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Essential Handlettering Supplies for Beginners

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Handlettering For Beginners: The Essential Supplies

I teach local classes for beginning modern calligraphy hand-letterers and recommend these handlettering supplies to my beginner students. Some tools make it easier to start modern calligraphy lettering, but I want you to remember that no matter which pen or paper you use, it’s going to take a lot of practice to progress in your handlettering journey.

Remember that practice is the most important tool of all.

Post Updated & Revised: 4/16/24

Beginner Handlettering Supplies - what you need to know to start lettering | ChocolateMusings.com

Table of contents

First and Foremost – What am I Talking About? What Style of Handlettering Are These Supplies Good For?

FYI – the lettering style I’m referring to is what I call “Modern Handlettering” or “Modern Calligraphy”. These styles are typically done with a brush pen that allows you to create both thick and thin lines with a flexible tip.

Handlettering is such a fun bandwagon to jump on – the thick and the thin lines, the flourishes beckon, and the thought of making beautifully crafted words makes your heart race and palms sweaty. Maybe not in a good way. Does the idea of picking up a brush pen scare you? Not sure which supplies are essential and which are ‘nice to have’ when starting your handlettering journey?

I get it – I’ve been there. I remember being completely overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of essential handlettering supplies for beginners. So you know what you *really* need to get started with your handlettering journey and what is just eye candy.

My Essential Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Supplies for Beginners

Best Beginner Level Markers:

Whether you follow my recommendations or not, I highly encourage you to choose one marker type to get started. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you have too many choices. Practice for a while with that marker, then expand your collection.

  • Tombow Fudenosuke
    • Hard tip (I prefer this pen for beginners more than other pens – see below for why!)
    • Soft tip
  • Pentel Sign Touch
  • Sharpie

Shop for the Supplies:

Which marker should I choose to learn handlettering? Essential Modern Calligraphy Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com

Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip – The Marker I Recommend for Beginners!

My favorite marker is the hard-tipped Tombow Fudenosuke marker. Even after nearly a decade of lettering, I consistently reach for this marker.

In fact, I recommend starting with the Hard-Tip Tombow Fudenosuke marker when I teach my calligraphy classes.

Why Do I Recommend this Marker Versus Other Markers?

  • It’s a small-tipped marker with enough flexibility to get a thick and thin line, but it’s a little more rigid than the soft-tipped Tombow Fudenosuke Marker. Giving you greater control.
  • With that control, you’ll more easily create consistency in your thick and thin strokes, giving you the confidence to keep going in your lettering journey.
  • If you use high-quality paper or marker paper, these pens will last you a long time!
  • As a bonus, the Fudenosoke hard-tip markers are also available in several color variety packs, so you can change up your marker color.
  • This marker is relatively inexpensive to replace as needed. If you’re going to practice a lot of lettering, consider getting a multi-pack so you can keep one with you, have some at home, or replace them as needed.

Tombow Fudenosuke Soft Tip

This marker has a bit more flex than its hard-tipped counterpart. Which isn’t bad; it just means that you give up a bit of control. Even though I started with the hard-tipped version, other calligraphers swear by the soft-tip version. If you order the dual-pack of Tombow Fudenosuke markers, it comes with both a soft & hard tip marker, so you can choose which you like best.

Tip: Tombow doesn’t make a variety of colors in the soft-tip style. The color variety is only available in the hard-tip version.

How to tell Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip & Soft Tip Markers apart | ChocolateMusings.com

The Difference Between Hard Tip & Soft Tip Tombow Fudenosuke Pens

I visited Tombow USA Headquarters here in Georgia a few years ago at a fun little event. While there, I learned how to tell the difference between the two types of Fudenosuke pens by Tombow. Here are two ways I know to tell the difference.

Here are the Ways to Tell Them Apart:

The first way is the color of the pen casing—the hard-tip pen casing is dark blue, and the soft-tip pen casing is black.

The second way to tell the difference is to look for the letters and numbers by the barcode.

  • WS-BH 150 is the hard-tipped one (H=Hard).
  • WS-BS 150 is the soft-tipped pen (S=Soft).

**UPDATE: Tombow has since added a tiny square with the text “Hard Tip” or “Soft Tip” on their markers. But it’s still very hard to see!

Pro Tip: If you still have trouble figuring out which is which (and you like to use one or the other), put a piece of fancy washi tape around one so you can tell the difference!

Which is which? Tombow Fudenosuke pens. How to identify each one | ChocoalteMusings.com
Lose your favorite marker? Use this trick with washi tape to easily find your favorite marker | ChocolateMusings.com

Other Supplies:

  • Pencil (one that you can use to write softly and erase easily)
  • Eraser (I prefer white pearl & polymer eraser)
  • **Smooth paper (32 lb paper is what I recommend – it’s the most cost-effective), Rhodia & Marker Paper are good options too!
  • Any pen
  • Any Marker with a Bullet Tip (rounded tip, not flat or chisel tip)

**The only supplies you really need to start is the paper. Everything else is not necessary.

What supplies do you need to start handlettering? Do you need all this stuff? Find out what you actually need to start practicing modern calligraphy | ChocolateMusings

The pen & marker are so you can create Faux Modern Calligraphy – I’ll explain this technique later in more detail.

