My Bullet Journal Starter Pack (Setup)

Okay, I've been receiving a lot of request regarding this. So let's just jump right into this without further babbling. A few months ago I joined a few community in an app called Amino. And bullet journal community is one of the communities that I joined ⎯ and I only joined like 6 communities because it's kind of difficult to keep the check-in consistency. The admin of the bujo community made a few challenges for all newbies and other members to join and to help break the ice. I really don't want to be the silent member thus, I decided to joined the Bullet Journal Starter Pack Challenge and guess what?

I got featured! >.<

This was my post on Amino app. It was my first post in Amino ever and I got featured. I am glad to help a few who ask me directly where I got my stuff from. I thought why should I stop there when I can share the same info here in my blog. Who knows it could be useful to some.

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A5 Binder Cover. You can get this same exact cover in Shopee or Aliexpress for very cheap. But the colour of the cover is a bit yellow-ish instead of clear white. The hologram is too mainstream so I settled with this cover first before I buy a prettier one. Yes, I have a few covers in mind that I really want.
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A5 Inserts. Inserts is the easiest item you can get. You can buy it at any major bookstores and online shops too but for me, I made my own inserts. It saves a lot of money but it takes a lot of time for sure. I mean A5 lined inserts cost about RM12 but with RM12, I could get tons of pages using Double A A4 papers ⎯ or any A4 papers actually but I preferred Double A because it doesn't bleed through easily when I use marker tip pens. So don't be like me, just buy the readymade inserts to saves a lot of time.
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Washi Tapes. Washi tape not necessarily needed but to me it does add a little texture, colour and elements on your spread. I need to use at least 2cm of washi tape on my spread. I don't even know why, maybe I think it would make my spread pops and less dull. I suggest the plain pastel washi tape set of 12 from Aliexpress/Shopee because it is super cheap and you will receive 12 pieces of 3 metres washi tape in one box. I am obsessed with this, I even bought a few single (5 metres) washi tapes from the same brand. I uses those 4 colours often so I need a few extras just in case.
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Pens. The most crucial items that one will ever need in bullet journaling. For me, I only have one specific pen that I really like and it's very cheap. It's a needle tip pen at Mr. DIY, 6 pieces for only RM2. I love the smooth writing and smooth ink flow. I've tried many pens before and this one is better than Muji and Pigma Micron.

I put the black ink into the pink flamingo pen while the blue in white flamingo pen. It's super cute and the rubber material doesn't make my fingers sweaty like the other plastic pens.
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Re-inforcement Rings. It's a thin poly-vinyl rings that strengthen punched hole in paper. If you are using binder notebook like I do, then this item can be consider as important and crucial because it is to keep labels or punched hole in place for enduring reinforcement. It also repairs the punched hole that is already torn or ripped. Just make sure to stick on both side, the front and the back for extra strength. I am obsessed with this thing. I keep a few boxes of it just in case I would run out of it. I suggest buying this item at the stationery section at any malls or grocers because it is far cheaper than the one that is sell online. I bought this at Giant Hypermarket for RM3 / box (500 pieces). The cheapest you can find online is about RM7-RM15 for a 300 pieces. You do the math.
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I bought one box the first time and use it on every single page that I wrote and I already on a second box the same day. This will keep my notes and inserts strong and in place.

The picture on the left is what will happen to the paper if you don't use the reinforcement rings. It will start to look like this before it tears apart. We don't want that right? And in the picture below, that's how it looks when I use the reinforcement rings. I put on both side to make it stronger. Don't worry which one you need to do first, the rings or the spread, but for me, I prefer to put the ring first before writing my journal. I don't even know why, I just want the ring to appear subtle on the page but it looks good on a finished spread too so don't worry. 

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Fineliners (optional). I love Zebra Mildliner pens because of its dual chisel and fine tips. I can use it as a highlighter ⎯ which I do a lot because of its mild hues that are just the right amount to stand out, and also the fine tip for my heading and subheading. This pens is affordable to me because most dual tip pens is quite pricey. Fluorescent colours hurt my eyes at time so it automatically becomes my favourite highlighter ever. It smears a bit if you overlay it immediately on a freshly written words, but it doesn't bleed for sure, maybe because of my A4 paper.
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Creativity. And last but not least, creativity. The most important element you need is your own creativity. Almost everyone has their own way in expressing their creativeness and doing things and some need a little bit of inspiration to boost their mind in creating stuff. You can take somebody else's bujo spread as an inspiration and make it your own.

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I will change the cover every 6 months or whenever I feel like it. And the cover desperately in need of reinforcement rings asap. There were a few other stuff that I need to add and include in this post but I don't want to lose the main point of this post. I will make another post on how I setup my bullet journal, a few spread that I did and how I decorate it.

So that was my Bullet Journal Starter Pack and setup. I hope it will be useful and helpful in some way ⎯ even just a little ⎯ to anyone who wishes to start writing their own journal with minimal items. Just remember, you don't need all these stuff to start a journal. All you need is a pen and paper, with a little bit of creativity, you're good to go and create anything! I started with the notebook, a pen and some stickers that already have. And from there, I slowly build up my stationery collection whenever I get the chance. If you want to share your own bujo starter pack, do send me the link. I would love to read it and get inspired.

Much love, T.


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Listening to:

  Peter Sandberg - Ending ‬

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