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Chocolate Musings

Set your goals - make the plans - artfully create your life - live it beautifully. Grab the good chocolate and find your muse.

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Home » Get Inspired » My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration) » Page 2

What to Do if Bullet Journaling Feels Overwhelming?

November 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

What to do if you love bullet journaling but it feels overwhelming? 3 Tips to Try Right Now | ChocolateMusings.com


Post Contents

  • What to do if Bullet Journaling starts feeling overwhelming?
  • Recognize the Problem
  • What Creates Overwhelm for You? Tip #1 – Determine What You Need
    • Ask yourself:
  • Tip # 2 Manage the Overwhelm, Take a Vacation from your Bullet Journal!
  • Habit-Making Recommendations
  • Tip #3 Create Only the Minimum Amount Required
    • Eliminate Overwhelm: Pare Down to Only What You Absolutely Need In Your Bullet Journal
  • Let Your Bullet Journal Adapt to Your Life
  • Inspiration to Keep Going

What to do if Bullet Journaling starts feeling overwhelming?

3 Tips to Try Right Now to OVercome Bullet Journal Overwhelm | ChocoalteMusings.com

Do you feel overwhelmed with bullet journaling? Did this process previously work for you, but now it feels like a burden? Do you avoid your bullet journal? Have you returned to your old method of trying to remember everything or sticky notes and long to go back to when your bullet journal worked for you and when it contained the details of your life, so you didn’t feel so ragged?

Yup. Me too. A couple of months ago, it all just felt like too much. And I stopped doing anything that helped me feel put together, organized, or productive. I didn’t stop these things intentionally. It just happened because, at the time, everything felt overwhelming.

Recognize the Problem

Going through this pandemic and the trials associated with it have genuinely increased the overwhelm in my life. My husband lost his job early on during the year, and it’s been challenging to cope with all the other changes. The tipping point I think for me was when our cat of 18 years died suddenly, followed almost immediately by my husband losing out on an opportunity that we both wanted very badly.

I decided to take a little break from everything I could in my life. Social media, bullet journaling, and even art took a backseat to the menial day-to-day tasks as I worked through my grief on many levels. In the past, I’d use my bullet journal to write and help organize my thoughts and art to create a safe place for my mind. I couldn’t do the norm this time around, and that was ok. I knew I’d be back.

Sometimes to find happiness, you have to experience sorrow. Sometimes to know how to rebuild the calm in your life, you have to experience the chaos. I knew that’s what I was doing. I knew that the method I was doing wasn’t working throughout the pandemic and beyond, so I needed to figure out what needed to change.

What Creates Overwhelm for You? Tip #1 – Determine What You Need

3 Tips to Overcome Bullet Journal Overwhelm and how to Overcome it - Tip #1 - What do you really need from your bullet journal? | ChocolateMusings.com

Stop and take a minute, here. What’s creating overwhelm in your life? Why did you decide to read this article?

Ask yourself:

What do you need from your bullet journal?

What are you trying to do with your bullet journal that isn’t working?

There are times where I need intricately drawn or painted spreads and times I need minimal layouts. If you’re overwhelmed with your bullet journal, it’s a signal to change it up.

Listen to yourself. Don’t force yourself to keep doing something just because you’ve always done it.

Tip # 2 Manage the Overwhelm, Take a Vacation from your Bullet Journal!

Tip #2 - Take a Vacation from Your Bullet Journal - But have a return ticket scheduled | ChocolateMusings.com

Do you need a break from bullet journaling but don’t want to stop forever?

Here’s a tip: don’t break the habit and think you can come back to it whenever you want, you need to prepare the way to return. I know that’s how I break most of my good habits (see the posts in my health journey adventure).

Instead, call it a vacation. That’s how I take time away from a habit but mentally knowing that I’ll return to it. If you call it a vacation it helps your mind feel like it’s returning from a break rather than ‘falling off the wagon’.

It’s ok to give yourself a vacation. I promise. If you’re not using it anyway, and your bullet journal is overwhelming you, take a break, but set up a return date and an expectation when you return.

For instance, I will give myself a week (or a month) from my bullet journal and jot down the ‘vacation dates’ on a sticky note and post it on the front of my bullet journal. Writing down the commitment is especially important. And if you end up taking more time than you intended, call it an extended vacation.

Habit-Making Recommendations

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.  

 

Tip #3 Create Only the Minimum Amount Required

Tip # 3 Return to the Minimum Required in your Bullet Journal - Eliminate all unnecessary lists, to dos, records, allow yourself to breathe and realize what is really important to you | ChocolateMusings.com

If you’re struggling with motivation and overwhelm in your bullet journal, return to the minimum amount you can do. For instance, I decided to create a simple welcome page, a vertical calendar page to track events and day-specific to-dos, and a habit tracker page. To focus on being thankful, I added a one-line gratitude journal as well. It was the perfect mix of keeping track of life with a little whimsy.

  • November Thankful welcome page in my bullet journal - heart wreath with watercolor | ChocolateMusings.com
    Welcome Page
  • November vertical calendar log - minimal bullet journal spreads | ChocolateMusings.com
    Monthly Log
  • November Habits & Thankful Line Per day - Minimal Bullet Journal Use | ChocolateMusings.com
    One Line Per Day & Habit Tracker

A comparison from the typical spreads I created in my bullet journal vs. when I pared it down this month:

Typical Month:

  • 2 -Page Welcome Spread in Watercolor
  • 2-Page Monthly Calendar
  • Monthly To-Dos
  • Habit Tracker
  • 2-Page Spreads for Each Week
  • Brain Dump
  • One-Line Per Day
  • Productivity Tracker
  • Journal Page

Pared Down Month:

  • Welcome Spread (simple)
  • Monthly Log
  • One Line Per Day
  • Habit Tracker

** I could have eliminated the welcome spread, one line per day & habit tracker and kept only the monthly calendar, but they made me happy and I decided could keep up with them.

Eliminate Overwhelm: Pare Down to Only What You Absolutely Need In Your Bullet Journal

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, choose what you absolutely need and use that for a month. Hint: after the first week of the month, if you’re craving a missing part of your bullet journal, absolutely add it back in! There is nothing that says that you have to continue doing (or not doing) what you start the month doing.

