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Ultimate Gift Ideas List | Bullet Journaling & Planning

Coming up with gift ideas is difficult when you arn't into bullet journaling. Here is a HUGE list of gift ideas for the bullet journaler in your life!

Shopping for everyone during the holidays can be a real hassle! Coming up with gift ideas is often difficult when you are not involved in the same hobbies as the person you are shopping for. Look no further! Here is a comprehensive list of gift ideas for a bullet journaler or planner obsessed person!

Content Overview

Notebooks & Journals

The most basic thing you can get someone is a notebook or journal for their bullet journal experience. There are a ton of amazing journals, but chances are, your loved one is interested in one of the following journals!

Leuchtturm1917 Dotted Journal

Moleskine Classic Notebook

Midori MD Notebook

Miquelrius Soft Bound Medium Journal

Some Lines A Day 5 Year Memory Book Hardcover Journal

Dingbats Wildlife Hardcover Notebook

Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook

Dotted Bullet Notebook – Eco-Friendly Natural Cork Hardcover

Rhodia Goalbook

Brush Pens

Brush pens are a specific type of pen that your loved one is sure to want! These pens are great gift ideas because they make it easy to do amazing lettering in your journal and come in so many amazing shapes, sizes, qualities, and colors! Here are a couple super popular brush pen sets!

Tombow Dual Brush Pen Set

Faber-Castel Pitt Artist Brush Pens

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen

Metallic Calligraphy Brush Marker Pens

Royal Talens Ecoline Liquid Watercolor Brush Pen

Crayola Super Tips Washable Markers

Other Pens

Maybe your loved one is looking for something other than brush pens? Here are some gift ideas for other types of pens like art pens, markers, high lighters, fine liners, etc. Check some of these well-loved pens out!

Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens Set

Metallic Markers Pens

Sakura Gelly Roll White

PILOT G2 Rolling Ball Gel Pens

Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

Sakura Pentouch Paint Marker, Medium

Pentouch Paint Marker, 1.0mm

Zebra Mildliner Highlighter Pen Set

Lettering Books & Guides

Sometimes we are gifting for someone who is interested in something but hasn’t quite gotten around to learning how to start yet. Well, these lettering book gift ideas are perfect for someone who wants to improve their handwriting and brush lettering but doesn’t know how!

Creative Lettering and Beyond

Hand-Lettering for Everyone

Hand Lettering 101

Lettering and Modern Calligraphy

Washi Tape

Washi tape is a fun way to spice up your bullet journal and it is perfect as a gift idea! The fun shapes, colors, patterns and designs that washi tape comes in is sure to excite your loved one!

Savena Washi Tape Set

Decorative Washi Tape DIY Rainbow

Wonderful Washi Tape – Geometric Collection

Washi Tapes Month Week Daytime Todo

Crafty Animal Washi Tape

Japanese Washi Masking Tape

Sunshine Washi Tape

Stickers

So many people love to add stickers to their journals and notebooks. This as well as the immense variety of stickers to pick from, makes these sets perfect gift ideas for bullet journalers!

Holiday Seasonal Planner Sticker Sheets

Cute Nature VSCO Girl Stickers

Various Special Shaped Stickers-Flower Series

Clear Cursive Planner Sticker Bundle

Ultimate Productivity Planner Stickers Set

The Happy Planner, Clear Dates Stamps

Paints

Just like washi tape and stickers, paint is a great addition to any artistic bullet journaler’s toolbox! Giving paint is a great gift idea if your loved one is an artistic person!

DecoArt0 Media Fluid Acrylic Paint

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FolkArt Metallic Acrylic Paint

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ARTEZA Watercolor Paint

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Watercolor Paint Set

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Stamps & Ink

I love using stamps and ink in my bullet journal. It’s a quick and easy way to add art! As such, stamps and ink make a great gift idea for a planner!

