Bullet journaling is a really useful planning system that can help you to be organised and productive with your time. There is a lot of emphasis on creative pages when you search on social media, which can sometimes feel that you are not creative enough.
However, there are so many ways that you can decorate and be creative whether you can draw or not. If you are unsure about how to set up a bullet journal, you can read my illustrated guide. In this post, I am sharing 8 different ways you can start decorating your journal.
Here are 8 things you can use to be creative with your bullet journal when you cannot draw:
- Stickers
- Washi tape
- Stencils
- Kraft or patterned paper
- Decorative boxes
- Try printables
- Print your own pictures
- Stamp
1. Stickers
Stickers are a great solution for someone who can’t draw. They can provide you with art in your bullet journal without you having to draw, paint or create anything.
There are so many different stickers that you can find on Amazon and Etsy that can help you make each of your bullet journal pages colourful and creative. Just layering a few stickers on a page can already change the overall aesthetic of your bullet journal. I love using my bullet journal, but also my journal. My current favourites have come from Handmade Dorset and Amazon.
2. Washi tapes
I love using washi tapes in my bullet journal, my planner and my journal. Washi tape can come in many sizes, so many colours and lots of patterns to suit every theme idea. Washi tape is a chosen staple for many people, using it to add colour, make page borders or some design elements to make beautiful spreads throughout your journal.
You can design simple spreads whether that is a tracker page or a weekly spread, but just by putting some washi tape in the corners of the page can jazz up your pages. If you want to add depth and texture to your pages, you can layer the washi tapes with different colours and patterns. Not only these above options you can also use washi tapes for borders, make trackers, make boxes or for even underlining titles.
3. Stencils
I used stencils all the time as a child. I used to love drawing and making cards. Stencils will help you to create beautiful borders, doodles or lettering for your page spreads.
Once you have used stencils to create the borders, doodles and lettering, you can then add colour. I will usually colour borders, lettering or doodles with either Crayola Supertips or my Tombow Brush Pens.
Stencils can make designing more creative pages really easy and can save you a lot of time. I am on the lookout for a stencil to draw out my habit tracker tables.
4. Kraft or patterned paper and old book pages
Finding some kraft paper, patterned paper or even wrapping paper, then ripping it carefully so you get that ‘torn look’ then glue it to your page, add stickers and some washi tape, then you have a rustic scrapbook style design. This design looks more complicated, but it is SO simple to do.
I have tried this design idea with old book pages, tearing them and using them in a layered design. I love how it looks super creative with really minimal effort.
You could even use sample wallpaper or fabric to add texture to your spreads. Scrapbooking paper is perfect for bullet journalers to add colour without any drawing.
5. Decorative boxes
Again, this is something so simple that can change the look of a bullet journal page. Pinterest and YouTube have a variety of tutorials that will show you how to create decorate boxes that can be used for ideas and to write titles in.
You could choose between more creative boxes or simple line boxes that you can either draw with coloured pens or add a shadow box which can give your spread depth. Making simple boxes can be done with a ruler or free hand using the dots to create an even sized box.
A popular use of decorative boxes can be to include the titles; it is an easy way to create a more creative page.
6. Try printables
This is something I haven’t used in my bullet journal before, but cannot only save you a lot of time, but you can choose a printable that is really creative. There are plenty of people on Etsy and social media who offer free pintables as well as paid printables. You will be able to glue or washi tape them into your pages.
If another reason you don’t bullet journal is because you feel designing the pages may be too time consuming, gluing in printables can be a really great solution. So, other people create amazing journaling spreads and all you need to do is print them.
7. Print pictures
Choosing photographs you like and then printing them for your bullet journal can be a great way to add colour and art to each of your pages. Not only could you search on Google images to find certain pictures for your theme aesthetic, you could even print photographs that you have taken yourself and make your bullet journal more personal.
I have an HP sprocket which enables me to quickly print pictures I have taken in nature but only others on Google images that allows me to create my on stickers.
This will be really useful if you like monthly theme in your bullet journal as you can use themed pictures. For example, if in the summer months you want to do a beach theme. You just have to find and print some beach pictures and use sand coloured Crayola Supertips or Tombow Brush Pens.
8. Stamps
This is one of my favourite ways to decorate my bullet journal as they are easy to use and give a rustic, old fashioned look. If you aren’t good with lettering, using letter stamps can be a great way to add a title or subject titles to each of your pages.
If you shop online you can find stamps with SO many designs, whether they are floral, lettering, borders, decorative boxes and much more. I have been into Hobbycraft and they have such a huge range and I am always looking out for gorgeous stamps to use in my bullet journal and my journal.
Try tutorials
Even if you feel like you can’t draw, try working with tutorials. Drawing might not be something you are good at with enough practice, you can learn to design more creative bullet journal spreads. Even when you see spreads online, those people when they first started where not as good. We were always told ‘practice makes perfect’.
Bullet journaling is about self-improvement and development. So, whether that is to stay organised with your to-do lists, regularly practise your habits ad learn. So, you also add practising and improving your drawing and doodling to the benefits of using a bullet journal.