Going back to the basics is the best way to see how my bullet journal needs to evolve for the next season of my life. If you let your bullet journal grow with your seasons of life, you’ll find the value of your bullet journal amplifies. This is one reason why I’ve stuck with bullet journaling for so long.

Here’s a post on how you can create a one-line per day spread. (And how to use it!)

Let Your Bullet Journal Adapt to Your Life

Stop the overwhelm and adapt your bullet journal to work with you instead of work against your current season of life. I feel the most overwhelmed is when I’m not using the tools in my life, and I insist that I have to use them the way I’ve always done.

Allow yourself to make a shift in the way you plan and carry out your tasks when you get them done. We’ve all gone through a significant change in the last few months. Adaptation is critical, and it certainly is necessary to eliminate overwhelm.

So if something in your bullet journal feels overwhelming, that’s a clue to change what you’re doing. Make a change. It’s ok, I promise. The system is not rigid. It was never designed to be rigid.

Inspiration to Keep Going

I hope you found some inspiration to adapt your bullet journal to your current season in life. I think you’ll find more peace and eliminate more overwhelm in your bullet journal if you give yourself a temporary vacation, reset to the minimum, and let your bullet journal adapt to your life. Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Make this tool work for you.

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

3 Tips to Overcome Bullet Journal Overwhelm | ChocoalteMusings.com

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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, Find Your Happy, Get Inspired, Get Organized & Start Planning, Habits, Journal Prompts & Ideas, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Start Planning Here Tagged: Bullet Journal, bullet journaling, habit tracking, habits, journal prompts, starting your bullet journal

Beginner Supplies for Bullet Journaling

January 16, 2020 Leave a Comment

Favorite Beginner Bullet Journal Supplies + Why | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #supplies #favoritesupplies
Bullet Journal Supplies Explained: Resources for Beginners + Beyond - Choose the Supplies You Need + Why | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #bulletjournaling #supplies #artsupplies

What are the best beginner supplies for bullet journaling? I’ve compiled a list of my favorite supplies for bullet journaling (and WHY!). Beginner or not, this list is sure to get you going.

If you just started bullet journaling or lettering (or would like to start and don’t know what you need), you’ve come to the right place.

I don’t care what time of year it is, whether the first of the year has passed or if you’re well into spring, summer, or the leaves are starting to turn preparing for winter. Anytime is a good time to start your bullet journal or lettering journey. You don’t have to wait for the perfect day to start.

Table of contents

  • Looking for Handlettering Supplies?
    • Are you interested in Handlettering?
  • What Basic/Beginner Supplies do I Need for Bullet Journaling?
  • Know Your ‘Why’
    • Why do you want to bullet journal?
  • Some Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal
  • The Most Basic Beginner Supply for Bullet Journaling: The Notebook
    • Scribbles That Matter A5 Dot-Grid Notebook
    • Could you Use a Sketchbook?
    • Pens – Another Essential Basic Tool for Bullet Journalers
      • Other pens I like:
  • Bullet Journaling + Fountain Pens
    • Want to Learn More About Fountain Pens?
    • Pencil
    • Erasers
    • Rulers
    • Correction Tape:
      • Why Not Whiteout?
    • Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
    • Other Brush Markers I Love:
    • Tombow Dual Brush Pens
    • Water Pens
    • Watercolor Paint
    • Crayola Markers
      • Features of Crayola Markers:
    • Colored Pencils
    • Micron Pens
    • Washi Tape
    • Zebra Mildliner Markers
  • Getting Started – All the Essentials
  • What Are Your Favorites?
  • In case you missed it

Looking for Handlettering Supplies?

Are you interested in Handlettering?

Head to this post on getting started with handlettering. I break down all the supplies and what they do. And detail which supplies are best for beginner letterers on up to intermediate users and beyond.

What Basic/Beginner Supplies do I Need for Bullet Journaling?

Honestly, you need just a notebook and a pen. Because bullet journaling is about simply recording your days & to-dos. Find out more about the basics of bullet journaling in this post. You can also learn about the original intent of the bullet journal system here. You can see that I deviate significantly from the original creator’s basic use of the notebook.

If your intent is to be more artsy in your bullet journal, start a sketch diary, doodle book, or something geared toward the more artistic variation of Bullet Journaling – I can help you with that.

Know Your ‘Why’

Why do you want to bullet journal?

First, it’s essential to know why you want to start using this hobby/productivity tool. Knowing what you want to try or practice will determine what type of supplies you choose.

Pro Tip: you probably have several supplies around your house – gather what you do have and start with those.

Remember – you don’t have to get each one of these to start bullet journaling. Try something for a while, and then add to your supplies when you want to try something new.

Some Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal

I created a list below of reasons to start & use a bullet journal. Most people will select multiple items from the list so you don’t have to narrow it down (this is in no way comprehensive – it’s merely to get you thinking about what you want to do).

  1. Do you want to organize your day-to-day schedule?
  2. Do you want to start adding some creativity to your life?
  3. Create a collection of inspiring quotes
  4. Do you want to track miscellaneous things in your life, such as budget, dreams, sleep, period/mood tracking, books read?
  5. Include Church Doodles or self-care & motivational practices?
  6. Start or Continue your Lettering Practice?
  7. Doodle Practice
  8. Journal & Record Keeping

I use my bullet journal for every single one of those things on that list. I feel that including a bit of art/creativity regularly in my life has brought me out of the dark ages of my life.

The Most Basic Beginner Supply for Bullet Journaling: The Notebook

Scribbles That Matter A5 Dot-Grid Notebook

Monthly Calendar - Favorite Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com #creativeplanning #bulletjournal #monthly

There are a lot of other notebooks out there that would work just fine for writing and recording thoughts. I use Scribbles That Matter because it holds up to all the markers & art I throw at it. I’ve personally tested about 15 of them (so far) and I’m very pleased with the paper in this notebook.

  • A5 is a portable size, and the dot grid allows me to turn my book horizontal or vertical and work form a grid.
  • Dots are non-obtrusive and provide a guide without getting in the way.
  • The 160 gsm paper in the Scribbles That Matter notebook holds up to nearly everything.
  • Accessible – available on Amazon, so I can get the order quickly with a Prime Membership.