The pencil & eraser are simply good supplies to have on hand so you can write out phrases and organize your lettering. You can also handletter using a pencil – which I’m excited to show you in the future.

TIP: Using printer paper or any old paper can cause your precious brush pens to fray or dry out more quickly. Believe me, it’s frustrating to use a frayed marker tip and try to get those coveted thin upstrokes or pick up what you thought was a brand new brush pen only for it to create streaks instead of lovely lines.

Shop for the Supplies:

Optional Handlettering Supplies for Beginners:

The supplies listed below are not required. I like to use each one of them (and I was surprised at how useful the lightbox was), but they are not required to start lettering.

  • Ruler
  • Laser Level
  • Small Marker Practice Guides (find them in my shop!)
  • Modern Calligraphy Workbooks (in my shop!)
    • Small Marker: Basic Strokes <– Start Here
    • Small Marker: Minuscules (lowercase letters)
    • Large Marker: Basic Strokes <– Start Here
    • Large Marker: Minuscules (lowercase letters)
  • Lightbox (if you don’t want to write on the practice guides)

Shop for the Supplies:

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!

Additional More Advanced Markers:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens are large markers—If you start with these beauties, you’re likely to get even more frustrated because they’re not as easy to control. Karin markers are similar to Tombow dual brush pens, so they’re probably not for beginners.

You can letter using paint brushes & water pens, but I would wait until you have the technique down for forming each part of each letter before starting with a paintbrush or water pen.

Shop for the Supplies:

What I Prefer (to this day)

Hands down, I reach for a Tombow Fudenosuke Marker. Hard-tipped version, of course.

I love my Tombow hard-tipped fudenosuke pens.

They also last a long time. After a couple of years of heavy usage, my pens are finally dying. In general, I don’t like the ‘old marker look.’ However, sometimes, that style is fun. So I keep a few old markers around, and I label them so I know which ones are old and which are new.

If you were to peek in my marker drawer, you’d find more hard-tip Tombow Fudenosuke markers than anything else. And I always have one or two in my bag.

Which markers should you start with when beginning modern calligraphy | ChocolateMusings.com

Remember, as I said in the beginning, that practice is the most important tool. So, whichever marker you choose to start your handlettering journey, you must put in the practice to accompany it.

Ready to Start Handlettering?

Get your practice guides & practice workbooks in the shop below!

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!

Why Track Habits?

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Why Do You Track Habits?

Why Track Habits? The reason behind the flurry of habit tracking spreads - interpreted through the lens of "the happiness project" book. | ChocolateMusings.com

Have you ever stopped to think of why you track habits? Here are some insights from a book I’m reading by Gretchen Rubin called “The Happiness Project,” which gives a pretty good definition of ‘why’ someone should spend their time and energy tracking habits.

Tracking Habits is Boring – Or is it?

Why track habits? At first glance, it sounds very tedious and mundane. That’s what I thought, too. Then I tried it, and I liked tracking the habits. I liked tracking them almost more than doing them. It’s giving yourself that little star, the little thumbs up that you followed through, that you did something you set out to do.

Adding habits to my circle habit tracker for the month on a black page journal sheet | ChocolateMusings.com

Habits: In Pursuit of Happiness

I finally figured out why I like habit tracking so much. It’s not necessarily in the end goal. In fact, the pursuit of happiness makes an overall improvement. The purpose of a habit isn’t to have it end. The goal is to have it continue without effort.

A habit tracker’s unwritten (now written) goal is to have items fall off the list of consciously trying to be a better person and continue to be that better person without thinking about it.

Thanks to Gretchen Rubin and her book (which I’m currently reading on my Kindle Paperwhite), “The Happiness Project,” she defined what I subconsciously knew:

“It isn’t goal attainment by the process of striving after goals – it’s growth that brings happiness” –

Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

Never Ending Habits?

Sometimes writing never-ending habits (i.e., reading scriptures or patiently parenting, doing dishes, daily cleaning) every month seemed like I was spinning my wheels and not accomplishing anything. But the accomplishment is ‘the every day.’ It’s ‘the striving’ to improve my life and the lives of those around me as I progress to be a better human being.

Though I’d been married for over a decade and had children, I felt like I earned an ‘adulting’ gold star when I finally considered that I could permanently take ‘doing dishes’ off my habit tracker – because I made a habit of doing them. Believe me, this was a big accomplishment, and I worked hard to create that habit.

At one point, I decided to weigh myself every day. Keep in mind that I do it – not to gauge my weight per se – but to set the mindset for the day and to reestablish the goals I’ve set for myself. This is a habit I broke and need to get back into.

