Hello, gorgeous humans and welcome to the first post of collab month! For all of September, every one of my posts is going to be a collaboration with another fabulous blogger I think you’d all benefit from checking out . . . and today we’re collaborating with Em from PlanningWithEm! Em is a bullet journal blogger, so if you like my journal posts you’ve got to give her a read too!
Today, we’re going to be tackling 10 fun and easy ways to spruce up your bullet journal. The first five are over on here . . . and then Em is going to be sharing 5 more!
(Pin this image for me, loves!)
I’m not going to lie, this was quite a challenging post! My normal tricks are things like stickers, dutch doors and washi tape, which the lovely Em is covering, so I really had to think outside the box. But we all know how much I enjoy a challenge, so here we go . . .
(All images are of my journal – so if you’d like to check out the posts they originally featured in, just give em a click.)
1. Watercolours
WHAT I USED:
Watercolour paints are such a fun (and easy!) way to add some colour to a journal spread. I’m by no means a talented painter – but that just goes to show that you don’t need to be!
As much as I wish I could paint actual stuff, my watercolours are pretty much reserved for cute backgrounds.
I didn’t actually realise how frequently I feature paint in my journal until collecting images for this post!
2. Dried flowers
WHAT I USED:
- Pressed Flowers – Aliexpress – (Free Worldwide Delivery) – $1.68-$4.99
- Vintage Type Stamp Set – Amazon UK – £9.99 // Amazon US – $12.99
Another one of my deep, deep loves is for dried flowers. I use them in crystals, I use them in crafts . . . and you can bet your bottom dollar I use them in my bullet journal too! You can press your own flowers or buy them online (now that I have a little office-garden, I’ve been enjoying pressing my own!) and they make literally anything 100x cuter.
3. Black paper
WHAT I USED: Black dot grid journal – Amazon US – $7.98 // Amazon UK – £6.49
Black paper is a relatively new addition to my journalling repertoire, but damn if it isn’t cute. As you can see from that spread, I did all of nothing . . . but the contrast of black and white makes everything pop!
I’d love to branch out with this and get some coloured gel paints and play with acrylic paints . . . ideas for next month, perhaps?
4. Collages
WHAT I USED
Well, if you’re familiar with my journalling posts, you all knew this was going to crop up! Collages are probably one of my favourite things to do artistically; they feature in every one of my (many, many) journals.
One of the things I love about them is that they’re a great way to use up old paper scraps and materials. Magazine scraps, the awkward end of a washi roll or old birthday cards always make for a great addition to a collage.
(Plus – and this is the real draw – they look super creative even if you have the artistic ability of a spoon. Have you noticed yet how none of my spreads feature any drawing whatsoever?)
WHAT I USED:
- Renaissance Washi Tapes – Aliexpress (Free Worldwide Shipping) – $4
- Vintage Type Stamp Set – Amazon UK – £9.99 // Amazon US – $12.99
5. Highlighters
WHAT I USED:
- Renaissance Washi Tapes – Aliexpress (Free Worldwide Shipping) – $4
-
Pastel Highlighters – Amazon UK – £5.57 // Pastel Highlighters – Amazon US – $11
And my last addition to this list has to be my tried and true highlighters! Some may say basic . . . I say classic! There is not a single spread that goes by where my pastel highlighters aren’t whipped out to play – and for good reason.
Highlighters are an easy way to add a pop of colour to a spread and give even the least artistic pages a face lift.
If you’re like me and can’t hand-letter to save your life, highlighters are a great way to fake it til you make it. One of my favourite ways to make myself look far more creatively accomplished than I am is to write in cursive with a highlighter and then in block caps with a fine liner on top.
Alright lovers, I’m going to wrap this up here. I hope you guys enjoyed my 5 creative ways to add some flair to your bullet journal – now go and check out Em’s! We’re going to have your journals looking all kinds of cute by the time we’re done. Which of these was your favourite tool of the trade? Would you try any of these methods yourself? Let me know your thoughts down below!
Peace,
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Black dot grid journal looks no less than heaven. I’ll try to give it a go in my other web projects!
It’s definitely a great find! 🙂
Thank you so much for collaborating with me Mia! Your post is amazing and I love love LOVE the pressed flowers – I’m going to have to try that one day!
Em x
Thank you for taking part! Omg pressed flowers make *anything* better – bullet journals definitely included xx
Oh I just LOVE this idea of collabing with other bloggers. And the journal ideas are wonderful. In particular I like the dried flowers and black paper. So fun!!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Thank you, Allie! x
My bullet journal looks so boring compared to yours! I don’t know that I’ll ever get as fancy as dried flowers (love yours though!) but I can get behind some fun highlighters! I also love the idea of adding some collages. Such great ideas.
Thank you lovely 🙂
Love a good collab and I think your watercolor skills are pretty good, Mia. I am more of a collage bullet journal person. I like the mood tracker idea, especially given how emotional everyone is right now.
https://kerielaine.com
Keri
Thank you, Keri! I definitely agree – I find mood trackers so helpful, especially at the moment 🙂 x
I use highlighters and collages a lot but never watercolour! That’s something I totally want to try out, such a great way to add a bit more colour to the spreads. Lovely post 🙂
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Thank you, Anika! I definitely recommend watercolours – they’re so easy to use, but make pretty much everything look way better xx
I have to use more pressed flowers in my journal. they look super aesthetic!!
Definitely!
I love all of these ideas for journalling! I must admit I am bad at keeping up with mine, only doing my monthly stats, but I will definitley be taking a few of these ideas to jazz it up a bit more. LOVE the idea with the pressed flowers!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Thank you, Aimsy! I definitely fall off the wagon with mine a lot in lockdown (what’s to even track lol?) but its good for keeping my ideas in one place xx
I love to make collages and the dried flowers page is also beautiful
Thanks for reading, Christina! xx
I LOVE that you are collating with other bloggers! SO happy to check new to me blogs out. Also girl you know I love your buljo posts, even if it is a reminder that I am sorely lacking int he artistic department :p That highlighter page is gorgeous and ILOVE that quote! <3
hehe thank you Kate! I’ve got some great new people to introduce you to over the next month! <3
oh wow the creative is great!!!!
https://www.comfycozyup.com