Could you Use a Sketchbook?

If you want to start a sketchbook, blank pages might be more your speed. Canson has a mixed media book in 8.5×5.5 and the pages hold up to a variety of uses, including watercolor. I love the dot grid in my notebooks because I can draw straight lines and create planning spreads in addition to art in my notebook.

Target also has an inexpensive wire-bound notebook that I like which puts up with most techniques and has a good number of pages.

Botanical Garden Illustration Inspired by Emily Dickinson Museum Garden for Skillshare Class | ChocolateMusings.com #flower #watercolor #painting

Pro Tip: The paper in a sketchbook or mixed media book isn’t as smooth as a majority of the dot grid notebooks – be aware of this when using your markers, particularly, your dual brush pens.

You don’t have to use a bound notebook if you prefer a 3-ring binder or disc-bound notebook – there’s a whole world of possibilities out there for you to explore.

I’ll review notebooks from time to time, so check out my list of reviews here!

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Pens – Another Essential Basic Tool for Bullet Journalers

  • All the things - Journal Page with Paint Bucket Splash | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #journaling
  • Paint drip weekly view bullet journal page | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #weekly

Beyond a pen & notebook, everything else is just extra. But I never said I was a minimalist bullet journalist. I love creative planning and discovering bullet journaling was the catalyst for reigniting my passion for creativity.

My personal favorite pens are Papermate Ink Joy

  • I love them because they come in a variety of colors
  • The ink dries quickly
  • Available online or in many different stores

Other pens I like:

  • Energel (.5 & .7 mm)
  • Papermate Flair Pens

Do you crave more simplicity? Ballpoint pens work just fine.

Bullet Journaling + Fountain Pens

Seeds of Thought Brain Dump Page - Simple Floral Border | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #braindump #floral #linedrawing

Some people like to pair bullet journaling with fountain pens. I have several fountain pens – but lean more to the doodling & marker usage rather than fountain pen use in my books.

However, if you wanted to try fountain pens for the first time, start with these:

  • Pilot Metro Pop Medium Nib
  • Pilot Metro Pop Fine Nib

Both of these will need replacement cartridges.

Want to try a fillable fountain pen? Try this Noodler’s Konrad Fillable demo pen then choose your ink. (Demo means it has a clear barrel and you can see the ink in the pen.)

Want to Learn More About Fountain Pens?

Like most products related to Creative Planning or Bullet journaling, fountain pens are a rabbit hole of options. If you want to learn more about fountain pens, I say go to the experts.

Goulet Pen Company is a great place to start. From what I’ve seen, they provide a lot of insight, guidance, and have a lot of information available for newbies and beyond.

Pencil

Bookcase line drawing - Bullet Journal Reading Collection | ChocolateMusings.com #reading #goals #books #booktracker

Pencils are a perfect beginner (+beyond) supply for bullet journaling.

I like to sketch my calendar & artwork in pencil first and typically use this mechanical pencil by Papermate or this Energize Pencil by Pentel. I prefer the .5mm, but I know most people prefer the .7mm lead.

But if you are diving in and doing a minimal bullet journal without creating calendars or doodles, you can carry just a pen and your notebook.

Erasers

If you’re using a pencil to sketch or do work prior to finishing with a pen, you’ll need an eraser. I go through erasers like crazy (that’s partially why I like Papermate pencils – because they have a bigger eraser than other pencils).

  • Pentel Plastic Eraser – my favorite & go-to eraser.
  • Papermate White Pearl Eraser
  • Clic Erase – Retractable Eraser

Rulers

I’ve been drawing for years and need a ruler even though the pages have a grid to follow – I use a ruler every day for ease & to soothe my perfectionist tendencies (although I usually still mess it up).

I love the 6” cork-backed ruler by Westcott. If you’re using a dot-grid notebook, you’ll need a ruler that measures centimeters and millimeters (as most dot-grid notebooks are spaced with 5mm dots). Westcott also has this amazing protractor ruler. Any ruler should work and there are some flexible options on the market as well.

You can store your ruler in the back pocket of your notebook, so you have it with you all the time. Just don’t forget where you put it and tear apart your office/house two to three times before finding it. #truestory #oops #thatreallyhappened

If you want to include circles in your book – hands down my favorite circle maker is the Helix circle maker. I bought three (so I could have backups) when I thought I lost mine.

I also have their 12″ helix ruler for making bigger circles.

Check out these posts for making circles in your bullet journal:

  • Circle Measurements
  • Loose Circle Wreaths

Correction Tape:

  • Books Read Bullet Journal Collection + Handlettering | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #collection #books #handlettering
  • Art Supply Watercolor: White Out Tape Watercolor Painting | ChocolateMusings.com #gears #artsupply #watercolor
  • Art Supply Watercolor: White Out Tape Watercolor Painting | ChocolateMusings.com #gears #artsupply #watercolor

Because mistakes happen. No matter what, once you add ink to the page, you’ll smear or screw up in some way. Use your correction tape enough to fix the mistake or smear and move on.

One time I got a whole box of the Tombow correction tape at Costco. But I also order online (yes, I use it A LOT). Many brands would work, but I like the tape track Tombow has because I don’t have to spend a lot of time fixing it if the tape jumps off the track. I also find that it stays taut and doesn’t need wound up.

Why Not Whiteout?

If you want to ruin your life and the lives of everyone around you, go ahead and use whiteout from a bottle.

If you can’t tell, I am not a fan of white-out. It takes too long to dry and never seems to work just right. It may come back from my copy center days – where people would use whiteout and not let it dry thoroughly (you think it’s dry, but it’s NOT!) and then lay their painted pages on the copier glass or run it through the feeder

After they leave, I spent the rest of the day (or the rest of my life – whichever) scrubbing at the glass & feeder rolls to get that dang white-out off. Yep, pretty sure that’s where my passion against whiteout comes from and curse you if you ever do that to a copy shop.

Ok, I’ll put away my soapbox now. Just don’t get involved with whiteout from a bottle. It’s not worth it.