Want More on This Topic?

Read more about my health journey and how habits + journaling are helping me achieve big goals. Trackers.

Change Yourself for the Better & Others Will Follow

As Gretchen states in her book, “you can’t change anyone but yourself.” But I would say that if you change yourself for the better, others will follow suit. I started making my bed habitually. Sometimes I’d make only my side and sometimes both. It’s been a few years since I started this little habit, and my husband beats me to making the bed. Win-win.

Sometimes, he only makes his side as I do on occasion. But now it feels like a joint effort.

Do you know what the best part is? I never said anything, but he started following my example. I’m not sure if it was guilt, but a change in my habit has also changed my husband’s habits.

***FULL DISCLAIMER: I do not proclaim that this will change your significant other’s habits – I just happened to see positive results in this instance.

On the reverse side: if I notice that my kids are being particularly unkind to each other, I have to step back and ask if they are acting that way because I do, too. Those reality checks hurt (a lot).

Mid-Month Habit Checks

As the month progresses, I sometimes get off course. That’s why I like to do mid-month habit checks – because the middle of the month is when I lose momentum. And simply reviewing my daily goals helps me realign to what I deem essential. It’s all in pursuit of happiness.

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Want More Posts About Habits?

Find more blog posts on creating and tracking habits.

Want Theme Ideas for Your Planner?

Find more blog posts with theme ideas for your Bullet Journal + Habit Trackers.

How Do You Keep Yourself on Track?

How do you keep yourself on track? Do you do a ‘mid-month habit check?’ If not, try to add it to your planner on the 15th/16th of every month. Then compare where you want to be versus where you’re trending, then make adjustments as necessary.

If you give your habits the priority they deserve, these seemingly insignificant habit checkups will help you in your pursuit. It’s a great way to reevaluate your course throughout the month.

I’m sure as you see steady progress, you’ll come to find out why you track habits. I know that tracking habits and seeing progress helped me progress in positive ways. If you fall away from tracking habits, there’s no better time to start tracking again.

Why Track Habits? The reason behind the flurry of habit tracking spreads - interpreted through the lens of "the happiness project" book. | ChocolateMusings.com

2022 Christmas Watercolor Wishlist

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Watercolor Christmas Wishlist - build your list - get ideas - celebrate | ChocolateMusings.com

Here is my 2022 Christmas Watercolor Wishlist! Each year for Christmas, my husband likes me to send him a list of items I’d love. He doesn’t like me to send a small list because then I’d know what’s under the tree (I’m really good at guessing). This year, I decided to share my wishlist with you and include items that a budding watercolor artist would enjoy. I’ll also add a Bullet Journal Christmas wishlist as well. I hope some of these products inspire you – either for yourself or someone who likes to watercolor paint or bullet journal (or both!).

I don’t consider myself a beginner when it comes to watercolor. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t like to study techniques. I’m a self-taught artist with a few art classes scattered throughout high school and college, so there are LOTS of things I don’t know.

No matter where you (or your loved one) fall on the progression scale, I’m sure you’ll find something that suits your skill level or desire to improve in my 2021 Christmas Watercolor Wishlist. Whether you are an observer, an absolute beginner, a beginning dabbler, or someone with intermediate skills, I’m excited to share this wishlist with you and think you’ll find some fantastic products to add to your Christmas Watercolor Wishlist as well.

Looking For a Particular Item? Skip to it Here

Watercolor Paint – Christmas Wishlist Tips

Watercolor Paint - explore my favorites and add some to your Watercolor Christmas Wishlist! | ChocolateMusings.com

When shopping for paint, if the person you’re shopping for already has some supplies, get a list of what they already have OR what paint colors they want. Maybe they’ve had their eye on a particular Daniel Smith paint tube. Paint tubes are pricey (they last a long time, especially if you can fill half-pans with the tubes) but pricey upfront nonetheless.

I love my Daniel Smith paints, but it all depends on what they have already. In general, the more expensive paints, the better they will be. If you can opt for artists’ grade or professional grade paints. Believe me. The paint tubes go farther than you imagined.

If you’d like to start with just a few colors, opt for a mixing set or start with pre-filled pans. Don’t try to get all the colors all at once.

By the way, you’d also be surprised at how much paint you can get from a dot card sampler set. The dot cards are a very good way to test colors and see which ones are your favorites. It’s how I determined which paints to add to my wishlist and which ones I don’t care much for.

Watercolor Paper

Watercolor Paper - which is your favorite? What would make it on a christmas wishlist? | ChocolateMusings.com

Paper is something you’ll probably develop your own preference for. However, getting started can be somewhat daunting. First of all, yes. It needs to be paper specifically designed to handle watercolor.

