Can I have stationery as my love language? I have been a stationery lover ever since I was little. I remember the lead up to Christmas I would sit and circle all the Crayola products in the Argos catalogue and stick them to my list.
I am not sure where my love of stationery comes from, other than my mum loves crafting and stationery and my dad manage a well known stationery shop for over 20 years. So maybe inherited it and grew up around it. But growing up my love for stationery has grown with me. It brings me a lot of joy and gives me that creative outlet whether that’s: bullet journaling, journaling, scrapbooking or creating art journal pages.
When it comes to stationery it can evoke a variety of emotions. A new notebook can bring you happiness or excitement about starting a new notebook. However, being a stationery addict can cause frustration and there are some annoying struggles that come with being a stationery addict.
There are some struggles of a stationery addict, can you relate to any of these?
1. Smudges
You spend time writing or designing something in your notebook or journal and then it smudges, is so disheartening. I have spent time designing bullet journal spreads and if I use fineliners, I have had the dreaded smudge happen. It is so frustrating, so thank goodness for washi tape and stickers to cover up the mistakes.
2. Ink smudges on highlighters
Using a highlighter is great for checking tasks off a list, to use in a bullet journal weekly spread and I will be using them whilst I study. But, do you find it annoying when you highlight writing and you are left with ink marks. It is so annoying!
3. You buy a new notebook and now it is ‘too pretty’ to use
I have brought A LOT of notebooks over the years and I still have 2 beautiful black glitter B5 notebooks from Paperchase. I have had them since 2019 and I haven’t written in them. I know it sounds crazy, but I think they are so pretty that I need them for a good project. I might use them for when I start university in September.
4. Find a great notebook but the paper quality is horrible
I love going stationery shopping, finding new notebooks and pens. However, it is so frustrating when you find a pretty notebook cover/design but you open it to find the paper quality is terrible. Whether the paper is that ivory yellow stain (which I hate) or the paper is so wafer thin, it will cause heaving ghosting or pen bleeding. It’s a no from me!
5. Buying stationery gifts for others, so you end up with double
I have a few people in my life who have a love of stationery and crafting, so I always have a lot of fun buying stationery related gifts. However, I have done this on so many occasions, I find a great gift idea and then I buy double because I want it as well.
6. Social media makes me buy it
I can be scrolling on social media and see someone’s stationery product/collection and then immediately try and find and buy it. But it is so frustrating when you do buy it as you are spending more money, but it is even more frustrating when you can’t find the same products to buy.
On Instagram in particular there is a great stationery, bullet journaling, journaling, crafting community. So, my feed is always filled with this content, which means I end up wanting all of the supplies. I hate it when I can’t find or get the products, I don’t like the feeling of missing out.
7. Ghosting and pen bleeding
Writing on low grade GSM can cause a variety of pens to either ghost or bleed through the pages, which I think it makes my pages look messy! Some people like the used look and feel but, when using a bullet journal I prefer a higher page GSM. Any pages higher than 100 GSM are best for little to no ghosting or bleeding.
8. Buy new notebooks even when you already have plenty
Do you find yourself buying a new notebook that catches your eye, even though you know you have so many at home? Same. I can have the largest collection of notebooks and still find one I want to buy. Recently, I brought 3 new notebooks purely for the cover design and cover colour. However, for May until August I have put myself on a stationery ban. As in late August I will need to buy stationery supplies for when I start university in September, so I want to save some money.
9. Unsure what notebook to use
Do you have so many notebooks that when it comes to your next project you have no clue which one to pick? I have this same problem. I have a lot of notebooks and I do find it difficult to pick which notebook I want to use next. Yes, I am very aware this is a first world problem.
10. No space
Are you running out of space for all the new stationery you keep buying, as I can relate to this. I have now invested in a stationery cart that I ordered from Hobbycraft to store my growing collection of notebooks and supplies. In addition, I have brought acrylic storage draws to store my growing washi tape collection and my pen stash. Do you find you need more storage for your growing stationery collection?
11. Notebooks that don’t lie flat
I love the look of a notebook, but then I open it up to find the binding means it doesn’t life flat. I hate this about notebooks and I can never understand how people can write on pages that do not life flat. Having notebooks that lie flat makes it easier and more comfortable to write in.
12. Supplies cost too much to ship
In the UK there are stationery, planning and crafting shops. However, the United States for example have so many more stores and brands for planning and stationery supplies. But, what is SO frustrating to me is that the shipping of the amazing stationery and planning supplies are so expensive and often are more expensive than the products I want to buy in the first place.
These are just some of the struggles that can come with being a lover of stationery or a stationery addict. Can you relate to any of these struggles? What struggles do you find? I’d love to hear in the comments.
😂😂😂 relate to this…..ALL the notebooks that are too pretty to use
I have so many like this! Haha. Thank you for reading and commenting. So glad you could relate to this post.
OMG I loved reading this post! I hate it when the ink smudges after you’ve written something. Also I completely get you about not wanting to use notebooks cause they’re too pretty! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I am so glad you were able to relate. Ink smudges are so annoying! Thank you for reading and commenting.
As a left hander, smudging is definitely one of my biggest issues. And going out with pen stains all over my hand and looking scruffy is another thing I hate too.
Oh that must be so annoying! Thank you for reading and commenting.
If “stationery addict” doesn’t describe me, I don’t know what was! I’ve got shelves worth of unused notebooks that are “waiting for the perfect project,” because they’re too pretty to use for just any old project! It’s a real struggle.
Yes I have notebooks like these too. My stationery cart is filled with so many brand new gorgeous notebooks. Thank you for reading and commenting. So glad you can relate to this post.