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens

Planning Goals in my Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #goals #goalplanning #planning #lettering #handlettering
  • Dual pack of Hard & Soft Tip in black ink – Great for beginners to start learning the thick and thin strokes of handlettering.
  • Comes in a multi-color pack (hard-tip only)

My favorites are the hard-tip markers. I feel like I have more control over them. Even though I recommend these markers for beginners, they are STILL my favorite brush pen. Great for creating headers in your bullet journal or for church doodles.

Other Brush Markers I Love:

  • Sharpie Brush Pens (these aren’t your typical bleed-through paper Sharpies) and the brush tip is good for beginners. If you want to start with color brush tips (rather than just black – these are a good option).
  • Pentel Sign Touch Brush Pens – easy to use and a great range of intense colors, it also has surprising flexibility in the tip of the pen & writes very well.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens

  • Fall Tombow Dual Brush Pen Colors | ChocolateMusings.com #fallcolors #dualbrushpens #tombow
  • Brush Marker Samples | ChocolateMusings.com #dualbrushpens #brushpen #markers
  • Weekly Polaroid & Camera Bullet Journal Spread | ChocolateMusings.com #weeklyspread #weekly #bulletjournal

Get 96 Colors at once or start with smaller packs. Here are a few of their smaller packs:

  • Bright 10-Pack
  • Primary 10-Pack
  • Secondary 10-Pack
  • Galaxy 10-Pack
  • Grayscale 10-Pack
  • Landscape 10-Pack

I would say the Bright & Primary packs would be my top picks for starting with these markers. You can use them to add color to your planner/notes or step up your lettering game.

Pro Tip: Use Tombow Dual Brush Markers only on smooth paper – any paper that is rough or has a ‘tooth’ will eventually damage the tip of your brush and fray the end.

Water Pens

Waterpen + Bullet Journaling | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #waterpen #bulletjournal

Water pens are useful for blending waterbased markers like Tombow Dual Brush pens or Karin Markers and provides quick, mess-free watercolor painting – it acts as the water & the brush.

Pro Tip: be careful how much you blend/add water to markers in your book, it’s the only thing that I’ve found bleeds through in every book.

Watercolor Paint

  • Watercolor Paint Swatch | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #paintswatch
  • Paul Ruben Shimmer Watercolor Paint Swatch | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #paintswatch

I started watercolor painting in my bullet journal. I’d never tried watercolor before I started bullet journaling and fell in love with it. Use watercolor when you want to add additional art & painting to your planner. Make sure to test your pages to see if they will withstand watercolor.

There are so many kinds of watercolor paints. I use mostly watercolor cakes when painting in my journal (not liquid from a squeeze bottle).

I started with the cheap sets from Michaels and have tried many others since then. It’s kind of a personal preference, but if you want to try watercoloring – start with inexpensive pans and go on from there.

Currently, I use a variety of watercolor paints – but my favorite shimmer paints are Paul Ruben Watercolor.

To use watercolor paint, you’ll either need to use a water pen or brush and water. I also watercolor with Crayola makers + a brush pen or brush and water.

Want to know how I watercolor with markers in my planner? Here’s the post explaining how I do it.

Crayola Markers

  • Floral Line Drawing Habit Tracker - Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #habittracker #flower #floral #illustration
  • Gratitude Quote Bullet Journal Page - Watercolored with Crayola Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #gratitude #watercolor #bulletjournal
  • Bookcase Bullet Journal Book Tracker | ChocolateMusings.com #booktracker #bulletjournal #crayola #watercolor
  • Beach Sign Welcome Page - Watercolor Painted with Crayola Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #welcomepage #bulletjournal #watercolor #crayola
  • Bullet Journal Weekly Banner With Crayola Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #weeklyspread #bulletjournal
  • Crayola Marker Color Variety | ChocolateMusings.com #crayola #crayolaart
  • Crayola Marker Bouquet - Bullet Journaling Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com #crayola #bulletjournal

There are so many plusses for Crayola Markers. Yes, those markers you thought you left behind in elementary school. They’re back (actually never left) and they’re awesome. I personally like the super tips (they’re the smaller markers – but the bigger barrel size works great too.)

100 Pack | 50 Pack | 20 Pack | Metallic

Features of Crayola Markers:

  • Inexpensive
  • Available in many local stores
  • Cones in many different package sizes
  • Dries quickly
  • Waterbased – can blend colors
  • Can use for lettering (yep! you read that right!)

Colored Pencils

Another blast from your elementary school past. Colored pencils are great for blending & they don’t bleed through your pages.

  • Range of choices (I was gifted the Prisma Color colored pencil pack, but you can use Crayola or other brands)
  • Inexpensive options
  • Available online or locally
  • Doesn’t bleed through

Micron Pens

Lettering Style Variations Bullet Journal Weekly Spread | ChocolateMusings.com #weekly #bulletjournal #lettering #handlettering

When outlining my calendars or doodles I usually reach for a Micron pen. They come in a variety of point sizes and the ink dries quickly. My favorite sizes are the 02/.30mm or 03/.35mm.

Washi Tape

Some people go overboard with washi tape. I decided to find a few favorites and just use them – so I chose a color scheme. I use to mark the edges of essential pages I need to refer to over and over again, such as the start of a month, a monthly calendar or an important collection.

  • My Favorite Pattern Washi Tape
  • Favorite Overall Washi Tape (I buy this by the pack because I like the black and white stripes so much)
  • Skinny Washi Tape – I use the micro washi tape for very thin borders or columns

Zebra Mildliner Markers

  • Mildliner Marker Fan | ChocolateMusings.com #mildliner #midliner #marker
  • Weekly Bullet Journal Task Tracker | ChocolateMusings.com #weeklytracker #bulletjournal
  • Minimal Weekly Timeblock View - Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #minimalweekly #weekly #bulletjournal
  • Mildliner Weekly Spread with Paint Splotches | ChocolateMusings.com #weekly #bulletjournal #weeklyspread

I see this all the time in various Facebook groups & other forums. It’s not MID liner it’s MILD liner. You’re welcome (you’ll thank me later).

MILD – meaning the colors are mild. It took me a while before I decided to buy these chisel-edge markers. They are great for highlighting and creating spots of color in your book. The colors are not so intense so you can write over them or use them as highlighters.