Here are two types to try:

Canson Cold Pressed paper & Arches Cold Pressed paper. Those are my selections for getting started. But if you want to give (or get!) something different than you might buy for yourself – consider a watercolor block with a cover or an art journal. Similar to the Paul Rubens Watercolor Paper Block or the Strathmore Watercolor Art Journal. For some reason, these two products feel…special. Which is what’s intended in a gift, right?

Arches paper can seem a bit intimidating because of its cost. But it accepts paints beautifully, in my opinion. There is a different feel switching from cotton paper to pulp paper (not cotton). Give your inner artist a chance to try the ‘expensive’ paper.

Side note: I was also surprised at the good quality of the Arteza cotton paper.

The difference between a watercolor pad and a watercolor block is that the block is glued together on all sides, so only the top page is accessible at once. It creates a better surface to use a lot more water since the pages don’t buckle. Keep in mind that there are ways or alternatives when using a paper pad.

Watercolor Brushes

What Watercolor Paintbrushes would make your Christmas Wishlist? | ChocolateMusings.com

Just like your paper, your paintbrushes can make or break your painting. I love my Princeton brushes. I also have a set from The Pigeon Letters that I love to use as well. There are a few other types that I’ve enjoyed listed below, too.

Whichever set you settle on, take care of your brushes. Please don’t leave them in the water or smash them on the bottom of your water cups. Take care of them!

I don’t often use water pain pens anymore, but they are fun for travel and other situations.

Other Watercolor Supplies – a Perfect Addition to a 2021 Christmas Wishlist

Additional {essential} (and fun!) supplies for watercoloring enthusiasts - Christmas Watercolor Wishlists should include supplies you might not buy for yourself | ChocolateMusings.com

I love to use watercolor pencils for my base sketches before watercolor painting. The watercolor pencil marks fade away with water, so no annoying pencil lines are showing through my finished painting, making them worthwhile. I wouldn’t say I like to use watercolor pencils exclusively – so having a few pencils is all I need.

Of course, if the artist you are shopping for wants to try watercolor pencils, who am I to tell them no? Here are some great watercolor pencils that would go great under someone’s Christmas tree or add to your wishlist.

I’ve also included some other watercolor supplies that make me very happy. Empty tins for making your own palettes and empty half-pans for pouring your own paint and making a customized watercolor paint palette. Yes, these are some of my favorite things.

If empty watercolor half-pan wells end up on your watercolor Christmas wishlist this year, get the kind with magnets. That way, you can choose if you want to use the brackets in the tin or if you’d rather arrange them as you please.

Drawing Pencils & Erasers – Essentials for a Watercolor Christmas Wishlist

Pencils & Erasers - Watercolor isn't just about slapping paint on the paper. It's about planning and composition etc. That's why a good pencil and eraser set makes my Christmas Watercolor Wishlist! | ChocolateMusings.com

Watercolor is more than just slapping paint on paper. Many times you have to plan out your piece, which means sketching, measuring, and other things. Of course, these are just preparation before using your paints. But depending on your subject matter, preparation makes all the difference.

Fineliner Pens (Waterproof)

Waterproof Fineliner Pens - which make my list of favorites? There's more than just Micron pens on my favorites list. | ChocolateMusings.com

You may wonder why I listed fine liner pens in my Watercolor Christmas Wishlist. You can use waterproof pens for lots of techniques in a watercolor painting. For one, draw a line drawing directly on the paper and then do watercolor washes over the top. Another way is to paint abstract colors/shapes in the background, and then once the paint is dry, draw over them with a fine-liner pen. Adding details to a nearly-finished painting or outlines to the edges of your painting to your drawings are also fun techniques.

Rulers/Measuring

Rulers and Measuring - what devices do you love and which would you love to get? | ChocolateMusings.com

The Helix circle maker tool is hands down one of my top favorite tools. This circle maker tool is both for bullet journals & watercolor painting – this simple yet amazing tool is always a favorite. Yet, having a good ruler is always necessary. I’m partial to the metal rulers with cork backers.

Have you ever tried a rolling ruler? They’re magical.

Skillshare – Learn all the Skills

My favorite learning platform - you get so much more than YouTube | ChocolateMusings.com

Although YouTube is great, I LOVE Skillshare and feel like I get so much more out of the Skillshare lessons I take. I try to take at least one lesson per week. And it’s not just watercoloring. I love Procreate Art lessons on the iPad, time management, creative practice, and so many more.

Skillshare is a great option if you’re looking for a great gift for a creative loved one – no matter their skill level.

Watercolor Tutorial Books – Perfect for your 2021 Christmas Wish list

Tutorial Books - step by step - do you prefer books or videos? I like a little of both! | ChocolateMusings.com

I also love watercolor books. Even though I have several watercolor books already, there are a few more that make my 2021 Christmas Wishlist.

A Little Summary About the Artists From This List – My Opinion, Of Course

Jeannie Dickson

Jeannie Dickson is one of my favorite watercolor artists. She’s fascinating to watch and very inspiring. Any of her products would be a great gift.

