Bullet Journal Stationery List

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Around 2015 I started using dot-grid journals to try and keep track of my scattered mind for college, in a method called "bullet journaling" -- I'm sure it's pretty well known to most people these days.  I'm not the best at explaining how it works, but there are plenty of good resources out there about learning what bullet journaling is all about, from the official book, to YouTube videos.

For a bit of fun, I put together a couple items that I consider my favourites for bullet journalling (from Amazon, the terrible site itself, as it's the easiest I find to browse for a wide range of items on - if anyone has any competitively priced US-based stationery sites, feel free to recommend them to me!). That being said, the price I list are for 4/24/2021, rounded up to the nearest dollar without tax, and are likely to change by the time I finish writing this post!

The links in this article are to Amazon, but they aren't connected to me in any way, so I don't get any kick-back from Amazon if you do end up purchasing anything.  But, if you feel like buying me a treat, here's my Amazon Stationery Wishlist.


Item 1: The journal itself.

For the past few years I have been using the Artist Loft Dot Journal (192 pages, 100gsm) from Michaels, for $7 (at the time of writing this, it is on sale for $3, and if shipping wasn't over twice that I'd be considering grabbing another one for a scrap journal).  It has 192 pages and has about 100gsm.  I'm currently using one of these journals, but with a light blue cover and a monogrammed quote: "Be Kind".  I'd like to try a new journal, however, one with a slightly higher gsm to try watercoloring straight into the journal, rather than on watercolor paper and gluing it into the journal.

Another journal that I have some experience with is the Tekukor A5 Dot Grid Notebook for $9 (192 pages, 100gsm), which is very similar to the journal that I usually buy from Michaels, but has slightly more yellowed paper, pre-numbered pages, and three bookmarks instead of 2.  My spouse was given the blue version of this journal as a gift from a friend, so I have had some experience touching the pages and testing the page bleed, which has results similar to the Michael's journal.

The third journal that caught my eye is very similar to the RETTACY one, but has a few more perforated pages - everything else seems to be the same: EMSHOI Dotted Journal, A5, 256 pages, 120gsm ($15). 


Item 2: Pens for Daily Writing (Gel or Ball-Point)

Honestly, you can use any pen type that feels most comfortable for you - everyone has their preferred methods, and these are just my personal recommendations.

My pen of choice is the PILOT Precise V5 line, mostly because I enjoy how fine of a line these pens give me, and I greatly enjoy the feeling of the liquid ink.  I'm not usually the biggest fan of rolling ball pens, but these changed my mind.  I specifically chose the Deco Collection because they're a good price on amazon, and they're super cute.  I love cute pens!  They also have an assorted color 10-pack of cap & barrel Precise V5 pens ($15), and a 4-pack of basic color retractable Precise V5 RT pens ($5).

The second type of pen that I'd choose for my daily tasks would be the PILOT G2 series, specifically the PILOT G2 Fine Point Assorted Ink (0.7mm) Retractable 5-pack ($7).  These are my spouse's favourite type of pen, and I completely understand why, as these rolling ball gel pens are just as smooth as the Precise V5 but with a bolder line.


Item 3: Pens for Art™ (Felt Tip/Archival)

These pens are the archival types that keep for a long time, and aren't easily smudged or removed by using other markers on top of them.  Of course, Sakura Pigma pens are everyone's go-to, but honestly they are one of the best felt-tipped pens I've used.  A second to those are the Staedtler Pigment Liners, set of 6 assorted pens ($16), and even the Copic Multiliner Inking Pen Set, 9 pc, ($24 on sale).


Item 4: Highlighters/Markers

I still don't have a complete set of the Zebra Mildliners, I'm only missing the "Refresh" pack, but they are still my favourite "highlighters" that I use for my journaling, hands down.  I love the dual tip aspect, allowing for some versatile lines.

Another mild/pastel highlighter set that I recommend is the STABILO Swing Cool Pastel 6-pack ($12).  I actually got my first STABILO Swing Cool as a single pen in purple at a small stationery shop while on a trip to Montreal - this is the same trip and shop that turned me over to the Pilot V5 line of pens.  It was an overall great experience, and definitely established the brand as quality in my mind.  It turns out a few years previous I had purchased the STABILO BOSS Pastel Highlighters 6-pack ($15) for my college work (and promptly misplaced them because of who I am as a person), and was absolutely chuffed to be able to use them for my daily spreads in my bullet journal.

