As of 2021, I am now an affiliate for Archer & Olive! You can use my code HF10 for a 10% discount. As an affiliate, I earn a small percentage if you decide to purchase. As you will read, this is a brand I have adored and am so ecstatic to be working with and supporting a company with values the same as my own.
I’ve been doing the bullet journal method for about a year and a half. During that time, I figured out just what supplies I need for journaling. Honestly, not very much. The truly minimalist list of supplies is a journal and a pen. But of course, I have more than that! 😉
The most important thing when considering what supplies you need for journaling is the journal itself. And I have found my forever journal *insert all the heart-eyed emojis ever.* It’s important to me that my journal brings me joy every time I look at it since I use it every day!
While my journal is for writing/reflecting, I also use it as an agenda to keep track of my schedule and use it as an art book. I love to doodle and create unique artistic spreads so I have some art supplies along with my journal and pen!
My Journal
I love my Archer and Olive bullet journal! It’s a hardcover journal that balances beauty with function. It’s covered in a textured green fabric and stamped with a gold foil design.
This post is not sponsored by Archer and Olive. I purchased this journal myself.
This post contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase via one of the links, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only link to products that I know and love. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Okay, but back to the journal itself. I mean the packaging on its own is lovely! There is also no plastic! Which means everything can be recycled. I’m currently using the cardboard box as desk organizers à la Marie Kondo.
This journal has all the features for an avid bullet journaler, including two ribbon markers and an elastic pen holder. I use the first ribbon to mark my finance tracker and the second ribbon with the gold charm to mark my place for the week. Archer and Olive have a variety of different journals; I bought the one with 192 pages! Overkill maybe but I know based on last year, I will use all the pages. And I wanted to keep all of this year in one journal. Unlike last year where I used two journals.
The pages with the Archer and Olive journal are so crispy white and thick! They can be used for layers and layers of watercolor or even gouache style paint. The journal really holds up as a sketchbook!
If you’re looking for a good beginner journal, I used this* inexpensive one from Amazon last year. I actually used two: one for the first half of 2019 (January to June), and another in the second half of 2019 (July to December). The pages are not as crispy white and they wrinkle and bleed easily with watercolor/potent markers. But they are inexpensive and durable! I honestly really loved the simplicity of this journal. The size was perfect too. Here is a page I did with my journal last year:
So if you’re looking for something inexpensive ($7.50), I would definitely recommend the Poluma* dot grid journals. But remember, I bought two because there weren’t enough pages so I spent $15 total. Archer and Olive journals are a little pricey ($28-36, sometimes on clearance for $25) but I really think they are worth it! Like I keep saying, they have all the useful features for someone looking for something more sophistication. Plus, Archer and Olive is a small business that makes handcrafted journals! Supporting a company with a great mission always takes my vote (with my money haha).
Ruler and Pens
I’d say the two things I recommend the most are having a durable ruler and nice pens. I have been using Pigma Micron pens* for over five years! Seriously! I used them in high school for art projects and haven’t stopped using them since. The best thing about these pens is that they do not bleed. It makes them ideal for watercolor. Anything can be layered over the top of the pen and the writing remains clean.
This year, I’ve been using the 03 nib but I’m also a huge fan of the 01 and 02 pens. The 03 is a bit more thicker so it goes a little bit farther than the smaller pen sizes. I have to admit I do love the 02 for minimalist designs.
This* brass ruler has an etched scale with a tilted edge so you can easily pick it up off the page. Drawing lines are perfectly straight and flawless even with a fountain or water-based pen. Plus the gold matches the stamped gold floral on the front of my journal.
Here’s a little preview of my March bullet journal spread 😉 What’s great about this journal is the dot grid is exactly 5mm! Along with this metric ruler, it’s perfect for measuring and drawing lines. You know like what a ruler is used for haha.
Markers and other Accessories
Like other artists in the bullet journal sphere, I use Tombow brush pens*. They are super convenient to use and have lovely colors. They last a long time and have both a brush side and a marker side. I buy my brush pens in bulk (without packaging or plastic) from a local craft store.
I love these* minimalist black metal binder clips. When using them to separate chunks of pages, their minimal design makes it so you can see the text through the clip.
I also have a couple of rounds of washi tape that I got for free when I was living in Spain. Random I know, but I don’t use them too often so they’ve lasted (and will last) eons. I use the tape to secure ticket stubs or other paper mementos inside my journal.
I store all my pens, my markers, and my ruler in a wide-mouth mason jar.
I love watercolor art even though I’m not very practiced at it. I (again) got this watercolor pocket set* when I was living in Spain. Having a small size was really important for me since I had to pack super light. I lived out of two suitcases! The pigments are really lovely even though this is a basic set. I used watercolor quite a bit in my bullet journal last year but in the end, it takes quite a long time so I now use mostly brush pens to add color.
I got the white plate for mixing colors at my local thrift store for a dollar! It’s great for mixing colors. I’ve been practicing my watercolor by painting “postcard places.” Capturing little monuments or scenes from places I’ve traveled. I store these little postcards in the pocket located on the inside back cover of my bullet journal.
The last things I use are a pencil and an eraser. But I have a million of those lying around! Especially after all my time teaching in schools, I’ve amassed quite a small horde of them.
Complete List of Supplies
- Archer and Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook | $35 use code HF10
- Pigman Micron 03 Ink Pens (6) | $15
- Midori Brass Ruler | $12
- Tom Bow Brush Pens (10) | $16
- Black Metal Wire Binder Clips (12) | $10
- Watercolor pocket box | $16
And when your supplies have come to the end of their life, check out how to recycle them with TerraCycle. I keep my journals though! They are my keepsakes for life and I truly treasure them. They are fun to look back on and have real sentimental value for me. Do you have any journal supplies that you just can’t live without? I’d love to know!
Happy Journaling-
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