Anna Victory Calderon

Ana Victoria Calderon is another one of my favorite watercolor artists, and she has so many amazing watercolor technique books available. I purchased a class from her on Domestika. In this class, she spoke in Spanish, and the subtitles were in English, so I had to pay extra attention to the class; otherwise, I’d miss everything. It was one of the most difficult classes I’ve seen simply because I had to read everything quickly (I even slowed it down a little!). But it’s also one of the classes that I learned the most.

Jenna Rainey

Jenna Rainey’s books look interesting as well. I don’t know if I could purchase something from her, but if I got it as a gift, I might use it.

Side Note: You might be wondering why I’d say that I couldn’t purchase from her. She shared one time that she acquired a box of artist supplies through a mistake that her moving company made. She ended up with someone else’s prized art supplies. I don’t know the whole story; perhaps she tried to find the original owner through the moving company. But I know if I lost my box of art supplies when I moved, I would be devastated. I wouldn’t have an issue if she tried to find the original owner. The box of supplies changed her life. I’m all for life-changing moments but not at someone else’s expense.

Anna Koladych

Anna Koladych – I own her 15-minute watercolor masterpieces book. The easy approach to the varied techniques in her book makes watercolors approachable. I think if I got into Guache or Oil Pastels – I’m sure these books would be wonderful.

Marina Bakasova

Marina Bakasova – What a fun, whimsical style she has! Watercolor Success in Four Steps looks intriguing, and I certainly love the loose, whimsical style she shows.

Mako

No-Fail Watercolor: The ultimate beginner’s guide to painting with confidence – By Mako. Mako is absolutely one of my favorite YouTube artists. She has this way of making you feel at ease while explaining her techniques. You best believe that I will be on the lookout for more books and resources from this artist.

Adelene Fletcher

After stumbling upon Adelene Fletcher’s watercolor books, I knew I needed to add some of these to my 2021 Christmas Watercolor wishlist. With a series of various paintings from A to Z and another series using pocket palettes, I would be excited to explore the watercolor world through her books.

Step-By-Step Floral Drawing Books & Flower Reference Books

Beyond painting tutorial books - Floral Tutorial Books are some of my favorites. I love painting florals - so why not learn how to draw them better? | ChocolateMusings.com

I think that step-by-step books are a great place to start. Especially when the subject matter is flowers. So if you’re shopping for a budding artist or you are a budding artist, add some step-by-step drawing books to your Christmas watercolor wishlist.

I already own several floral drawing and reference books. In fact, here’s a post with my top favorite flower books. I’ve expanded my list of flower reference books below, and I’m excited to share them.

Beyond step-by-step flower drawing books, I love floral reference books. My favorite books provide photographs and artist’s drawing of the books. I find that the artists’ drawings help me see the most important parts of the flowers, making drawing each flower easier.

What’s on Your Watercolor Christmas List this Year?

So now that I’ve shared my wishlist and favorite watercolor supplies. I’d love to know… what’s on your watercolor Christmas wishlist for this year? Be sure to pin the image for later. You know, you don’t have to make a wishlist ONLY at Christmas, right?

2021 Watercolor Christmas Wishlist - build your list - get ideas - celebrate | ChocolateMusings.com

10 Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook

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10 things to learn from a blank notebook - practical life advice | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #motivation #inspiration

10 Things You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook

Hint: These 10 things you can learn from a blank notebook isn’t just about journaling. There’s a lot of good life advice in here, too.

Starting a new notebook feels so refreshing. The smell and feel of the paper. The crackle of the spine as you crack open the notebook for the first time. Thumbing through the book, the feeling of the crisp pages calling for attention. Ahhh, it feels so good to start fresh. I opened a new notebook today, which made me think about how these pages apply to our lives. So I’d like to share 10 things you can learn from a blank notebook.

Table of contents

Tip #1: The First Thing You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook:
Your Past Notebooks Don’t Make Your New Notebook

Your Past Doesn't Determine Your Future - Advice From a Blank Notebook Tip #1 | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #blanknotebook #bulletjournal

No matter what you’ve written (or done) in the past, this notebook can be different.

Your past notebooks do not determine what you can do with your new book. Learn from the past, decide what you want to do, and go confidently in that direction. I’m sure you can see many parallels between this suggestion about a notebook and your life. I’ll leave it at that.

#2: You Have Limitless Possibilities

10 Things to Learn from a Blank Notebook: You Have Limitless Possibilities | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #possibilties #motivation

You have limitless possibilities. And you have full control of all your choices in life. Just like the pages in your notebook, what you record in the journal of your life is up to you. Try lots of new things and then practice, practice, practice. Don’t get discouraged if it’s not perfect the first, second, or hundredth time. Keep going.

The Inevitable Thing to Learn When Starting a Blank Notebook – Tip #3:
You Will Make Mistakes. Accept Them or Fix Them.