If you have the cash for them, and the patience to learn how to use them well (something I'm still working on to be perfectly honest), Tombow dual tip brush pens are amazing quality, and are my favourite non-highlighter markers.  They are water based, so that's something to consider as well, as you can use water with them on thicker paper to create very beautiful watercolor art pieces.  The biggest downside is the price, as you can often get a pack of them on sale from $15-20, depending on the colors in the package.  I have collected several different color packs over the years, but there are a few colors I'm still missing, for example: the Tombow Dual Brush Pen Greyscale pack ($17 on sale).

But, for the simple task of block colors on paper, the classic Crayola Super Tips ($25) are the way to go - note, this is the only set in stock currently at Amazon, and it includes some smelly markers as well.  Fun.  I was able to get the 100 pack a few years ago for about $15 and there's a lot of usable colors for me, but I don't use a lot of the darker colors in my journal most of the time (my own personal preference).  Plus, they double as great markers to color coloring books with too.


Item 5: A Simple Ruler

If you're like me, you can't draw a straight line to save your life, and your crooked lines drive you nuts.  This is where a simple straight edge comes in mind, typically a short ruler, or edge of a stencil.  I have a couple old rulers from old middle school and high-school geometry sets that work perfectly for this, but are now so old that they have notches taken out of the straight edges, making them not the greatest for a perfect line.  I actually recently purchased a little Westcott 6" Transparent Graph Ruler, for under $2 to keep in one of my many pencil cases, just so I always have a ruler within reach, and to replace a wonky old ruler.  But my ideal straight edge/ruler is a transparent or metal stencil/ruler combination, like the one listed above - I love when my equipment has multiple uses.


Item 6: Pen Holder

I have to admit, I am a stucker for pencil cases.  I have several of the pencil cases like the EASTHILL Canvas Pencil Case, 2 Compartments, Dark Grey Heather ($11) in the "ANGOOBABY" brand, so I chose the slightly different design, which appears to be larger, as my choice on this list.  I keep my Mildliners in one of those canvas pencil cases, and it is now nearly full now that I almost have a complete set.  I think the 3 compartment version would have enough space for everything listed in this post.  Another soft pencil case I was looking at was the ANGOOBABY Canvas Pencil Case, Trapezoid, 1 Compartment, Black Stripes ($11), which is aesthetically pleasing to me.  I was also considering an upright standing pencil case to transfer my mildliners to, so I can see all of the cap colors easier, but I decided against that style for now.

For hard pencil cases, I have my eye on a Rainbow Rad Caboodles, in yellow, similar to one I bought for my spouse for Christmas!  They don't store a ton of pens, but they do have a great feel in the hands, and are the perfect size for most standard pens and pencils.  Plus, it may be a good size for sticker sheet storage.  Another hard case pencil box I've had my eye on is the Large Capacity Stackable Translucent Pastel Pencil Boxes, set of 6 ($15).  These are similar to other stackable little boxes that I use for playing cards and rocks, and look like they'd be fun to have stacked on a desk as a way to see what I have available while also keeping everything neat.


Item 7: Stickers

Ok, so, this one isn't on Amazon.  However, I have been following Kay since they first started posting their stickers, and they've come a long way! They create amazing quality bullet journal and productivity sticker sets, and I intend to continue purchasing from them every now and then for as long as their shop stays open.  Right now my top three Monthly Kit sticker sets from PlanningWithKay are: Blue Cherry Blossom, Good News, and Windows of the World.  They are also on Patreon, where you can sign up and get their next monthly kit shipped to you ahead of the website release, and get downloads of previous monthly kits and other goodies.

Back to Amazon, I did find a sticker set themed around simple productivity, which is ideal for what I'm looking for in bullet journaling stickers. Sunny Streak Store Simple Productivity Weekly Planner Stickers (B&W), 30 sheets ($17).

I received The Antiquarian Sticker Book by Odd Dot for Christmas this past year, and I am in love with the stickers within it.  Not for everyone, but I personally enjoy the old-style Victorian-like stickers.  They don't fit every theme, but they do bring me joy even just leafing through the sticker book itself.  I even have went as far as buying sticker paper from amazon, and occasionally printing my own stickers out - either little doodles I sketch on my tablet or printables that I find online.