Clear Stamps, Holiday Planner Icons

Planner to Do and Planner Everyday Stamp Sets

Hero Arts, Weather Icons

Wooden Box Number Alphabet Letter Rubber Stamp

Ubegood Stamp Pad

Tsukineko Versacraft Ink Pads

Avery Carter’s Foam Stamp Pad, Black

Craft Ink Pad Stamps 20 Colors

Stationery

People who love bullet journaling and planning often love stationery as a whole! Here are some stationery items such as cards, notepads, sticky notes, and more!

Hunger Gradient Color Sticky Note

Bliss Collections Daily Planner Tear Off Pad

Marble Stationery Paper

Officemate Binder Clips, Gold

Gold Premium Cute Paper Clips

Tombow Mono Hybrid Correction Tape

American Greetings Pastel Stationery Sheets and Colored Envelopes

Recycled Cardstock Notecards with Natural Tree Design

Desk Top Decor & Organization

Being a bullet journaler can get hectic and chaotic. Trying to find places to store everything can feel impossible! Here are some gift ideas to help your loved one organize their bullet journaling tools!

Rose Gold Desk Organizer Set

Simmer Stone Desktop Letter Sorter

Desktop Organizer – Adjustable Wood Display Shelf

Desk Accessory Organization Kit

Reliancer File Organizer Triangle

Other Odds & Ends

Not every bullet journaling or planning gift idea falls neatly into one of the previous categories. However, that does not mean that it isn’t an amazing idea for a gift! Here is everything I recommend for a bullet journaler that doesn’t fit neatly into a category.

HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer

HP Sticky-Backed Photo Paper

Glitter Shake Jars

Quickie Glue Pen

No matter what kind of bullet journal or planner you are shopping for, this list is bound to help you shop for them! Which of these was your favorite gift idea? Did you go ahead and buy any of these? Let us know in the comments!

Using A Reusable Notebook For My Planner

Yes, you read my title correctly, this article is all about reusable notebooks! Kindly, NewYes gave me one of their reusable notebooks to try out and share with my audience! I did not know what to expect from a reusable notebook. To me, it just sounded like it would either be a flop or kind of like a book of whiteboards. I browsed their website very little before jumping right in! Let’s talk reusable notebooks!

What is a Reusable Notebook?

A reusable notebook is exactly what it sounds, a notebook that you can reuse over and over again. Yes, I hear you, you can simply use a pencil and erase on normal paper, right? Well, this is actually different, because the paper does not break down when you erase the ink. It’s quite neat actually.

Using the NewYes Notebook

When I first started using the NewYes Notebook, I was pleasantly surprised. First, I expected that the pen would not work or erase well. However, not only did the pen work well, but it also erased well. Additionally, the pages (paper, if you can call it that) are really nice and it still feels like a notebook.

One thing to note about this notebook is that it acts like a pre-made planner. The pages each have a weather section, day sections, No. section and date sections before the lines or dots. I do not personally prefer pre-made planner styles. However, these sections do not take up a ton of space so the notebook has worked perfectly for me to take temporary notes. I love this because I don’t feel like I am wasting paper and can erase it when I am done with it.

Pros of the Notebook

Erasable ink
Reusable pages
Nice pages
Pen ring
Pre-made planner sections

Cons of the Notebook

Pre-made planner sections
Fewer notebook options
The pen leaves indentations sometimes

How To Use A Reusable Notebook for Your Planner

Just like any other notebook, a reusable notebook can be used as a planner. NewYes offer specific planner versions; so, if you prefer pre-made then this is perfect. However, if you like to make your own layouts, you can use a blank lined or dotted notebook like I tried out. There are some pre-made elements; however, if you want to be able to erase a notebook and reuse it, then surely you need to check it out!