Drawing or doodling may not be your forte, but you shouldn’t use other forms of art. Some bullet journalers choose to use paint instead of drawing. Using paint in your bullet journal doesn’t have to be difficult. You could use just a splash of watercolour paint behind your title or an outline for your spread can brighten up your pages. There is no right or wrong way to bullet journal; there are numerous ways to design your bullet journal pages.
So, if you have avoided a bullet journal because you feel that you are not creative enough or because you can’t draw or doodle, you no longer need to. You can utilise the bullet journal system to grow, develop and enable you to be more productive.
Do you use a bullet journal? How do you decorate your bullet journal? I’d love to hear in the comments.
This is so handy! Your journals always look super creative! I’ve not done anything like this before, but love the stamps and the washi tape ideas most.
Claire.X
http://www.clairemac.co.uk
Thank you lovely! X
These are great ideas! I like the idea of being creative in different ways, rather than just drawing x
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Hehehe… I love decorating my journals with sticker even though I also draw on them. Stickers make you journal livelier.
Definitely! Thank you for reading and commenting.
These are all great ideas! I am a BIG fan of stickers myself. I actually have a shoebox full of them!
Stickers are great! Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love the dea of using stickers in your journal. I already use them in my planner.
You definitely should give it a go. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I don’t have physical journal but would love to use printables to decorate my journal because it makes look pretty.
Definitely give it a try. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Lovely ideas – thanks!
I use what I like to call a modified bullet journal. I do use Washi and stickers and sometimes a picture or two. I like looking at others who are more artistic on social media but I have really embraced that my journal is my journal. It is a happy space for me.
It is great you have found what worked for you. Thank you for reading and commenting. Can you link your blog?
Great tips Lauren! I love using washi tape, stamps, and stickers. Sometimes I like to rip photos from newspapers or magazines and include them for a pop of color. I like the collage effect it gives. Thanks for sharing!
That’s a good idea! Thank you for reading and commenting.
Thanks for the inspiration Lauren. The photos of your own journal pages really show what’s possible 😁
Thank you! Thank you for reading and commenting.
I don’t have a bullet journal but I am interested in trying art journaling and all these tips are very relevant to that too. Thanks for sharing these awesome ideas.
Definitely would work for an art journal too. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Stickers and washi tapes are the ones that I usually use to decorate my planner 😀 I really can’t draw haha ~ thanks for sharing these ideas x
These are such creative tips. I love washing tape and also stickers. Although I’m constantly scraping toddler stickers off the floor, which is annoying. Haha!
Ooops! Thank you for reading and commenting.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I’ve used a combination of all the above AND doodles, over the last couple of years. I like the fact bullet journals are flexible, and can be as fussy or unfussy as the user likes! Its half the fun right?!
It is great you have found these work for you. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I don’t use a bullet journal at all, but these are some neat ideas. I love how decorative your journal looks. I am a big fan of washi tape. I use it as boarders around my 5D paintings.
That’s great you have found a different use for washi tape. Thank you for reading and commenting.
These are so helpful! I always love how bullet journals look, but I never found that I was able to make mine look how I wanted them to. I will definitely use some of these tips!
Definitely practise these and just regularly practise different styles and you will find it gets easier. Thank you for reading and commenting.
These are some great tips! Thank you for sharing…ive never done bullet journaling but want to get into it.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
You are so creative! These look good.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I mostly use stickers but maybe I’ll try some of these too!
I cannot draw, but this post has nudged me to try my hand at bullet journaling again.
Definitely give it another go! You don’t need to be a good drawer. I can’t really draw ha ha!
These are great tips for those of who are not artistically gifted! I used to follow tutorials on different doodles to help too.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
That is a good way to learn how to do doodling. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I have a lot of stickers and washi tape and I also love using craft paper. I use my bullet journal to track my blog stats and as a blog to do list. Thanks for sharing 🙂
That’s awesome. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love stickers and tape! In fact I’ve always wanted to create my own sticker sheets for use with journals, but I just don’t know where to start.
A circuit machine is helpful to do. My mum has one but I haven’t tried it yet
Stickers and stamps bring me back to childhood days. Way cool. I would use those approaches because I cannot draw one lick LOL.
Ryan
Ha ha! Thank you for reading and commenting.
Great ideas! I always forget how much I enjoy stickers. And I must say, your journals are beautiful! Mine are basic notebooks and/or loose-leaf sheets with a paperclip.🤣 Thank you for sharing!
Stickers and washi tape often tend to feature in my journal 🙂
That’s awesome!
I have a bullet journal, but apart from doing a month name page (March etc) i never know what to put it in, but you have given me a few ideas of things to try, thanks.
I used to be so elaborate with my bullet journal, but I don’t have the time I used to. So now I really rely on washi tape and stickers to make my bullet journal look more fun without putting too much effort. I also sometimes clip out pictures from a magazine to put it on my monthly cover! Great post full of good ideas 🙂 xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
It is great you have found a compromise. Thank you for sharing.