How Gluebooking Can Spark Ideas and Beat Creative Block

October 4, 2025 • Art • Creativity

I've been in a bit of a creative dry spell, a “blocked” period, where I don’t know what to create, and sometimes even worse why I create.

I decided to kickstart my creative juices again by starting a “Creative inspo sketchbook”, to be used in times when I felt creatively stuck (right now lol). Sticking inside collected, and hoarded, postcards, prints, and bits and bobs I’ve accumulated over the years.

Later on I found out the right term, it’s in fact a gluebook.

Am I living under a rock for not knowing that? But call it whatever you like, sketchbook, gluebook, scrapbook, junkbook, junk journaling, what the focus has been for me for this one is to curate it with things that inspire creativity.

And I learnt something while gluebooking (is that a word?), that sometimes, creativity doesn’t come from forcing progress, it comes from curating what already inspires you.Think of it as a visual diary that sparks creativity without the pressure of creating “perfect” art.

Are you curious to try it out too? Keep reading to see why everyone could give gluebooking a go.

5 Reasons to Start a Gluebook

First things first, it’s really important to highlight that something like scrapbooking, or gluebooking, is a valuable way to spend your time.

Nowadays we’re so go go go. We need to optimise, strategise, monetize. And it feels like if you’re not doing something with quantifiable progress in some way, we think it’s a bit silly, a waste of time.

But personally, I think there isn’t anything silly about journaling or gluebooking. And, for me, there are 5 reasons why it’s absolutely worth trying out:

1) Appreciate and study other art = it all helps for inspiration

As creatives, it’s so important to be stimulating our little brains. We should be constantly learning, observing, gaining new insight into new ways of viewing the world, and portraying it.

There's so so much, endless amounts I believe, that we can appreciate and learn from other artists and creatives, and that’s why I love, and encourage, visiting art galleries and museums whenever, and wherever possible.

Overall, a gluebook gives you a space to gather and reflect on other artists’ work. I often add notes beside pieces I love, like who created it, where I found it, or why it resonates with me.

I think it opens up the possibilities of what you can do with your own art. For instance, by looking at risk takers and artists pushing boundaries, it encourages me to be a little more bolder. Or by looking at artwork which is so free, or so rigorous, I internalise the different routes I could take, what I can do with creativity.

To bullet-point, gluebooking has helped me:

Recognise patterns in what inspires me.
Discover / rediscover new methods, visions, storytelling, color combinations, textures, and techniques.
Refine my personal creative style.

2. A screen-free hobby (that replaces scrolling)

We’re all guilty of too much screen time. And I really think it has become overly normalised. We’re going overboard with screens, jumping from little screen to big screen, and scrolling and scrolling. It’s not making us happier.

I'm becoming a firm believer that we need to do more activities which bring us back into the present, back into the real world, where we can touch things and make things. And a gluebook offers just that.

Cutting, pasting, and arranging images pulls you into the present moment. It’s hands-on, screen-free, and far more fulfilling than doomscrolling or brainrot.

3. Capture & relive memories

Gluebooks double as a memory capsule. Postcards, museum tickets, and birthday cards all carry stories.

Every time I flip through mine, I’m reminded of good times, places I’ve visited, exhibitions I enjoyed, and moments lived.

For instance, I had this rush of gratitude come over me as I sorted out my postcards, and saw how many different museums I’ve been lucky to have visited across the world. When I was 16 I could only have dreamt of visiting these amazing art museums in London, Rio de Janeiro, Bilbao, Amsterdam, or appreciating the amazing street art scene in Manchester, Barcelona, Naples… It’s so wonderful to appreciate and remember these moments and adventures.

4. A creative form of meditation

Cutting, gluing, sorting, reflecting. It brings you to the present. It feels so peaceful, it's almost meditative.

It’s refreshing to be able to step away from the world for a moment, from chores, to-do lists, work, people, everything, and have this moment for yourself.

I like to listen to music, sip on a tea, and just let the papers in front of me guide me. And it feels extra nice when it’s dark, cold and windy outside haha.

And honestly, every time I finish scrapbooking or gluebooking I feel calm, happy, like I have simultaneously refreshed my mind but also filled it with new ideas. It’s a creative reset button.

5. Give your hoarded memorabilia a home lol

Are you perhaps a postcard hoarder like me?

Whenever I go to an art gallery or museum I must leave with at least one postcard or little, or big, print. I cannot help myself.

But what happens to all these super inspiring and beautiful imagery when I get home? I put it in a folder. Some things, very very few, might get framed. But never thrown away. They are special to me.

Instead of keeping them in a folder, the creative gluebook is the perfect home for them. They can become part of a living collection you can enjoy whenever you flip through your book.

How to Start Your Own Gluebook

Getting started is simple:

Grab a notebook or sketchbook (any size)
Collect your postcards, prints, and little bits and bob you refuse to part with
Add them in however you like, no rules, just creativity
Optional: write notes about why each piece inspires you. Where you found it. Any funny stories linked to it. I find that stopping to pause and reflect helps me remember the moment and connect dots.

Not really feeling starting a gluebook?

That's also fine. I imagine a lot of people don't have as much art memorabilia as me lol, or maybe don't want to feel like they have to commit to a whole book. If that's the case, why not try doing just a single page "creative inspo" collage - it could be a fun activity to do and get your creative juices running!

Final Thoughts

Whether you call it a gluebook, scrapbook, or junk journal, or even a collage, the practice is the same: collecting, creating, and reconnecting with your inspiration.

I’ve found it to be both calming and creatively energising, and I’d love to know if you try it too.

Have you ever thought about starting a gluebook? What would you put in yours?