2020 Lunar Calendar Bullet Journal Printable

$2.00

Add to cart
Custom Bullet Journal Inspired Planner | A5 or A6

$115.00 – $120.00

Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 34 customer ratings

Select options
Bright Watercolor Hello Monthly Bullet Journal Printable

Read more
Habit Tracker Bullet Journal Printable

$2.00

Add to cart

Interested in moving over to a reusable notebook? Get your own here!

Pim’s Empowering Words Watercolor Notebook

Pim ordered a custom bullet journal inspired planner. Pim’s planner was a homemade leatherbound notebook which she sent me. Unlike other client notebooks I’ve designed, this one is more of a journal. Instead of various layouts, there are merely random watercolor spots with empowering words on them throughout the notebook. So, here is a breakdown of the notebook created for Pim.

Layout Description

This notebook is very different then other ones I have done. Instead of creating a planner, I added artwork to a journal. Further, I added a title page, watercolor artwork, and empowering words.

Title Page

Pim’s title layout is a pink watercolor title page. For the header, “P.T.” is in a calligraphy font. Then, unlike what I usually do, there is no second line

Watercoloring

Throughout the notebook, there are spots of watercolor in various colors. Then, these watercolor spots are generally on the edges of the pages. Further, each spot is at different places on the pages. Finally, on top of the watercolored spots are empowering words. You can check out the different words I used below.

Empowering Words

Strength
Strong
Brave
Believe
Capable
Creative
Courage
Courageous

Life
Live
Laugh
Love
Happy
Respect
Worthy
Grateful

Sweet
Compassion
Compassionate
Beautiful
Humility
Grounded
Curious
Positive

Tools Used

More on Empowerment

We’ve all been caught in a spiral before, stuck in a rut with seemingly no way out, and it’s a nasty feeling. These emotions only strengthen over time. But, pitying oneself isn’t the answer. The key is to take control of your life and better your lifestyle, and only you can make the changes. The truth is, it’s quite easy to feel empowered. KEEP READING

>>Like what you see? Check out other Notebooks HERE<<

Want a notebook for yourself? Then, click a listing below

Hand-Drawn Pocket Calendar | Pre-Order

$15.00

Select options
Custom Printable/Digital Planner Kit | Bullet Journal Inspired

$5.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating

Select options
Custom Bullet Journal Inspired Planner | A5 or A6

$115.00 – $120.00

Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 34 customer ratings

Select options

Share Pim’s Empowering Words Notebook on Pinterest!

Wordsworth Planner Review

I am so excited to work with Wordsworth on a new review post! Prior to receiving my planner, I had heard of them, but I did not quite understand what a Wordsworth Planner really was. I just assumed it was another dotted notebook. I was wrong, this planner is far more involved and interactive than a simple dotted notebook. In this article, I will be reviewing the Wordsworth Planner.

Wordsworth Specs

Six free ebooks
Hardcover
5.25 x 8.25 inches
256 pages
62 note pages
100g of paperweight
Expandable inner pocket
3 ribbons
eco-friendly resource

First Impressions

My first impression of this planner was the nice packaging. Instead of simply being plastic wrapped, this planner was boxed in a nice quality box. Once I got the notebook out I was blown away by the beautiful cover. I chose the brown notebook, and I am so happy with my decision. Next, I noticed the awesome 3 ribbons, YES, three ribbons. Additionally, I saw the pen loop. I love that it is included in the notebook; however, I never use them.

After a brief flip-through of the notebook, I was blown away. I had no idea how involved this notebook was, I did not expect pre-created prompts and pages. Because it was full of pre-created layouts, I did not expect blank or dotted pages. Not only does this notebook have pre-created pages, dotted pages, and blank pages, but it has a focus on goals and planning through the use of goals.

One thing that was initially not too sure about, however, was the organization of the layouts. All of the yearly layouts are up front followed by all of the monthly layouts, and then again followed by all of the weekly layouts. I am not used to this layout and became very grateful for the three ribbons.

Pros & Cons of the Wordsworth Notebook

Like any other notebook or product, there are pros and cons. This section will focus on my personal pros and cons for the Wordsworth Planner.

