I am excited to be sharing this post because I am back to bullet journaling. If you didn’t see me from my social media, I swapped to using a Happy Planner or a period of time, but I missed designing my bujo monthly spreads.
I like to make to-do lists and plan my week, but in addition, track my blog and social media statistics as well as my daily habits. I was drawn to YouTube and fell down the rabbit hole of bullet journal planning and knew I needed to swap back.
When I was planning out my new bujo, I was thinking about all the supplies I would need and so I thought that I would share the bullet journal supplies you would need to have in order to start a bullet journal planner. There is nothing better than fresh new notebook pages waiting to soak up all the creativity.
This is a list of 4 supplies that you will need to create a creative yet functional planner:
1. Bullet Journal
There are so many different brands that offer a bullet journal style notebook with varying prices, so that you can find a dotted journal for every budget.
You can splurge on an Archer and Olive dotted journal which is towards the top end of the price range and then you could go to Yop & Tom where they have dotted journals that are the dupe of Archer and Olive, but for half the price! There are also other brands like: DingBats Notebooks, Leuchtturm, Stationery Island and many more.
I chose to use a Leuchtturm one this time because I had an extra one in my lovely big notebook stash! One reason I love Leuchtturm notebooks is you can get them in such a wide variety of colours.
2. A Decent Fineliner
When you are deigning bullet journal spreads, whether writing or doodling, fineliners are the best for intricate or smaller lettering. Fineliner pens make your designs look clear and bold without looking heavy. There are so many black and coloured pens on the market that would be perfect for you bullet journal. My pen recommendations are: Pigma Micron pens (in varying tip sizes), Uni-ball Eye micro pens and Staedtler. These pens, if you shop around, are not super expensive. Remember to check out Amazon for great pen deals
3. Washi Tape
Okay, so washi tape isn’t necessarily a bujo essential, but for many people it is. Washi tape is a simple way to add colour and create fun designs, which is perfect if you want to bullet journal, but cannot draw. Washi tape is an inexpensive supply that can add a lot to a simple layout. I get beautiful washi tapes from: Handmade Dorset, Amazon and Etsy.
Read: 20 washi tapes for your bullet journal
4. Extras
The extra supplies are things like: pencils, ruler, rubber and brush pens or Crayola colouring pens, which work so well for brush lettering especially for beginners. For some, these may not be essentials, but if you want to design habit trackers and more artistic designs, I recommend first designing in pencil and going over the lines with your fineliner.
Bullet journaling doesn’t have to be an expensive form of planning. However, there is also no shame in spending a little more on stickers, washi tapes or pens etc. Bullet journaling is about planning how you want to.
There are so many things that you can use your bullet journal for and areas of your life you can track:
- Savings tracker
- Bucket list
- Wish list
- Dream log
- Meal planning/food diary
- Expenses
- Doodle pages/title designs
- Party planning
- Birthday gift planning
- List of movies you want to see
- Places you want to visit
- Weight loss tracker
- Water log
- Exercise log
- Chore lists
- Self-care ideas
- Spending log
- Christmas gift planning
- Blog post ideas
- Blog statistics tracker
- Bill tracker
Ooh I’m excited to see your new spreads!
Your bullet journal posts really have me wanting to give them another go.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
You should and see how you get on, I would love to see them
I bullet journal but do like a pre-laid out journal too. I think the beauty of something like the Happiness Planner is that you’ve probably found a few things that you liked which you can incorporate in your new bujo 🙂
Yes definitely. Thank you for reading and commenting x
I’ve just started a bullet journal too! I really enjoyed having a few hours to design my July spread but I would love some ideas! x
Oooo, I look forward to seeing posts on your bullet journal. I will be sharing more posts about my spreads etc x
I love that you found a new home for the Happy Planner! I think most of us would have just thrown it away, but giving it to someone who likes it is so much better.
My own “bullet journal” is more of a minimalistic mess, but I totally agree with you on the washi tape. I can’t go without it, even though I don’t even use it on a regular basis.
x Envy
I don’t like waste. I am starting off minimalistic so there is less pressure. Thank you for reading and commenting. Can you send me the link to your blog x
I have a bullet journal
to add to the list – a pinch of creativity!
also: brush pens, glue, a calendar nearby to remind you of dates, ruler (although I lost my ruler so I just do wobbly freehand lines now!), and ofc washi tape which I use to tape things into my journal 🙂
thanks for this fun post!
-Lena
http://www.lenasnotebook.co.uk
These are great things to have for your bullet journal. I have seen your spreads and they are beautiful and so creative xx
Love bullet journalling – I love how flexible it is and gives you the chance to be as creative or minimalist as you want which is great for me because some months I go all out and others not so much! I love some Washi tape though to add something different but I would definitely recommend Crayola super tip pens and brush pens too which just add a little extra to any spread. in my opinion. Can’t wait to see your future spreads and set ups!
