I’ve just started my second bullet journal and have learned a lot along the way! In that time, I’ve collected some supplies that I use regularly to create my spreads. Here’s what I’ve been using on my current bullet journal.
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Artist’s Loft Dot Journal
I picked up this journal from Michael’s for $5. Yes, you read that right. Five dollars. Many dot journals will cost much more, so I’m happy I came across this one.
This journal comes with a table of contents and follows with dotted pages. The dimensions are a little different from more standard journals, but I’m happy with the dimensions.
There are two things I’ve noticed with this journal so far, one being if you press Zebra Mildliners too hard it bleeds through the page. I’ve been pretty careful with this and haven’t had too many issues, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.
The other thing is that there’s a blank space on the top and bottom of the page. The top seems like a good place to put a header if you need it, but I’m not sure why the bottom would have that space…or why there would be any spaces at all. This doesn’t really bother me, but you might feel differently.
If those two things don’t bother you, this is a great option, especially for the low price. I think it’s especially great for those looking to get started with bullet journals and don’t want to spend a lot on supplies.
Zebra Mildliners
When I started my first bullet journal (and even in past planners), I would use highlighters to make titles and place emphasis. It worked well, but I also wanted something not as bright or saturated. Then I found out about Zebra Mildliners, and I’ve been using them ever since. They’re a quick and easy way for me to dress up my bullet journal with color. Plus, I’ve been starting to use them to color in little designs throughout and I love the results.
As I found out when I purchased these, they are actually dual-tip markers. On one side, there’s a bold tip (much like a skinny highlighter). On the other side, there’s a fine tip (like a skinny marker), good for writing and fine details.
I love using these markers, especially for highlighting headers, because the color’s opacity is in the range where it doesn’t take away from the text itself. These have been one of my go-to’s to make my bullet journal look pretty with little effort.
Ultra Fine Point Sharpies
This is the main pen I use for my bullet journal. I use it not only to outline but also to write my tasks. I used this as my pen all the way through my first bullet journal and will continue with my second journal. That being said, the Sharpie has also lasted a very long time which I am very happy about.
Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen
I definitely experienced a learning curve with these brush pens, but working with them has been fun. So far, I’ve mainly used these for hand-lettering and designing headers, but would like to branch out and use them in other ways as well.
These pens also are dual-tip markers – one side contains the brush pen, and the other has a fine tip. I find the fine tip good for writing in that same color. I currently have a set of what contains landscape colors, but I would love to pick up a few more colors, preferably some pastels.
While these are nice pens to have, they are definitely on the pricier side, which is why I’ve opted out of having multiple sets. If you’re looking to practice hand-lettering but don’t want to spend a lot on supplies, I’ve heard a lot of great things about Crayola Supertips. While they don’t have the same type of tip as the Tombow brush, I’ve seen so many hand-lettering pros use these markers with beautiful results. I have not used them personally, but for the price and praise for them across the internet, I would definitely recommend these as an alternative.
Pigma Micron Pens
I bought these in a set of four, and I love the variety of the tips provided! My set came with a brush pen, graphic pen (1.0 mm), an 05 (.45 mm), and an 01 (.25 mm). When I first started using these, I would write in the 01, draw my task boxes in the 05, and use the graphic and brush pens for my headers. I felt like that in itself made my bujo look so much neater and nicer. Plus, I love the brush pen in this set the most; it’s so easy to work with and especially works well when you’re hand-lettering smaller words.
Unfortunately, I haven’t used these a ton yet because I bought the wrong color on accident, but I definitely am looking to get another set soon.
Papermate Flair Pens
I actually started using these in college, before my bujo days. I would use them for my planner and for my math/CS notes, and soon enough I ended up using them for everything. It’s basically a pen but with a felt marker tip, and I liked the bold look of the pen on the paper. I felt as though it was so easy to read since it wasn’t a faded pen, and these guys took over.
I have these in black, red, and four others from a summer-themed pack. If you like the marker-feel of a pen and like to color code everything, I’d recommend these. I’ve never seen anyone hand-letter with these (and I imagine it’d be a bit difficult), but I love the feel of them for regular writing.
Washi tape.
I love washi tape. It’s a quick and easy solution to make everything prettier! Which is why I like to use it in my bujo. If I don’t want to draw something to fill space, or just want to add some color in, this is a great option. Plus, you can use it to make page flags, wrap it around page edges to denote important pages, and so much more. I’ve seen lots of people use washi tape over a few days in their monthly spread to denote multi-day events, like travel.
There are so many uses for washi tape, and they’re a great option for those who aren’t artistic but still want to dress things up. Lately I’ve seen washi tape rolls specifically for bullet journals, like days of the week This would make creating weekly spreads quick, easy, and consistent.
Here’s everything I use regularly to create my current bullet journal spreads! Is there anything I missed that you like to use? Let me know below.
Sincerely,
Julie Anna