Life advice from a blank notebook: you will make mistakes. Fix them or move on. | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #blanknotebook #potential #bulletjournal

You’ll make mistakes. But it’s usually how you handle the errors that make the most significant difference in the future. Sometimes starting over is the answer. But most of the time, a mistake is minor, and you can whiteout over it or move on.

I only started genuinely benefitting from writing in a notebook or journal when I allowed myself to make mistakes. Big mistakes will happen, as well. But most of the time, even big blunders can be fixed by just turning the page.

See #5 if you feel like you can’t fix it by turning the page.

#4: Turn The Page. Really. Just Turn the Page.

Life advice - Turn the page. | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #bulletjournal #moveon

The mistakes you make won’t seem as significant after you’ve turned a few pages. Other people won’t remember your mistakes as you do. In fact, most people are so worried about themselves that they won’t remember your mistakes. Forgive yourself and learn from them.

#5: Starting Fresh is OK, Too. Move On If You Have No Other Choice.

Starting fresh is ok, if there is no other option. | ChocolateMusings.com - Things you can learn from a blank notebook #bulletjournal #bujo #startover

If you feel you ruined the whole notebook, get a new journal, and start fresh. In all reality, if you spilled coffee all over the book and don’t feel like you can salvage any of it, here’s the thing: you can start over. I’m giving you permission.

When you decide to move on, take a deep breath, go to Target, Walmart, or Amazon, and get yourself a new notebook. Or create your own book. Start fresh. And most importantly, MOVE ON.

#6 – Share It!

Things you can learn from a blank notebook: Share it! Share the things that are most important to you | ChocolateMusings.com #shareit #share #bulletjournal

Share what you’re most proud of. Go ahead, and celebrate your successes. However, Choose the right crowd to share with and who will lift you instead of being jealous of your happiness or accomplishments.

I know that my little planner has grown and evolved with me. It’s also helped me grow in my talents. Find a group that shares your excitement and share your progress.

#7: Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook:
You Don’t Have to Share Everything

Life advice from a Blank Notebook - Don't Share Everything | ChocolateMusings.com #journaling #journal #bulletjournal

In contrast to the last tip, you don’t have to post everything online. Some pages belong solely to you, and you don’t have to broadcast them. It is perfectly fine to use your notebook for personal development. You’re the one who will benefit most from it. Use your new blank notebook to your benefit. This goes for your personal life as well. Share with those you trust if you need help but don’t feel obligated to share everything.

Tip #8: Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook: Focus on the Good

Things to learn from a blank notebook: Focus on the good in your life and you will find more good. | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #blanknotebook #bulletjournal

Focus on the good. Dedicate pages or areas of your book so you can log the good things that happen. Life isn’t just about schedules or what you checked off your list for the day. Life is about stopping to smell those gorgeous blooming roses on your evening walk with your beloved. It’s about that sunset with all those colors that melted your heart. It’s about seeing your children play together (and not fight!).

Sometimes it’s the little things like ordering a ceramic painting palette on Amazon and admiring how careful they were to package it. And the fragile piece arrives perfectly on your doorstep, so you can immediately start painting. Record the happy moments, even if they seem small or insignificant.

From my experience, if you seek out the negative in your life, you will find it. Controversially, if you look for the good, you will see it, and if you continue to look for the good, you will more easily find it. If you write it down in your notebook, you have a chance to look back at the good and remember it.

#9: Carry Through With Your Plans

Things to learn from a blank notebook: Carry Through With Your Plans | ChocolateMusings.com #lifemotivation #motivation #deepthoughts

Carry through with your plans. I’m guilty of intending to do many things but never carrying through. I have so many dreams and ambitions, but I let fear stop me. Or I make a schedule and then ignore it.

Make the plans, then write the first step to start your journey if you’re having trouble doing them. Do the first thing, then check it off. Then proceed to the next step.

#10: Finally, the Last Tip You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook – Take Time to Reflect & Learn

Notebook before and after - Tip #10 from things to learn from a blank notebook - reflect & learn from yourself. Go through your notebooks and review what you wrote - then learn from it. | ChocolateMusings.com #reflect #learn #bulletjournal

Look back on your life. When you finish a notebook, take a moment to reflect. Enjoy the things you recorded, and use the memories of the events that bring a smile to your face to increase your joy. Share the things that matter with the people that matter to you.

I find so much insight and inspiration throughout my completed notebooks. Ideas, thoughts, quotes, joy, sadness, and all the experiences combine to create my past and shape my future.

I love looking back through the pages and am always glad I have a record of my life.

Which of These Tips Did You Need the Most?

Which of these tips did you need to hear the most? For me it was #3, #7 & #8. Sometimes I focus so much on making my notebook perfect to share that it’s not as functional as it could be. I also always need a reminder about accepting mistakes. And I can always use a reminder to focus on the good things in life.

Journaling Question:

Here are some journaling questions in the spirit of things you can learn from a new notebook. What Things Do You Love About a New Notebook? What Have you learned from a new journal?

