More on Crafts

ihanna.nu

iHannas blog documents the creative process of iHanna through various crafting projects; from art journaling, to knitting and thrifting. I particularly love iHannas ventures through collaging, an easy and fun cut and paste project anyone can try!

myblankpaper.com

Rebecca Greens blog is dedicated to her illustration career. I particularly like her post about Visual Journaling. This site gives me inspiration to include more doodles throughout my journal to compliment pages and encourage visual expression through small works of art.

More on paper and journals

doodlersanonymous.com

Rebecca Greens blog is dedicated to her illustration career. I particularly like her post about Visual Journaling. This site gives me inspiration to include more doodles throughout my journal to compliment pages and encourage visual expression through art.

notebookstories.com

Notebook Stories is run by a passionate 'notebook hoarder' since 2008. They document all the notebooks they collect, as well as what they use the for and their personal notebook recommendations. This site os great if you already have in mind what you want your notebook to be dedicated to, then looking through the various types to find the perfect fit!

Journaling Content Creators

@ARALAND

From recording her journaling process to touring different stationary stores, ARALAND is one of my favorite stationary content creators. I find her use of mixed media inspiring as she incorporates watercolor art with washi tapes and stickers.

@sem2_world

Based in South Korea, sem2_world uses her channel to vlog her stationary purchases and show off her journaling creations. I find endless inspiration in all her videos where she showcases her sticker aesthetics and adorable stationary collection.

@lostpalette

lostpalette is one of my favorite creators who posts great 'journal with me" videos. I find a lot of great products in her videos and take inspiration from her art style!

Published: 20 March, 2024

My first Zebra MildLiner Highlighters

Author: Nariz

When I first started getting into stationary as a studious high-schooler with social media, the Zebra MildLiner Highlighters were one of the first items I bought to start my pen collection. The minimalist palette and dual pen design reflected the aesthetics of 2015, and so all my Pinterest board inspirations and saved Instagram posts included the pastel colorings of these highlighters.

For those who aren’t familiar, Zebra is a Japanese pen company that offers a variety of writing instruments. Their MildLiner brand markets their pends for use in “bullet journals, planners, study notes, schedules, and creative projects”. As of 2024, their selection of highlighters includes 35 different colors ranging multiple shades of the rainbow.

My first highlighter set from Zebra was the Zebra Limited Edition MildLiner 25 Color Set, which I received for Christmas and swatched immediately. I mostly used the double-ended highlighter feature to go over my notes, and occasionally used the dual-tip brush pen to doodle or outline illustrations. Something I have grown accustomed to after years of trying out different pens is gauging their ability to smear ink or bleed through paper. I find this the minimum a good pen can avoid doing. On standard A4 paper, these highlighters do not bleed through. However I found on bounded pages like notebooks, which have an undistinguishably thinner page, they can bleed through on occasion depending on the force of the pen. Additionally, while the soft pastel colors is what typically draws most people to these sets, I found some shades are too light to be noticeable, specifically the classic Yellow shade.

Since I received my first set of MildLiners (about 6 years ago) I have probably gone through 2 or 3 packs. While I do have slight criticisms, I cannot deny that these pens make an excellent staple for those seeking hints of color across their journal pages. Their color palette is what keeps me coming back. Compared to the harsh neon’s of other highlighters on the market, I find solace in the simple, sleek, and quieter colors of the Zebra MildLiner Highlighters.

Published: 15 March, 2024

Intro to Washi-tapes with the ZDOLAKIDS 100 Washi Tape set

Author: Amara

After becoming more comfortable with buying and testing items from different stationary brands, I was still reluctant to venture into new things. I had a growing pen collection, but I knew the stationary world had more to offer than just ink. So in 2021 I purchased my first set of washi tapes.