Pro Tip: I find that the Papermate Inkjoy pens + the Mildliners work well with each other. They come in a variety of colors and are available online & in many stores.

Zebra just came out with some dual brush markers geared more towards handlettering, but I haven’t tested those out yet. If you’ve tried, them I’d love to know how they compare with other brush markers.

Bullet Journal Supplies - the ins and outs of all the popular Bullet Journaling Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #supplies #creativity

Getting Started – All the Essentials

I hope this has helped you decide what you need to get started and see what kinds of supplies are the most popular. Remember that you don’t need all of them to start.

A simple notebook & pen will get you started bullet journaling. Add in the items you want to try and build up from there. Don’t get everything at once – you won’t need it, and you need time to decide what you want to try or focus on.

What Are Your Favorites?

Do you have any favorite creative supplies? I don’t care if they are on my list or not, I’d love to know what your go-to supplies are & what you love about them. Leave me a comment below!

In case you missed it

Here’s my post on Staring Handlettering – I break down all the supplies you’ve probably seen around on Instagram and what they do + what is best for beginner letterers on up to intermediate users and beyond.

Want to start doodling flowers? Here’s my post on floral doodle & reference books. Or try out these other posts related to Bullet Journaling.

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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, featured, Get Creative, Get Inspired, Get Organized & Start Planning, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Product & Book Reviews, Start Handlettering Here, Start Planning Here Tagged: beginner supplies, beginning a bullet journal, Bullet Journal, how to begin, supplies

Find Your Inspiration (When It’s Lost)

August 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

My Muses: Finding Your Inspiration (Again) | ChocolateMusings.com #inspiration #whatinspiresyou

Find Your Lost Inspiration

I’m sure at one point in time you’ve lost your inspiration or creative muse. This month, my muses were all about helping you ‘find your inspiration’ because over the summer, I lost my inspiration. It felt like someone turned out the light on my creativity, and I’ve been clamoring to find that switch and turn it back on.

How I Lost My Inspiration

The last few months have been very dark – creatively. Starting with a week’s horrible sickness for my entire family the end of May, followed by the end of school and subsequently, the end of our regular daily routine.

Though I love summer, the chaos that coincides with it wreaks havoc on my inspiration. I usually have an abundance of ideas, too many for me to implement. But this summer, all my ideas dried up, and I felt like I was in a desert searching for water.

Maybe it was that I lost the everyday regimen of school day structure or if it was that the kids were home more (and bickering more) or if work was particularly stressful this summer, but I was in a deep creative funk. I wanted to create, I wanted to draw and write and express myself, but I couldn’t find the motivation or the inspiration to do much of anything.

Ideas to Try – Where I Started

Knowing how to recover or get out of a funk is probably the most valued advice I could give or receive. Unfortunately, I have not found the ultimate answer to that puzzle, yet. When I figure it out, I will share it with you. However, there were several things I tried & found, so I’m sharing those with you today.

But what I did do, was let myself have time. Once I was ready, and I felt like I wasn’t forcing creativity, I started watching some Skillshare teachers and seeking inspiration.

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

— J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

In my case, I could amend this fantastic quote by Dumbledor to say, “inspiration can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

My Muses: Finding Your Inspiration Dumbledor quote  - Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light | ChocolateMusings.com #inspiration #whatinspiresyou

This month I’ve tried to focus on getting back into routine and creating order in my life. I laid out my planner using time blocks so I can organize my time.

Adding a section in my planner called “One Big Goal” – helped me focus on one big purpose for the month. I find that I lose my creativity if I let myself get too distracted and try to do everything at once.

All these efforts have helped restore my creativity, bit by bit.

Here are a few other things that helped me find my inspiration, again

I hope these things will help you find your inspiration, too!

Inspiration Muse #1

Kindle Paperwhite

One of my goals is to read a book per month (or more!). I love physical books, but don’t like taking them around with me. Reading on my phone became problematic because:

  1. It took too much battery
  2. I couldn’t see it in the daylight
  3. Other apps distract me
  4. Reading on the tablet was also problematic because of the battery usage (I never had any juice left to create after using it to read!).

My boss gave me a Kindle Paperwhite for my birthday (thank you to my boss and thanks to husband for giving them that idea). And I LOVE it. It eliminates distraction while reading – no alerts or dings, pop-ups like my phone. The battery lasts like the energizer bunny. Reading in daylight is like reading a book – there’s no glare.

You can read in the bath. Yes, you read that right. It even recommended it on the packaging.

To explain how much I adore this new device, I’m going to channel Dr. Seuss:

You can read on a train, on a plane in a car or at a bar. On a bus? No distraction, only focus. Read outside or in a box, while you take off your socks. Even read in the bath (there’s no aftermath!). The backlight at night is simply a delight! Don’t forget that the device is very light.

-Me

Ok, I’ll stop. I’m excited to read all the Kindle books I’ve collected over the years and borrow many more from my library. If I connect Bluetooth to it, I can listen to my Audible books, too. If you can’t tell, I’m a fan.

You bet I have all of these books queued up!

Inspiration Muse #2

Number Stickers

My creation out of necessity. Because I hated writing numbers over and over again, and when I do, I ALWAYS get out of sequence. But I wanted to use time blocking in my planner, which requires writing the numbers again and again. I created them to fit precisely with a 5mm grid on matte sticker paper. 14 to a sheet – it covers two weeks.

I cut down the sticker to use only the hours in the day that I’m awake – but you could use it any way you want – to track sleep, to plan out your hourly activities or a typical day.

I also have a 1-31 number sticker that I used to create a monthly log. Find them both in my shop!

  • 1-31 Number Line for Planners & Bullet Journals | ChocolateMusings.com #planner #plannerstickers
    Every Day (1-31) Stickers for Planners & Bullet Journals
    $3.75
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  • 24-Hour time block stickers for bullet journals and planners | ChocolateMusings.com #timeblock #productivity
    24-Hour Time Block Number Stickers for Planners & Bullet Journals
    $3.75
    Add to cart

Inspiration Muse #3

Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community where there are literally hundreds of classes taught by many individuals on a variety of subjects. I found it over a year ago, and LOVE it. I just counted and I’ve watched more than 125 classes (some more than once). There’s more than just painting, art and lettering. There are SO many choices. It is one of my most favorite places online.

