Hey friends! Missy Briggs from @missybriggs and Missybriggs.com here. Today I’d love to share seven different ways I like to add photos to my bullet journal. I’ll be adding a photo collection of my dog, Tosh, into the blackout section of my A5 Neapolitan Archer & Olive Journal, but feel free to use these techniques anywhere you want to add photos. Let's get started!

Materials:

You don’t need every material listed below, but I’m going to include everything I’m using to add photos to my journal in seven different ways!

• Archer & Olive A5 Journal
• Archer & Olive Acrylograph Pens
• Cardstock
• Vellum or printer paper
• Double-sided tape or a glue stick
• Thermal photo printer like the Phomemo or Canon Ivy
• Washi sticker paper
• Washi tape
• Printable adhesive vinyl
• Craft knife 
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Photographs
• Scrap paper
• Scrap piece of cardboard

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Remember to use code MISSY10 when you shop Archer & Olive for 10% off your purchase.

Cardstock Photo Frame 

To get started, grab a photo or two that you would like to add into your journal. I’m adding a 4x6” photo to mine just to demonstrate, but you can get creative and make entire photo frame spreads to really show off your favorite photos. Cut the cardstock to 4.5 x 6.5”. Mark a rectangle inside that will be exactly 4x6”. Cut out the inner rectangle with a craft knife and insert into your bujo with double-sided tape or glue.

Washi Sticker Photo

Open your photo in a photo editing software and reduce the opacity to about 60%. You can print at full color, but I find it  looks better and more saturated when the original is reduced. This is especially true on the blackout book where the washi is somewhat transparent and the background is the black paper.

Thermal Photo Printer

Thermal photos are really fun for labels—and photos! I’ve tried both the Phomemo brand and the Canon Ivy. I know there are a lot of other great printers on the market. Grab one and try it out! The photo paper is adhesive backed for easy insertion into your bujo. My hot tip for the Phomemo is to add a bit of clear gesso on top to seal it. The thermal paper has a lifespan of somewhere between one and five years. Have you ever found an old faded receipt? Yep, your photo will look like that too. Seal it or embellish with your acrylograph pens to make it last!

Photo Tip-in

Using washi to add a tip-in into your journal works for adding notes, extra pages, and definitely photos. Just cut a piece of washi the exact length of your photo and tape one side down. Flip the photo over and reinforce with another strip of washi down the back. 

Printable Vinyl Stickers

Have you ever tried printable adhesive vinyl for stickers? The vinyl is thinner than sticker paper, which is key if you don’t like your bujo to get too thick. Best of all, you’re printing on a piece of letter size paper, so you can get multiple photos on one sheet and then cut them apart.

Envelope Pocket

Photo pockets are easy to fold and add into your journal. See the video below for a full demo. You will need to cut your paper or vellum to 7.5” x 7.5” square to begin folding. The photo inserted is 3” x 3.5”. Attach to your bujo with double-sided tape or glue.

Photo Dutch Door

The dutch door method works as an alternative to the washi tip-in method. I’ve printed my photo on adhesive vinyl, and cut it to 5.25” wide so it goes all the way across the page on an A5 journal. I’ve then sandwiched the back with another photo and carefully trimmed the edge with scissors. When cutting away the page to create a dutch door, use your craft knife, a ruler and place a scrap piece of cardboard between the page you’re cutting and the next page of your journal to protect it.

When space allows, I love to use these photo additions to keep a record of events. Dedicated photo collections or a photo-a-day are really great ways to add color to your journal too!

Here’s a printable to get you started on your own photo frame, and an additional idea for a pre-printed envelope.

I can’t wait to see ways that you’ll add photos to your bujo. Be sure to tag me @missybriggs on Instagram so I can like, comment and feature your ideas in my stories!