (glitter, lettering, stickers, threads, etc.) for the final design.
Final notes …
I tend to collect similar items in various container and plastic zipper-bags. If I “finish” pages and have leftover items, I simply store them for a later collage with these items.
You may not like what you have worked on; give it some time. Come back to it later … There may be other inspirations you choose to add that will “endear” it.