Try for free – watch as many classes as you like. If you’re new or already subscribe to Skillshare, find me over there – @ChocolateMusingsCreates

Some of my favorite classes:

Liz Kohler Brown – Create Cuttings on your iPad – if you have ProcreateApp on an iPad, she is THE artist to follow. She teaches so many courses and I have learned so much.
Kolbie Blume – Beginner’s Galaxy – I recently found her and simply adore her watercolor classes.
Kiki B – Drawing Consistent Letters with Basic Supplies – Taught by one of my friends (we met lettering – ok, we’ve never actually met, but nonetheless she’s my friend). Want to learn how to create letters from scratch? This is an insanely useful class.
Lisa Long – 3D lettering in procreate – making letters look 3D and simply amazing.
Cat Coquillette – Modern Watercolor Techniques – Seriously inspiring! I’ve learned so much from her.
Yasmina Creates – her Doodle Magic class, Thumbnail Sketching, Anyone Can Watercolor, You Can Draw Anything!

Skillshare inspires me when my creativity flows freely, what’s more, is that it encourages creativity when there is but little more than a small trickle or drip of my inspiration.

Here are some of My Favorite Skillshare Projects

Every single one of these projects (plus all the others I’ve done) has inspired some other thing down the line. It’s ok to experiment, it’s ok to find something new to try. Don’t limit yourself.

In Summary: To Find Your Inspiration & Reignite your Creativity – Try Some of These Things:

  • Give yourself time
  • Don’t force it
  • Follow a daily schedule
  • Change your daily schedule
  • Create a time to focus
  • Eliminate distractions
  • Choose one thing
  • Solve a problem (like my number stickers solved a problem for me)
  • Learn something new that has an assignment at the end – so you feel compelled to create

I hope my muses have inspired you in some way. I’d love to know what muses you turn to, and which ones provide the most inspiration.

9 Ideas to Find Your Inspiration (when it's lost) | ChocolateMusings.com #inspiration #whatinspiresyou

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Filed Under: Blog, Find Your Happy, Get Inspired, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration) Tagged: creativity, inspiration, my muses, planner quotes, quote, Quotes

9 Motivational Shakespeare Quotes for Your Planner

May 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

9 Motivational Shakespeare Quotes for Your Planner + Bonus Quotes

Motivational Shakespeare Quotes for your Planner - Get the printables in the Shop! | ChocolateMusings.com #motivationalquotes #shakespeare

To celebrate “Talk Like Shakespeare Day” on April 23rd, the April Instagram Challenge consisted of a few favorite Shakespeare quotes. Who knew that Shakespeare was also a motivational speaker? Woven into his tragedies and comedies, you find snippets of inspiration for every day – find a few of my favorite Motivational Shakespeare Quotes + some of my other favorites below.

I know I’m not the only quote geek in the planner world, so I wanted to share a few of the motivational quotes I revisited recently. It’s fun to use quotes in your planner or for practice if you’re working on penmanship or learning how to letter. That’s what I did in April!

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!

P.S. I made printables for every quote – check them out in my shop!

  • Be Great in Act as You Have Been in Thought
    Be Great in Act as You Have Been in Thought
    $10.00
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  • Forever and a day - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #lovequotes #love #forever
    (I Will Love You) Forever and a Day
    $10.00
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  • They do not love that do not show their love - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #love #quote #showyourlove
    They Do Not Love That Do Not Show Their Love
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner What's in a name? Romeo & Juliet - Williams Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #lovequotes #quote
    What’s in a Name?
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner If Music be the Food of Love, Play On - Williams Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #lovequotes #quote
    If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth
    The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth
    $10.00
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  • We know who we are, but know not what we may be - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #motivationalquote #quote
    We Know Who We Are
    $10.00
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  • No Legacy is So Rich as Honesty
    No Legacy is So Rich as Honesty
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  • its not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #quotes #quote #motivational
    It is Not in the Stars to Hold Our Destiny
    $10.00
    Add to cart

Add Quotes for Motivation & Handlettering Practice

I find that adding quotes to my planner reminds me to slow down and remember what’s important to me. A bonus is practicing my lettering!

Throughout April, I used many of these quotes to develop my pointed pen techniques. If you’re just getting into the world of lettering, a pointed pen is usually a pen with a removable tip called a nib that you dip in ink. Similar to what they did in the times of Shakespeare. Comparable to brush pens, you can get beautiful thick and thin lines.

  • What's in a Name? Romeo & Juliet Quote - Quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #quotes
  • Forever and a Day Quote William Shakespeare Quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #quotes
  • This above all: to thine own self be true - William Shakespeare quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #betrue #quotes #motivational
  • This above all: to thine own self be true - William Shakespeare quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #betrue #quotes #motivational

I feel that writing with a pointed pen is so therapeutic. Some people love the sound of a scratchy nib on paper as they write. What I love is the way the page feels after I write and the ink is dry. The dried ink leaves a raised texture on the paper. And I love it.

I prefer an oblique pen to a straight pen with a nib. (See ‘forever and a day’ picture above.) All I have is a simple one, right now. I’d love to buy a fancy one someday soon. Once you get the hang of pressing down for thick lines and lifting for thin lines, the words become mesmerizing. When I created the Mother Theresa Printable a few months ago, I kept blobbing the ink on the first two lines. After I got past those lines, I was finally able to write the entire thing, and it was so incredibly satisfying!

  • Mother Teresa's Poem "Anyway"
    Mother Teresa’s Poem “Anyway”
    $15.00
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Sometimes it takes several tries to get it the way you want it. As you can see above, it took me quite a few tries to write “to thine own self be true” with a glass nib pen. Learning & messing up is just part of the process.

Pointed Pen vs. Brush Pens

I find that the technique for using a pointed pen translates back and forth for brush pens and pointed pens. You press harder when you want a thick stroke, and use the tip of the pen/nib for thin strokes. If you need some fantastic quotes to try with your brush pens or pointed pen, try some Shakespeare.