Pros:

3 ribbon markers make the notebook easy to maneuver
Beautiful hardcover, durable
Focuses on goal-making and goal-achieving, very helpful in goal organization
Very detailed
Includes black and dot pages in the back
Pouch includes stickers
Nice thick pages
Very white pages

Cons:

Organized in a way that separates monthly and weekly layouts into different parts of the notebook (ribbons help make this easier to use)
Not a blank notebook, has pre-created layouts
Monthly and Weekly layouts start on different days of the week
Pages are not numbered
White pages could be a con if you prefer off-white

Final Impression

Do I recommend this notebook? Yes! However, only if you are looking for a planner with pre-created pages or if you are looking to manage your goals and goal progress. While I wasn’t sure about the organization at first, for the purposes of this planner and with the help of 3 ribbons, it is actually no harder than any other type of page organization I have used before. I might even go as far to say that it makes perfect sense for this planner and I think that any other way would feel less organized and more chaotic, particularly since this planner does not have a predetermined date range. So, I would highly recommend the Wordsworth Planner.

Note: I received my Wordsworth Planner for free from Wordsworth.

>>Read more notebook reviews here!<<

Custom Bullet Journal Inspired Planner | A5 or A6

$115.00 – $120.00

Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 34 customer ratings

Select options
Custom Printable/Digital Planner Kit | Bullet Journal Inspired

$5.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating

Select options
Hand-Drawn Pocket Calendar | Pre-Order

$15.00

Select options

Bullet Journaling Notebooks | A Review of 10 Journals

I get asked all the time about my opinion of various bullet journal notebooks and their ghosting or bleeding. For this reason, I decided to collect various popular as well as cheaper notebooks to do a comparison. Below you will find 9 different bullet journal notebooks, their specs, images of their ghosting and bleeding, pros, and cons.

Leuchtturm1917

Notebook Specs

249 Numbered pages
Blank table of contents
8 Perforated and detachable sheets
Expandable pocket
2 Page markers
Elastic closure band
Thread bound book opens flat
Sticker for labeling and archiving
Dimensions: 145 x 210 mm (#x# inches)
Ink proof paper
Acid-free paper

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Hardcover is durable
Elastic band keeps the notebook from getting damaged and bent
Pocket in the back is a great place to store loose notes
2 ribbons make page marking more convenient
Pages are numbered, and the notebook comes with a built-in index
There are so many color options, it’s impossible to be bored
Pages respond well to watercolor paint (still a little wrinkle, but really not bad)
The dots are in the same place on every page

Cons

Pages aren’t a crisp white (while I do not mind, this can be a turn off for some)
The built-in index is a con for those who wish to design their own or does not want an index
There is some ghosting and bleeding, but this depends on the pen or ink that is used

Get Luechtturm1917 Notebook

Northbooks Dot Notebook

Notebook Specs

5 x 8 inch
Vegan leather cover is textured and durable
192 pages/96 sheets
60-lb/90 gsm paper
Dots spaced 5mm apart
Small us-based company
1 ribbon page marker

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Mild ghosting and bleeding
Ribbon marker
US-based company for customers who prefer to buy US only, this doesn’t matter much to me.
White pages
Hard cover can be a pro for those who like really hard covers

Cons

Paper rips fairly easy
Cover is rough to the touch
No page numbers
No pouch
Only comes in black
Some bleeding

Get Northbooks Dot Notebook

Rhodia Goalbook

Notebook Specs

8 x 8.3 inches
90gsm ivory brushed vellum paper made in Étival-Clairefontaine, France
6-page index or table of contents
4-pages for annual planning
4-pages for monthly planning
240 pages (224 dot grit numbered sheets)
Pocket inside the back cover
Elastic closure band
2 ribbon markers
Flexible binding
Softcover (16 available colors!)