What do you love about a new notebook? Here are 10 things that a blank notebook taught me | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #inspiration #blanknotebook

Start Planning – Find More Bullet Journaling & Planning Resources

Click here to get started planning & find more ideas for your bullet journal.

Want More Planner & Bullet Journal Inspiration?

Find more plan with me ideas | ChocolateMusings.com #planwithme #ideas
Favorite Beginner Bullet Journal Supplies + Why | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #supplies #favoritesupplies

End of Year Journal Questions 2020 – A Year in Review

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End of Year Positive Journal Prompts for a Great Start to a New Year | ChocolateMusings.com

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What questions do you like to ask yourself at the end of a year? Here are a few of my favorite (and the most effective) end-of-year journal questions.

These are positive questions to ask yourself for a personal year-end review. To help recognize the joyous moments in your life and inspire then motivate you to keep moving forward. These are my reflections on the year 2020 in review.

I think we all acknowledge that 2020 changed us—some changes we may not recognize or know. After being stuck at home for so long, I know I decided I don’t want opportunities to pass me by. Because who knows when we will again get the chance to do them. Here are some reflections and a review of 2020.

Write it Down So You Don’t Repeat Past Mistakes

I hope you will take a few minutes to do a review of the year 2020. This is a year I know most of us would like to forget. But as we’ve heard before: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana. And of course, this infamous quote from Winston Churchill, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to learn as much as I can from 2020, so I don’t have to repeat my personal struggles throughout the year. As a society, I hope we can grow and not repeat all the things we’ve gone through this year by making things better, of course.

End of Year Journal Questions to Ask Yourself: What Are You Proud Of?

What are you proud of? Give yourself credit where credit is due. List your accomplishments big or small. | ChocolateMusings.com Journal Prompts


What did you do this year that you are proud of? Dig deep. Give yourself credit where credit is due!

I thought that I hadn’t done anything worthwhile. But then, when I sat down to think about it, I successfully supported my family despite my husband losing his job early in the year.

I also created four handlettering workbooks – something I’d been thinking about for ages. I continued to work on my Etsy shop and website shop.

Despite the constant turmoil in my head and surrounding us as a society, there were shining moments in my life. This question prompted me to make a spread in my new collections notebook called “Give Credit Where Credit is Due.” It’s a page to summarize and celebrate all the wins, large and small, in my life for the next year. If you struggle with giving yourself credit for the good things you accomplish, consider keeping a page like this in your bullet journal.

Best Creations

What were your best creations? Recall the the best things you made and why. | ChocolateMusings.com Journal Prompts

One month in my bullet journal, I painted a little red truck as part of a theme. That painting in my notebook created a whole series of prints, cards, and stickers. I finally allowed myself to paint using the ‘good’ watercolor paints that I had kept sealed in a drawer and use the cotton watercolor paper I saved for ‘only the best’ projects.

Let me tell you, there is no better time to use your best supplies than now. Just like grandma’s china hidden in the cabinet waiting for a special occasion. Why not use it now?

Use the Best Stuff Now – Don’t Save It For Later

I learned that I should not wait to use the ‘best stuff’ for special projects or occasions. Why not use it every day? Because time has a way of egging by, and before you know it, all those ‘precious’ things we store up for the right moment will gather dust and never find their purpose.

Why wait for a special occasion? Get out the good china for a fun dinner with your family and make some memories! While you’re at it, use the expensive paints on that paper you bought. There is no better time than now.

Share Things You Love

One of my other favorite creations this past year was a painting I did for my husband on our anniversary. I asked him what his favorite skyline was. He loved working in Buckhead, Georgia, and had fond memories of the people and companies he worked for down there. I’ve never painted anything so significant. I’ve also never painted a skyline.

It now hangs in our living room and I love how it turned out.

I regret that I hadn’t shared it – except with a few people who came to our house before the quarantine started. I filmed the whole painting process, now I need to just share it already!

Buckhead Skyline Watercolor Painting - One of my favorite projects from the year | ChocolateMusings.com
Little Red Truck Watercolor Painting - a Favorite Creation from 2020 | ChocolateMusings.com

End of Year Journal Question: What Motivated You?

What Motivated You this year? Journal Questions for a fresh start | ChocolateMusings.com Journal Prompts

The odd thing that I realized motivated me was not a specific goal, but the fact that I made goals. Goals have a powerful effect on the brain. At least they do in mine anyway.

The fact that I had written goals and intentions for the year was why I kept trying throughout the year. Like most of us, I shifted my mindset through the year and focused on surviving another day. But I kept going as you did. It wasn’t a specific goal or a particular endpoint that kept me going. It’s the fact that I set goals that made me keep trying. Even though giving up this would have been acceptable.

Look Back for the Memories, But Keep Going

If you put one foot in front of the other and kept walking throughout 2020, stop and look back. Be proud of those footsteps and that you kept going. It’s ok that you didn’t run the year like a marathon.