Everything feels fancier when you write Shakespeare’s words. ~Tricia @ Chocolate Musings. In case you’re wondering, that’s an original quote by me. You could put that in your planner too if you wanted.

  • Quote Ideas for your Planner If Music be the Food of Love, Play On - Williams Shakespeare with Music Note Wreath | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner If Music be the Food of Love, Play On - Williams Shakespeare Floral Wreath | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner Nothing will come of Nothing - Williams Shakespeare Floral Wreath | ChocolateMusings.com

Here are a few Motivational Shakespeare Quotes to include in your planner:

All That Glitters is Not Gold. – The Merchant of Venice

Be not afraid of greatness. (You could end it right there if you wanted – but it continues)

Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. – Twelfth Night

Nothing will come of nothing. – King Lear

Pin Your Favorites to Pinterest!

  • Nothing Will Come of Nothing
    Nothing Will Come of Nothing
    $10.00
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  • Greatness quote - William Shakespeare quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #betrue #quotes #motivational
    Be Not Afraid of Greatness
    $10.00
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  • All that glitters is not gold - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #motivationalquote #quote #glitter #gold
    All That Glitters is Not Gold Printable Quote
    $10.00
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This above all: To thine own self be true. – Hamlet

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. – All’s Well That Ends Well

No legacy is so rich as honesty. – All’s Well That Ends Well

  • No Legacy is So Rich as Honesty
    No Legacy is So Rich as Honesty
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Love all, Trust a Few, Do wrong to none - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #motivationalquote #love #quote
    Love All, Trust a Few, Do Wrong to None
    $10.00
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  • This Above All: To Thine Own Self Be True
    This Above All: To Thine Own Self Be True
    $10.00
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It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. – Julis Caesar

Be great in act, as you have been in thought. – King John

We know who we are, but know not what we may be. – Hamlet

  • Be Great in Act as You Have Been in Thought
    Be Great in Act as You Have Been in Thought
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • We know who we are, but know not what we may be - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #motivationalquote #quote
    We Know Who We Are
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • its not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #quotes #quote #motivational
    It is Not in the Stars to Hold Our Destiny
    $10.00
    Add to cart

All of these quotes remind me to pursue amazing things in my life, but the last one is a distinct reminder never to forget where I genuinely want to go and not to sell myself short. Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below! I’d also love to hear if you have a different favorite quote!

Bonus Quotes

I couldn’t stop there. Some of my favorite Shakespeare quotes wouldn’t classify as motivational, but some words speak powerfully to me, and I want to share them with you.

  • Forever and a day. – Taming of the Shrew (I added a twist to this one, too)
  • The course of true love never did run smooth. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • If music be the food of love, play on. The Twelfth Night
  • What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. – Romeo and Juliet
  • They do not love that do not show their love. – Gentlemen of Verona
  • Forever and a day - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #lovequotes #love #forever
    (I Will Love You) Forever and a Day
    $10.00
    Select options
  • They do not love that do not show their love - William Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #love #quote #showyourlove
    They Do Not Love That Do Not Show Their Love
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner What's in a name? Romeo & Juliet - Williams Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #lovequotes #quote
    What’s in a Name?
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner If Music be the Food of Love, Play On - Williams Shakespeare | ChocolateMusings.com #lovequotes #quote
    If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On
    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth
    The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth
    $10.00
    Add to cart

I want to paint the quote ‘forever and a day’ above my bed on my wall. Not now, but when we move. I’m secretly making plans for the new house we will eventually buy, and collecting quotes is definitely part of that plan! I think instead of just saying ‘forever and a day’ I would paint “I will love you forever and a day.”

Which ones would you include in your planner or on your wall?

Check out my shop for printables for your wall or planner!

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!

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Filed Under: Blog, Creating Art - Watercolor, Painting & Drawing, Get Inspired, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Quotes & Words to Inspire Tagged: #BuJo, Bullet Journal, planner ideas, planner quotes, Quotes, william shakespeare

My 5 Favorite Flower Drawing & Reference Books

April 22, 2019 4 Comments

Favorite Flower Drawing and Reference Books (and why) + Video Flip Through | ChocolateMusings.com #floral #flower #howtodrawflowers

My top 5 Favorite Flower Drawing & Reference Books

When the weather gets warmer, and the pollen gets yellow (you know what I mean if you’ve visited the south US in the spring), I start doodling and drawing more flowers. I should probably do that more in the winter (because it makes me happy), but winter is so…blah. I even started a Pinterest board just for leaves on tree branches. Today, I wanted to show you the flower drawing & reference books I keep close at hand.

Similar to why I love to bullet journal, I love a physical book as a reference when I draw. Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t fear mindlessly scrolling away and losing my reference or that I can hold the book in my hand or perhaps I’m just old school.

It doesn’t matter the reason why I have floral reference books, and I thought I would show you some of the books I use as my flower drawing references. And what’s more, is I thought you might find it useful even if you tuck it away for reference later on in your artistic journey. To help a little more, I created a comparison guide for the flower drawing books & references. If you have your own reference books, this table is a great way to show the differences in the books.

Comparison Guide for Flower drawing and reference books | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdarawing #floral #botanical

Book Overview

We want to move to a new house in the next year or so. Don’t tell my husband, but I want a big library with reference books galore. But I won’t buy them until we’ve moved to a new house and all the books have their own home. I ultimately intend on keeping them sorted by type and not by the author. All of my flower books in one section, all of my dragon books in another. (FYI: I have one dragon book.)

Some of the books are more beginner friendly. Others have more information and photos plus line illustrations. They range from Peggy Deans’ Botanical Line Drawing to a book that I found on Amazon that shipped from England and took two months to find me.

Botanical Line Drawing
How to Draw Modern Florals
Wild Flowers by Colour
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers
An Illustrated Guide to Garden Flowers

I made a quick video featuring each of these books – you can watch the video below or head over to my YouTube channel to check it out.

Additional Floral-Related Resources

For some other fantastic resources – check out the series books by National Audubon Society Field Guides.  I want to get the ones on birds and rocks & gems. They have amazing photography and line drawings too. I’m not at all intrigued by the amphibians and reptiles. I don’t like snakes one bit.