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

The flexible soft faux leather cover is excellent. Make using the notebook pleasant
Elastic band keeps the notebook from getting damaged and bent
Pocket in the back is a great place to store loose notes
Beautiful colors to choose from
Thick, smooth pages make ink look vibrant and write smooth
Pages are numbered

Cons

There is a Logo on the cover. This one isn’t a big deal, I just like sleek plan covers.
Off-white pages make it difficult to fix mistakes. I generally use white-out to cover my mistakes, but the whiteout makes an error look worse on the off-white pages
Orange inside cover and ribbons (but I fixed this DIY style)
Some bleeding

Get Rhodia Goalbook Notebook

Lemome Eco-Friendly Natural Cork Dot Notebook

Notebook Specs

8.4 x 5.7
cork fabric as the cover
100% cruelty-free
Thread-bound lay-flat design
micro-perforated
180 Pages
120g high-quality acid-free writing paper
Sturdy Sewn Elastic Pen Holder
Expandable Pocket
Elastic Closure Strap
1 Ribbon Bookmark
Satisfaction Guaranteed

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Perforation is a pro for those who wish to remove their pages easily.
Almost no ghosting and bleeding.
Includes ribbon, pouch, and pen loop
Cruelty-free
Renewable resources create the cover
Comes in various colors
Little bleeding/ghosting

Cons

Perforation may make pages rip more for those who do not remove pages.
No page numbers

Get Lemome Notebook

Graphic Arts Books Dot Grid Journal

Notebook Specs

Hardcover notebook that lies flat, with rounded corners
Colorfully patterned endpapers
249 numbered pages (100gsm Wood-free)
dot grid pattern
Customizable key and contents pages
Two contrasting color ribbon markers
Elastic closure to keep the book closed
Gusseted pocket for loose mementos and supplies
Designed in the USA

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Amazing pages
Assorted colors
The cover feels really nice
Pages are numbered
Key and contents page for those who prefer it
Includes two ribbons and pocket
Elastic closure
Hardcover

Cons

Key and contents pages may be unwanted
Fewer pages than most other notebooks

Get Graphic Arts Notebook

Minimalism Art Classic Dotted Notebook

Notebook Specs

Size: 5″X8.3″; A5
192 Pages (96 Sheets)
Dotted Grid
100 gsm
PU leather Hard Cover
elastic closure
bookmark ribbon;
Internal Accordion Pocket
DESIGNED in San Francisco

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Leather soft to touch cover
Comes in many colors
Includes ribbon, elastic closure, and pouch

Cons

Some ghosting and bleeding
Pages are not numbered

Get Minimalism Art Notebook

Tacuin Large Plain Notebook

Notebook Specs

A5 | 14.8 x 21 cm | 5.8″ x 8.3″
FSC® certified
Manufactured in Germany
Hardcover
100% biodegradable
192 plain pages, made from eco-friendly paper
Thread bound
Marker ribbon

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Hardcover is soft to touch
Comes in various colors
Includes ribbon marker
Pages are smooth to write on

Cons

Soft to touch cover gets dirty easy
Comes in only blank and lined pages
No page numbers
No elastic band or pouch
A lot of ghosting and some bleeding

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Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook

Notebook Specs

100-gsm acid-free/archival paper preserves your work
Inside back cover, pocket holds notes, business cards, etc
Elastic band attached to back cover keeps journal closed
Ribbon bookmark keeps your place
Durable hardcover binding
Classic A5 size (5-3/4 inches by 8-1/4 inches)
192 dot-grid pages

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Hardcover is durable
Elastic band keeps the notebook from getting damaged and bent
Pocket in the back is a great place to store loose notes
Thick, smooth pages make ink look vibrant and write smooth
White pages (this could be a con if you prefer off-white)
Great price for the quality (generally around $9-$12)

Cons

Only one color choice – black
Pages are not numbered (this can be a pain if you like to have an index)
Only one ribbon, some people prefer two (you can easily add a second ribbon DIY style)