I am all for being more gentle with myself when reviewing the year—especially when reviewing the year 2020. Unexpected and unprecedented are words we begrudgingly added to our regular vocabulary. I admit there are many things that I didn’t do this last year that I wanted to do. Partially because of the pandemic and somewhat because I lost my motivation to continue. Despite struggling to get it back full blast, I managed only a trickle from the motivation spout.

After the year we all had, I’ll gladly take whatever I can get and pat myself on the back for it. And you should, too.

What Books Did You Read?

What books did you read (or start) this year? Make a list of your favorites and why. What motivation did they bring? | ChocolateMusings.com Journal Prompts

This end of the year journal question should actually ask: “What books did you complete?” My kindle library is filled with half-read books. Though I finished a few, I definitely want to finish more next year.

If you love to read, and I can’t say enough good things about my Kindle Paperwhite. The pages look good no matter if I’m reading in the direct sunlight while the kids played in the sprinklers or at night. It’s one of my favorite devices ever. Paperwhite plus Amazon Unlimited Subscription and I could spend years happily curled up in a cozy armchair with a cup of hot cocoa.

Several of my favorite (completed or mostly completed) books this year were:

I also started recording my life in lists – Listography Your Life in Lists by Lisa Nola (listography.com) a fun way to chronicle your life experiences by grouping them in common lists. Detailing your guilty pleasures, your favorite books, or list professions you’d like to try are a few examples from the book. If you struggle with writing in a journal but love making lists, this book makes recording your life experiences a little easier.

Here are some books I’ve read on organizing, decluttering, and habits. I’d love a recommendation and add it to my list. Let me know if you have more to add in the comments below.  

 

What Traditions Did you Start & Which Did You Let Go?

Journal Prompt: What Traditions did you start (or let go) this year? What were the most important things you did as a family? | ChocolateMusings.com

Some traditions are meaningless rituals that we do for the sake of doing. When reviewing this year, I realized that it allowed us to pivot in our lives and continue only the things that truly benefit our lives and our families.

We started watching Food Network or silly movies with my kids on Sunday Evenings has been one of the best things we started. I’m not much of a TV watcher anymore. It’s something I stopped doing a few years ago (I never knew I had so much extra time!). But adding a show where we watch and comment as a family adds something special to family time. If we don’t watch a show, we will play a short game now that two of my kids are old enough to sit through an entire game without getting bored.

I stopped trying to make elaborate meals every day. Ok, they weren’t really elaborate, but they took me longer than I’d like simply because I felt unappreciated when It came to meal preparation.

I don’t know why it took me so long to finally decide that adding chicken nuggets and fries to the regular menu was ok. Since adding an air fryer to our kitchen, the nuggets are even better, and the kids gobble them up instead of pushing them around their plates, then returning 10 minutes after dinner asking for a snack.

End of Year Journal Question: Important Lessons You Learned

What Important Lessons did you learn this year? What do you want to repeat? What do you NOT want to repeat? Learn from the past to improve the future | ChocolateMusings.com Journal Prompts

This year showed me that saving for a rainy day isn’t just having a full savings account (what does ‘full’ mean to you?). It means knowing how to budget and following a budget before the tragedy hits.

Budgeting saved us. I use YNAB (youneedabudget.com) to keep our finances in check. Our budget quickly became a household focus after my husband was laid off at the beginning of the pandemic.

‘Rainy Day’ doesn’t apply only to money management. Most of us went through some pretty low times this year, so having a personal well of positive resources you can draw from when times get low or depressing became almost as important as having a savings account to draw from.

Realizing that some days didn’t need to be filled with achievements. Some days were merely about surviving and having the self-compassion to allow me to have a bad day and hope for a better one tomorrow.

If I learned anything from 2020 in my review, I realized that self-compassion is a little known but essential skill that can help you survive.

More End of Year Journal Questions to Ask Yourself:

End of the Year Journal Questions for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Which of your friends were there for you when you truly needed them?
  • What significant events did you celebrate this year? How were they the same/different from previous celebrations?
  • What brought you joy and happiness?
  • How can you simplify your day-to-day?
  • What do you want to do more of in the next year?
  • What do you want to do less of in the next year?
  • Of all the things that you couldn’t do last year, what did you miss the most?

Looking forward, I know I want to revisit several past goals including my health journey, running monthly Instagram Challenges, and focus on productivity.

200+ Word of the year ideas to inspire and motivate you | ChocolateMusings.com #wordoftheyear #wty #words #motivation

Which of these end-of-the-year questions were your favorite or inspired you? As you can tell, I’m not for beating myself up – especially after a year like 2020. But I would like to learn from it and move on. I hope these end-of-the-year journal questions will help you do the same.

Positive Journal Question for Motivation to Start Fresh | ChocolateMusings.com Journal Prompts