I have lots of brush pens but I haven’t got those crayons super tips, I am going to have to buy some haha! I had Staedtler felt tips but they aren’t the same. Thank you, I am excited to share them. Please can you send me the link to your blog as the link above isn’t working
I have started bullet journaling this year and it has honestly changed my life!
It’s such a fun way to express how I’m feeling and record my memoirs.
P.S I have the same bullet journal too
It is life changing for so many people. Definitely. Aww really. Great minds think alike haha! 😊
I keep my bullet journal super minimal to avoid the pressure to “keep up”. I also keep my supplies minimal so I don’t fall into the trap of “oh I don’t have my purple polka dot tape or hot magenta pen so I will have to do this later”. I have a dot notebook, a tombow fudenosuke for brush lettering headings, a black Bailey ballpoint cross pen for all my writing, and a grey mildliner as needed.
That’s fair enough. That’s how I am starting also, definitely no pressure x
You know how I said I didn’t think bullet journal was for me? Well, reading all about your posts about it and doing a quick search on Youtube made me want to try it a third time! 😀 I’m thinking of starting next month and I’ll be prepping it sometime in the last few days of July.
I’m thinking of starting of using one of the many unlined journals I impulse-bought and just my usual drawing pens, color pencils and watercolor. But I would love to add some washi tapes in it when I (hopefully) get the hang of it!
Kate | https://allthetrinkets.com
That’s awesome!! I am sure you are going to do great spreads! 😊. I look forward to seeing blog posts on them xx
I started a BuJo a few years ago but struggled to keep up with it creating new layouts and stuff, but this has inspired me to reconsider! I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts in this in the future 😊
Definitely don’t need elaborate themes! You will develop as you go or keep it minimal. It’s what works best for you. Thank you for reading and commenting! Xx
Bullet Journals are so much fun. I like to use markers, stickers, washi tape, and Post-it notes. It is so much fun for doodles and notes.
It really is! Thank you!
I’ve tried 2 different kinds of dotted notebooks, and find myself not to be too picky. For two years I used the Muji dotted notebook. I liked it because the paper wasn’t too thin and it had a spiral spine, which I liked, because it was easier to get to the center of the notebooks. They discontinued that line of notebooks, and so I went on amazon to look for my next one. This time around, i ended up with the minimalism art dotted notebook. I really like it! I really like soft cover notebooks, and this one is the perfect size. I got it in black this time around, but next time I might get a different colored one! Great post, I always love looking to see what notebooks people like using xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Ooo I haven’t heard of either of these two. I’ll have to look at the minimalism art notebook. Thank you for reading and sharing xx
This just motivated me to start a bullet journal! ✨ Loved this post sooo much! X
You should they are good fun! Look forward to hearing if you do x
After reading this I realised I have a bullet journal without knowing there was an actual name, “bullet journal!”. Or something similar at least.
Oh really that’s so cool you already have one x
oh I’m such a big fan of bullet journals. Although, I didn’t actually get one this year I do think they are a great idea! Also how exciting is it that you can create your own diary in your own style 😀 Great post lovely!
Ashleigh
Thank you for sharing!! They are great!
I am not a bullet journal-er yet, but this post is getting me there! I recently stuck some washi tape in my ordinary scribble notebook in a fit of boredom and was amazed at how bright and inspiring it was!
It does spark colour and inspiration! I hope you explore bullet journals they are great fun
i’ve been dying to try bullet journaling but it always seems to slip my mind. the idea of having a notebook that can have literally everything and anything you’d need to stay organized sounds wonderful to me lol! i love those pens, this is making me want new stationary!! xx
mich / simplymich.com
You should definitely try it, it’s so much fun! Xx
I’ve never actually had a bullet journal before but I’ve seen so many lovely ones and it always makes me want to give it a go and start one. I might have to give one a go now! X
I’ve always been tempted to try a Leuchtturm notebook, they have such a great range! Of course, I don’t need anymore notebooks (haha) but this one looks like such good quality so I’m kinda tempted 🙂 I love that you are back into bullet journalling again, your designs and spreads are always so nice to see! Can’t wait to see what you come up with, especially as your have such awesome washi tapes and colourful pens, I’m sure it will look fantastic. Thanks for sharing Lauren, great post! <3 xxx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Thank you so much Bexa! I am excited to get started again, I am starting off minimalistic. I love them, so I would recommend them xxxx
Is it just me or does anyone else have a complete addiction to buying new stationary?! Great post – made me want more pens 😆
I always do!
Glad you’re back bullet journalling because I LOVE reading bujo posts 😀 Your essentials are definitely ones I agree with – could not live without my fineliners xxx
Thank you!! 😊. I love reading bullet journal posts too xx
I haven’t seen a ring binder bullet journal how awesome is that!!! I definitely have started off more simplistic this time around. We shall see if it changes xxx
Yeah it’s great to be creative and personalised with your journal. Thank you for reading!
I’ve just been binge-reading your bullet journal posts and I am feeling all inspired. Now to check out some YouTube videos about this!
Aww, thank you. I hope you found the helpful. There are so many talented people out there. You should see the set ups on amandarachlee’s YouTube channel. X