Get Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook

DwellStudio Leatherette Journal

Notebook Specs

Embossed rose gold
104 Sheets
6 x 8.5 in
Lined Ruled
Includes a black ribbon

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

Ribbon marker
Very cute stylish cover
Almost no bleeding or ghosting
Flexible cover
Pages are a nice quality

Cons

Comes in only lined pages
No page numbers
No elastic closure or pouch
Corners are not rounded

Get Dwell Studios Journal

Wordsworth Planner 2019

Notebook Specs

Six free ebooks
Hardcover
5.25 x 8.25 inches
256 pages
62 note pages
100g of paper weight
Expandable inner pocket
3 ribbons
echo-friendly resource

Bleeding & Ghosting Test

Pros

3 ribbon markers make the notebook easy to maneuver
Beautiful hardcover, durable
Focuses on goal-making and goal-achieving, very helpful in goal organization
Very detailed
Includes black and dot pages in the back
Pouch includes stickers

Cons

Organized in a way that separates monthly and weekly layouts into different parts of the notebook (ribbons help make this easier to use)
Not a blank notebook, has pre-created layouts
Monthly and Weekly layouts start on different days of the week
Pages are not numbered

Get Wordsworth Planner

>>Want more about bullet journaling tools? CLICK HERE!

Leuchtturm 1917 Bullet Journal Notebook Review

If you’ve read any of my notebook reviews, you’ll know that I used the Essentials A5 Notebooks for the first 4 years of my bullet journal journey. For Christmas last year I was given a Leuchtturm 1917 in the color Army, so I switched over. Now that I have been using this notebook for nearly 9 months, I’d like to give it a review! Without further ado, here is my Leuchtturm 1917 review. This post may include affiliate links.

Leuchtturm1917 Specs

249 Numbered pages
Blank table of contents
8 Perforated and detachable sheets
Expandable pocket
2 Page markers
Elastic closure band
Thread bound book opens flat
Sticker for labeling and archiving
Dimensions: 145 x 210 mm (#x# inches)
Ink proof paper
Acid-free paper
Available at B. Welly

First Impressions | Leuchtturm 1917

My first impression of the Leuchtturm 1917 was how beautiful it is. The notebook itself is pretty and feels very nice. It has all of the details I would want from a notebook like numbered pages, ribbon place markers, and a hardcover. I was super excited by the packaging, if anyone has ever ordered from J.B. Welly before, you know that the notebooks come in beautiful patterned paper with a nice floral card.

Pros & Cons of the Leuchtturm1917

Like any other notebook or product, there are pros and cons. This section will focus on my personal pros and cons for the Leuchtturm 1917 after 9 months of use.

Pros:

Hardcover is durable
Elastic band keeps the notebook from getting damaged and bent
Pocket in the back is a great place to store loose notes
2 ribbons make page marking more convenient
Pages are numbered, and the notebook comes with a built-in index
There are so many color options, it’s impossible to be bored
Pages respond well to watercolor paint (still a little wrinkle, but really not bad)
The dots are in the same place on every page

Cons:

Pages aren’t a crisp white (while I do not mind, this can be a turn off for some)
The built-in index is a con for those who wish to design their own or does not want an index
There is some ghosting and bleeding, but this depends on the pen or ink that is used

Final Impression

Do I recommend this notebook? Yes! I love my Leuchtturm 1917, and I do recommend it for anyone in search of a nice quality bullet journaling notebook that comes in multiple colors. The notebook is not super expensive; though more expensive than my trusty Essentials Notebook. I have used a plethora of paints and pens in the notebook with very little ghosting and almost no bleeding. While I do not recommend this notebook for a bullet journal newbie, I do recommend it for someone with a little bit more experience.

I get a lot of questions regarding which notebook I recommend, If you’d like me to do a 1:1:1 comparison of popular bullet journaling notebooks, let me know in the comments below!