I happened on an astounding resource of wildflowers here. There are so many more books I want to leaf through and hold in my hands. But I do want to be picky when it comes to resources. I need my flower drawing books to add something or give me a new perspective. Come to think of it, I need all my books to add something or provide a new perspective.

This list is not a comprehensive list. There are so many more ‘how to’ books ‘how to’ books and reference books for florals. What I’d love to know from you is which ones (if any) have you tried and what you thought!

Where to Start with Flower Drawing Books?

If you want to start drawing flowers but feel overwhelmed, start with a step-by-step guide. The Botanical Line Drawing & How to Draw Modern Florals books are great for starting. You’ll learn many petals and shapes. You could draw from them for ages.

Botanical Line Drawing By Peggy Dean

  • Great for beginners
  • Line drawing only
  • 200 + Flower & Nature Illustration
  • Organized by type
  • Use the hashtag on Instagram #botanicallinedrawing when drawing items from Peggy’s book

I listed ‘organized by type as a half-circle on my comparison because there are a couple of sections in her book: leaves, flowers, cacti & succulents & more nature.

One thing I didn’t expect from The Botanical Line Drawing book is that none of the flowers were labeled. You don’t need a name to draw it, but I would like to know the name. Because using #unknownflowername isn’t as fun as #trillium or even #pennywort on Instagram.  It’s a personal preference, and it hasn’t stopped me from referring to her fantastic book over and over again and immensely improving my floral drawings.

I’m very excited about her new book! Guide to Nature Drawing & Watercolor.

  • Flower drawing and references - Botanical Line Drawing | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral #howtodraw
  • Flower drawing and references - Botanical Line Drawing | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral #howtodraw

How to Draw Modern Florals by Alli Koch

Create beautiful and realistic-looking flowers. There is plenty of line work inside the petals and leaves that you can choose to add or leave out when drawing your own modern florals.

  • 20+ Detailed Outline drawings (you’ll see the width of the stems and more detail of the flowers)
  • Flower names – each one is labeled with their common flower name
  • Beginner friendly – with step by step drawings & instructions, you can start small & work into more complex drawings
  • Flower drawing and references - How to Draw Modern Florals | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral #howtodraw

Need Line Drawings AND Reference Photos?

I like to look at pictures and line drawings. I use the photographs for real-world reference, colors, and imperfections.  But I also like line drawings so I can see the form and lines of the flower. That’s why I like Wild Flowers by Colour, Field Guide to Wildflowers and the Illustrated Guide to Garden Flowers. But these books don’t show step-by-step instructions on how to draw flowers.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers

One thing I really like about this book’s pictures is that each picture shows the general shape of the flower – so you can see how they grow together and the general shape of the petals. I use this book to cross-reference different flowers I find on Pinterest to make sure I’m calling it by the right name.

  • Broken into flower family classifications
  • Real-life photos
  • Some illustrated drawings (does not have each one illustrated)
  • Common & Scientific names
  • Flower drawing and references - Audubon Field Guide to Wildflowers | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral
  • Flower drawing and references - Audubon Field Guide to Wildflowers | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral

An Illustrated Guide To Garden Flowers

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find many more on Amazon. If you see it, grab it – it’s my favorite. With both photos & illustrated line drawings of each flower, it is a wonderful reference book. It’s geared to those who want to raise flowers, but it makes a wonderful flower drawing reference book.

  • Scientific & Common Names
  • Illustrations
  • Real-life photos
  • Multiple sections in addition to flower type, it has sections of annuals & perennials & bulbs.
  • Flower drawing and references - Illustrated Guide to Garden Flowers | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral #howtodraw
  • Flower drawing and references - Illustrated Guide to Garden Flowers | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral #howtodraw

Majorie Blammey’s Wildflowers by Colour

I cannot remember who first referenced this book, but I thought it was amazing when I first saw it. By chance, I found it for a very decent price on Amazon from a private seller and had to wait impatiently for it to ship from the UK. There are no real-life photos, but instead, each flower is a color illustration.

  • Common names
  • Classified by color then by type
  • Color line illustration
  • Flower drawing and references - Wildflowers by Colour | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral
  • Flower drawing and references - Wildflowers by Colour | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral
  • Flower drawing and references - Wildflowers by Colour | ChocolateMusings.com #flowerdrawing #flower #floral

Tip:  I found many other books at my local library, and my library lets me renew three times before having to return them.

The thing with drawing books of any kind, even if they are step-by-step and you feel like you’ve graduated beyond that skill or if you need super simple instructions, you can still find value in a reference book. I love going back through the books I own. I always end up learning something new or seeing something I’d forgotten.

What if You’re Practicing Kon Marie and Just Got Rid of Your Books or Don’t Want Any More Books?

First of all, if you threw out a bunch of books because you just Kon Marie’d your house (yes, I made it a verb), good for you. I’m working on decluttering, too. Flower drawing books aren’t ‘clutter’ to me if you’re wondering. But if you’re strictly digital and want nothing to do with buying books, follow me on Pinterest! I keep several boards with inspiration. Feel free to pin any images you’d like as a reference.

If you’re interested in drawing flowers, let me know what resources you enjoy (or ones you’ve found), I’d love to check them out.

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Filed Under: Blog, Get Inspired, Journaling & Art Book Reviews, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Product & Book Reviews Tagged: floral, flower drawing, flower drawing for beginners, get inspired, how to, how to draw flowers, inspiration

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About Me


Hi! I'm Tricia, the creative behind ChocolateMusings.com, I know how it feels to lose your inner muse. After years of darkness (which I call the dark ages of my life), I found my inner muse hiding in the forgotten corners of my soul, I vowed never to lose sight of her again.

Bullet journaling helped reignite the passion for art and living life again while organizing my days. I also discovered modern calligraphy and watercolor. Since then, my use of the bullet journal system has evlolved and I call it 'creative planning'. Here on the blog, I show you how to use your planner to ignite your inner muse and explore creativity and art while staying beautifully organized and living a joyful life.

I invite you to grab some good chocolate and dive into my musings. Let’s ignite your inner muse.

Read more on the about me page. You can also find my policies and disclosures here.

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