Washi tape originates from the use and designs of Japanese washi paper used for origami and other traditional paper crafts of the country. Washi tape was conceived in 2006 when it was discovered that sticky adhesive papers are popular mediums for bookmaking . Since then, washi tapes have become a staple in any stationary collection. With different customizations like colors, patterns, icons, and text, washi tapes are an easy way to customize any paper project.

To start my washi tape collection, I decided to go big and order a 100-piece set (most washi tapes are 0.5 – 3.0 cm in width). I made sure to find a set with a variety of designs I saw myself using, this led me to the “Kawaii Washi Tape Set” provided by the ZDOLAKIDS brand on Amazon. With decent reviews and a cheap price per-roll, I made the first step into a washi world.

These tapes are fun and colorful, with color specific patterns spanning from red to purple, I especially liked how the variety was organized by color. I find that every roll of tape is equally adhesive, so no dry tapes that need extra gluing. I also like how the colors aren’t dull and the images aren’t pixilated, only fresh crisp patterns and cute designs. Since I have purchased this set about 3 years ago, I have yet to complete a single roll. Each roll is of substantial length, and I anticipate using these rolls for a while more.

My first set of washi-tapes was a great experience and introduced me into the happy medium of adhesive papers, I use them to decorate my journal pages, or even to cut our specific patterns and use as stickers (like the image on my home page!). I highly recommend this product if you like the selection of designs they provide and have a journal needing fun illustrations.

Published: 15 April, 2024

Glue Review

Author: Hamtaro

As a junk journaler, the product I use up the most is probably glue! It seems like every two weeks I run out of glue and have to pick more up before I can even think about starting a new project. My need for glue has led me to browse the many sticky options made available to me. Before I even start talking about my experience with these different types of glues, some may be asking: “why not tape?”. And that’s an easy answer! Tape is far too bulky in my opinion. When you’re filling a journal with more paper, it is a given that it will become bulkier with whatever niche things you add. Using tape, you take up more space with something that’s not necessarily beneficial to the journals design. However, this does not include decorative washi tapes! I am speaking only about clear tapes. Glue takes up less space, allowing more junk!

Most people start off using stick glue in kindergarten, to glue crafts and reduce mess. From my purchase history I can say that stick glue is often the cheaper of the three options, it usually comes in a muti-pack, and most often lasts a lot longer. Inherently there is nothing wrong with stick glue, it’s my default glue purchase and easy to use. It can only become a bit messy and annoying when it comes in contact with paper edges; it can cut the stick and make chunks in the glue.

Roll on glue looks a lot like white-out tape corrector and it functions in the same exact way, except it dispenses a very thin double-sided tape. However, I still consider this a glue product as the tape is virtually as thin as a layer from a glue stick. This is my all-time favorite form a glue, it makes no mess during application, the dispenser is flat and compact, and (depending on the brand) the glue sticks wonderfully. Despite the perfect design of roll on glue, it cannot hold the title of my go-to-glue due to its poor quantity to price ratio. Roll on glue is often more expensive than a glue stick, typically comes in a single pack, and only comes with enough glue to last me about a week. If only this glue was larger and cheaper, my desk would live in harmony. But it is once in a blue moon when I will splurge on roll on glue for its seamless application and ergonomic design.

Last (and certainly least) is liquid glue. Another common glue used by public schools, any child who has used this glue must know it is considerably messier and harder to use than the glues previously mentioned. I believe liquid glue remains in production thanks to its cheap price per pound. I decided to give liquid glue another try when I had no other option and the only glue I could find in my house was a clear liquid glue from Daiso. I find that liquid glue easily warps paper pages and it a mess to apply. It may work well as an ingredient in slime and paper mache, but I try to avoid any liquid near my journal and that goes for the glue as well. I think journalers should beware of liquid glue and only use it when absolutely necessary!

The adhesive you use as a journaler is essentially the backbone of your creative flexibility. You want something you won’t ever need to reapply, but also something that won’t alter your journal contents. How you stick is up to what you wish to stick of course! So test all your options and go with what works best for your journaling style.