Item 8: Glue & Adhesive

I typically use Elmer's Washable Purple Glue ($6) for gluing things into my bullet journal, from art to lists to tags from things I want to keep.  This being said, any glue will do, even generic Dot glue from the Dollar Tree.  For the times when I don't want to use an actual glue stick, or have to glue something down that's a little more sensitive like a photo, I stick to Adhesive Tape Rollers, like the Adtech Crafter's Tape Glue Runner, 4 pack ($7), or XFasten Double Sided Adhesive Scrapbook Runner Tape, 8 pack ($20), or TELEXSUN Glue Runner Tape, 12 pack ($21).


Item 9: Washi Tape and Scrapbook Paper

Like a lot of other things regarding bullet journaling, washi tape preferences depend on the person.  For me, along with the grid pattern above, I enjoy the following sets of washi tape: Van Gogh Washi Tape Set, 12 Rolls ($10), Vintage Green Mushrooms Washi Tape, 8 Rolls ($9), Assorted Washi Tape Set 16 Rolls, 15mm wide ($16), Washi Tape Set Black w/ Gold Foil, 10 rolls ($11), and Pastel Slim Washi Tape, 40 rolls ($20).

Now that we have our glue, it's time to figure out what we want to glue in our journal.  Scrapbook paper is a great way to add a collage-like feel to your journal without doing too much work to achieve it.  Thankfully the paper that's available these days has a lot of different designs, and it's easy to find something that catches your eye.  For me, I found a few more aside from the one listed above that I liked, Plaid Pad, 50 sheets ($6), Stamperia Old Lace, 10 sheets ($13), Stamperia Shabby Rose, 10 sheets ($18), Stamperia Precious, 10 sheets ($14), Stamperia Dream, 10 sheets ($12), Carta Bella Paper Company Botanical Garden, sheets ($14), and Carta Bella Paper Company Home Again ($14).


Item 10: Scissors, Glue & Correction Tape - Oh My!

This section reminds me of when you'd get past the fun part of a school shopping list like colorful pencil cases and pencil crayons, and get to "wooden HB pencils", "pair of scissors", and "pencil sharpener", you know?  Actually, as a child that part of the list was just as thrilling.  These are items you might already have laying around your desk, but can be very useful while bullet journaling.

I was a fan of the Ticonderoga brand, but they were often too much for our family's budget...  Memory lane time, I distinctly remember trading one of my ugly unsharpened orange-wood pencils in for one of my teacher's brand new yellow pre-sharpened ones because I couldn't find my sharpener.  It was my favorite pencil and I used it and cherished it until it was a nub.

Lo and behold, I discovered that these days they make fancy Ticonderoga pencils now!  There's colorful barreled ones with regular wood, 10pc ($5), neon barreled ones, 18pc ($6), all-black wooden ones ($5), and even black wood Holographic designed ones, 12pc ($6).  Those holographic ones really call to me - I would have begged for those as a child.  But now that I'm a little older, and my joints have started giving me trouble, the Ticonderoga My First Pencils ($7) are starting to look appealing.

Inevitably, I make a lot of mistakes.  This causes the eraser on the end of my pencil to disappear fast, and although I love getting little pencil topper erasers, they don't last long before being flung into the abyss or ripped in two.  I love white vinyl erasers, I've found, but struggle holding my hand in a fist long enough for to erase all my mistakes, so I use a Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser Holder ($6), or an electric eraser that I got from Wish.com.  It works well enough.

I actually use a corrective fluid pen I get from the dollar store, and I tend to lean more towards Bic products over generic branded ones if I can get them there. Bic Wite-Out Shake n' Squeeze Correction Pens, 4 pc ($10) or Bic Wite-Out Brand EZ Correction Tape, 10 pc ($13).

For scissors, I have been using the same pair of Scotch Precision Ultra Edge Non-Stick Titanium ($9) scissors since around 2014, and they've done me well.  They're only just starting to get a little squeaky and slightly dull, but nothing that a little TLC can't take care of.  I have my eye on a few different paper cutters/trimmers that are typically used in scrapbooking, like the Swingline Paper Cutter, 12" ($10), but I currently don't use one.



Thank you for making it this far in this post, I know it was a bit of a long and rambling one.  Bullet journalling brings me a lot of joy, and helps me stay productive day-to-day, and I wanted to spread the love.  If you also bullet journal, or just have some favourite stationery, feel free to comment what it is below and let me know! :)


Thanks for Reading,

Matt


P.S.   I haven't forgotten about writing posts about our food delivery boxes, I've just not been in the right mindset to write about them.  However, I will say that I've been enjoying the feeling I get after cooking - it makes me feel very accomplished.  

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