by If you’re new to Mini BlendBooks, this post will guide you through what a Mini BlendBook is, why I use one, and how it fits into my Journablend system. If you’ve been following along with my Journablend series, you’ll know that everything I do in my journals, planners, and notebooks comes back to one guiding rhythm: The Blend Flow.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I use my Mini BlendBook for simple, creative journaling, why the smaller size makes such a difference, and how you can start one of your own. My hope is that it inspires you to create a little space in your journaling flow that feels playful, nourishing, and just for you.
A Quick Recap: Journablend & The Blend Flow
Journablend is my journaling approach that helps blend planning, reflection, creativity, and self-care into one cohesive, flexible practice. It’s about creating a journaling flow that fits into your real life – one that supports both productivity and wellbeing.
At the heart of Journablend is The Blend Flow, a system built around five elements that form the acronym B.L.E.N.D.
- B is for Braindump – clearing your mind and getting everything out on paper.
- L is for List – organizing your thoughts and tasks into lists that make sense.
- E is for Engage – actively using your journal and engaging with your plans, lists, and intentions so they support you in staying organized and on track.
- N is for Nourish – bringing self-care, creativity, and mindfulness into your journaling flow.
- D is for Daily – capturing your day and finding consistency through small, everyday journaling moments.
Together, these elements create a simple but meaningful flow that helps me stay balanced and creative, without feeling overwhelmed or boxed in.
What Is a BlendBook?
A BlendBook is what I call any notebook or journal that forms part of my Blend Flow. It’s a tool that helps me blend the different aspects of my life and journaling – planning, reflection, creativity, and self-care – in a way that works for me.
Right now, I have three main BlendBooks:
- My Daily BlendBook – for daily to-do lists and journaling.
- My Soul BlendBook – for deeper reflection, intention setting, and inner work.
- My Mini BlendBook – my little place for creative play and paper crafting joy.
The concept is flexible. Your BlendBooks might look completely different – you might only need one, or you might find joy in keeping a few, each with its own focus. You can name them your own way, or follow along with my versions if that helps you get started.
What Is a Mini BlendBook?
My Mini BlendBook is where I give myself permission to play. It’s a mini-sized (B6) lined notebook – nothing fancy or expensive – that I’ve covered from front to back with my favourite patterned papers, bits of ephemera, washi tape, and little treasures that make me happy.
It’s my creative space within my journaling flow – the part that nurtures my love of collage, paper, and making.
For a long time, I struggled to find a way to include this type of creative journaling in my routine. I kept trying to find the one notebook that could hold everything – my planning, reflections, and creative pages – but it never quite worked. The creative process was too time-consuming to mix in with daily planning, and I found myself feeling overwhelmed trying to do it all in one place.
That’s where my Mini BlendBook came in – a smaller, separate space that lets me create freely, without the pressure of time, structure, or purpose.
Why I Chose a Mini B6 BlendBook
Before this, I had tried creating similar journals and collage-style spreads in larger notebooks, but I found the bigger pages too overwhelming. The extra space made it harder to fill and took away some of the joy. I’d often leave pages unfinished because it just felt like too much. When I tried the mini B6 size, everything clicked. The smaller scale made it feel approachable and easy to complete, and the process became so much more enjoyable and satisfying. The finished size also feels so lovely and tactile to hold and flip through, like a little treasure book that fits perfectly in my hands.
How I Use My Mini BlendBook
Each spread starts with something small that inspires me – maybe a patterned paper I love, a printable junk journal page, a quote, or a fussy cut image. From there, I just play.
I use:
- torn papers and layers
- fussy cuts and stickers
- word strips and quotes
- junk journal printables
- washi tape, pockets, and tags
- scraps and little bits collected over time
I ink the edges of everything with distress ink* (I love that aged, perfectly imperfect look!) and attach pieces using double-sided tape in different widths. Each page is different, but they all feel cohesive because they reflect my personal style – soft, layered, and a little nostalgic.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them – at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly use and love.
I usually keep my Mini BlendBook open on my desk and come back to it throughout the week or month. I’ll move things around, add new pieces, and build pages slowly. It’s relaxed and mindful – a space that’s purely for enjoyment.
How It Fits into My Blend Flow
My Mini BlendBook falls under N is for Nourish in The Blend Flow. It’s not about productivity – it’s about creative nourishment.
This little book reminds me that creativity itself is a form of self-care. By spending time layering paper, playing with colour, and building textures, I reconnect with myself in a quiet, grounding way. It’s not a space where I focus on lots of writing or planning, but I often leave little journaling cards, tags, or pockets with space to write on later if I feel called to. Even without a lot of written words, it still reflects what’s happening in my inner world – through the colours, imagery, and meaningful pieces I’m drawn to.
How It’s Similar to (and Different from) a Junk Journal
My Mini BlendBook shares a lot in common with junk journaling – the layers, textures, collaging, and little bits of paper goodness – but it’s simpler and smaller because I’m not creating a journal from scratch. Instead of making signatures or binding pages together, I start with a ready-made notebook and simply decorate the pages as I go. This keeps the process light, relaxed, and easy to dip into whenever I have a few minutes.
It’s the perfect balance for me: a little bit of that junk journal magic, but in a format that fits into my everyday journaling flow.
Inspiration for Making Your Own Mini BlendBook
If you’d like to create your own Mini BlendBook, here are a few ideas to get started:
- Choose any small notebook – lined, grid, or blank.
- Pick a theme or inspiration for your first spread (nature, quotes, vintage florals, cozy home, etc.).
- Use papers and supplies you already own – scraps, printables, or even packaging.
- Don’t rush – let it be a slow, evolving project.
- Most importantly, create for the joy of it.
Your Mini BlendBook might be a space for collage and quotes like mine, or you might create a seasonal one – like this Christmas BlendBook I shared – or perhaps a gratitude or memory-focused theme. Whatever you choose, let it reflect your personality and what nourishes you most.
Because that’s what Journablend is all about – finding your flow, blending what matters, and journaling in a way that feels genuine and true to you.
If you’d like to see more of my personal journaling flow and how I use my BlendBooks in practice, I share behind-the-scenes pages, reflections, and creative ideas inside my free Patreon community. It’s a warm, supportive space to connect, get inspired, and explore Journablend and creative journaling together.
✨ You can join us here if you’d like to be part of the journey.
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