I relate to so much of what you’ve written. Too much choice – can’t say too much stationery, but definitely struggle to decide what to use
I am so glad you were able to relate to this post. Thank you for reading and commenting.
It’s great that you brought up university. I remember having so much fun picking out notebooks for classes and finding the right one for the right class. I guess that was my struggle, spending so much time picking out notebooks.
I am excited to go stationery shopping for university. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Yes to half of these annoyances! I am a stationery addict too, storing it all is like a minefield and I think prices for stationery is getting ridiculous. Loved reading this post!
I am glad you were able to relate to this post. Thank you for reading and commenting.
This is so relatable! For me, I have a planner buying problem. But then I don’t even end up using the planners because I forget I have them, or they are too pretty. And ironically, it’s the planner with the poor page quality that I use the most! 😂
Oh that’s good you use that one though. What planner do you use the most? Is it a branded one? Thank you for reading and commenting.
I thought I would be using the Posh 18-month habit tracking planner. It’s a really pretty planner. Surprisingly, I haven’t used it at all this year and it still sits in my drawer, untouched 😏
These days, I use a cheap $4 Dollarama planner 😂 The pages are poor quality. The only thing this planner has going for it are reminders when it’s international watermelon day, talk like a pirate day, international hug-a-friend day, international ice cream day, etc.
What fun things to you on your planner. Is the habit planner undated? As you could save it for another time x
The habit tracking planner is good until the end of 2023 🤗
Aww that’s good!
Notebooks that don’t lay flat bother the crap out of me. I’ve my love for the Classic A5 lined notebooks that come in all sorts of colors, and colors do I have. I have color coded each color to match a spefic theme, so I don’t get them confused. You’re not alone in your addiction. It’s real and’m I’m here too, haha.
I can’t write in notebooks that don’t lie flat. A colour coded system sounds like it works well for you. So glad others can relate to this post. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Notebooks and pens can be so much fun to buy. We’re trying to get into a habit of regularly using notebooks and planners.
I love shopping for stationery and can’t wait to shop for university supplies. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I had a problem buying too much stationery. Every time I went to Marshalls or TJMaxx, I got a new one. I finally used all of the ones I got from there.
America and Canada have so many great stationery shops, is that where you are?
Lol I believe I am a stationary addict too! I love me some good stationary pieces!
Thank you for reading and commenting. It is so nice to read that other people can relate.
Yes to all these! 🤣 lately, I have been saying we all have different needs- supplies and stationaries are mine. 😅 I will upload my sticker and supplies haul soon. Haha
That’s awesome. Look forward to seeing your hauls! Thank you for reading and commenting. I am glad you could relate to this post.
Thank you for sharing your experience and struggles as a stationery addict. I can definitely relate to the anxiety of having too many options and feeling the need to buy more. Your tips on setting a budget and prioritizing functionality over aesthetics are very helpful and I appreciate the reminder to use what I already have. Do you have any favorite stationery items or brands that you would recommend?
Regarding notebooks I really love Legami a5 notebooks, pens I love uni ball fine, papermate ink joy. Depends what you are looking for? Happy for you to pop me an email and can chat about more details. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I can definitely relate to numbers 4, 6, and 8, haha. I also have a huge stationery collection that I’m trying to use up and declutter, and have stopped buying more since. Doesn’t help that I bought all of these from shops such as Notebook Therapy and Stationery Pal, Japanese brands do the cutest stationery.
Stationery pal is one of my go-tos especially as it is super affordable. I so glad other people can relate to this post. Thank you for reading and commenting. Can you link your blog?
Yep, I most definitely relate to all these, haha! I absolutely love stationery but do need to work on getting a budget for it sorted.
Yeah I tend to go a bit overboard. So need to be careful with my budget ha ha. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I have so many notebooks that feel too nice to use, it’s such a struggle! I’m slowly making my way through my notebooks now so hopefully I’ll use them at some point 🙂 thank you for sharing Lauren x
It is great that others are relating to this post. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Yes, all these temptations everywhere… very difficult to resist hehe. I can certainly relate to not having enough place to store them. Thanks for sharing!
It is nice to hear others can relate to this post. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Stationary is so cute and fun! I love it, but I hardly buy it now as I rarely use paper and pen.
Corinne x
Aww I love the use of digital planning and things, but nothing for me beats pen and paper. You are definitely saving a lot of money! Thank you for reading and commenting x
Great suggestions!
Thank you!
Hehehe… I’m a stationary addict and I have these struggles too. Especially on the notebooks. But notebooks are useful. And if you did not use them, you can always use them as a gift to someone. They make good gifts.
It is good to hear others can relate to this book. Thank you for reading and commenting.
You can’t have too many notebooks! That’s what I say, anyway 😀
Paper is very important to me, not just because I’ve worked in the printing industry, but also because I use fountain pens so good quality paper is essential.
That’s what I say too, but I do have quite a lot ha ha! I love the act of writing pen on paper and not being completely digital. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love everything about this post! I’m a huge stationery fan. Really resonate with notebooks being too pretty to use and buying double of items for presents. They can’t have it if I can’t have one!
Exactly, it is too nice not to have one for yourself. It is great to hear others can relate. Thank you for reading and commenting.
The full of magic notebook is SO pretty. I definitely wouldn’t use that. I’d just keep it for decoration haha.
It is pretty isn’t it. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I definitely feel you on having notebooks that are too pretty to use haha. Also, I was looking at stationery online the other day, but shipping to Denmark was so expensive so I decided against buying anything.
Some places from America who have stunning stationery and planning products are super affordable but my shipping to the UK ends up being double of what I was spending on the products. That’s why I joke, but seriously when I go to America I will be buying a suitcase specifically to bring back all the planning supplies. Thank you for reading and commenting Karalee. I am glad you could relate to this post.