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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 » pirate theme

Functional Book Dutch Door Bullet Journal Theme October 2021 Plan With Me

October 14, 2021 Leave a Comment

Bullet Journal Extended Monthly Log + Dutch Door Book Theme | ChocolateMusings.com

In this post, I’ll share how I turned a Dutch-door monthly log-type layout into something I hope to be quite functional. And as a bonus, my bullet journal theme this month is books that complement my bullet journal quote list.

I occasionally return to this style – trying to marry more form and function into the monthly log layouts. But first, let’s back up and answer a few questions you might have. The only thing consistent throughout my years of bullet journaling is that I like to try (and re-try) new things. I decided long ago that I was not looking for the perfect layout. My perfect layouts were ones that I didn’t tire of and used.

I discovered I was not too fond of the same layout every month. So I decided to experiment with different themes and combinations of techniques. Since I gave myself ‘permission,’ I have enjoyed using my bullet journal each month.

Bullet Journal Dutch Door Book Theme | ChocolateMusings.com

Table of contents

  • What is a Dutch Door Layout in Bullet Journaling?
  • Beyond Dutch Door – Why a Book Theme?
  • Product Links
  • How I Used Dutch-Door Layouts This Month
    • Habit Tracker
    • Monthly Log
    • Weekly Pages
  • Using Books in My Dutch-Door Theme
  • Things I Learned While Creating a Book-Themed Dutch-Door Bullet Journal
  • Your Thoughts on Dutch-Doors

What is a Dutch Door Layout in Bullet Journaling?

“Dutch Door” in bullet journaling removes part of the page by cutting or folding pages. In functional bullet journaling, you can leave a piece of the page stationary throughout the month (or part of the month) and still turn the pages like usual. For instance, if you have a cleaning list every week and don’t want to copy over the cleaning chart, you might cut your weekly pages so you can always see the cleaning chart graph but mark it off on that week’s page.

For purely aesthetic reasons, you might use a dutch door to reveal part of a design. Such as cutting out a window to show a pattern on the next page. Or cut the page to look like falling leaves like I did in my November 2019 bullet journal.

Beyond Dutch Door – Why a Book Theme?

I don’t know about you, but the turn of the seasons from Summer to Fall makes me want to curl up under a cozy blanket, sip some hot chocolate, read a good book, or watch a great series. Last year, I also did a book theme for October, but that’s when I went through a tough time, and the theme never made it into the world. I guess this month was to revive that idea because I liked it so much.

You can, of course, use this theme any time of the year. The colors I chose to paint the books on the welcome page are deeper and classified as more ‘fall’ colors. That’s one way you can modify a theme to be more seasonable – change the theme’s colors.

By the way, if you’re looking for other great theme ideas for Fall – check out this post.

Not all thoughts are black and white - that's why we have grey matter - Bullet journal brain dump page | ChocolateMusings.com

Product Links

Plan With Me October 2021 Supplies
  • Acrylograph Acrylic Markers – Archer & Olive
  • Archer & Olive Notepads
  • Craft Knife
  • Cricut Basic Tools
  • Cutting Mat
  • Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints
  • Dr PH Martins Iridescent Calligraphy Ink
  • Kimberly Watercolor Pencil Neutral
  • Lemome Notebook A5 Dot Grid
  • Metallic Acrylograph Pens
  • Papermate InkJoy Pens (all versions)
  • Pentel Touch Pen
  • Princeton Heritage Synthetic Sable Paint Brushes
  • Sakura White Gelly Roll Pens
  • Scribbles That Matter A5 Notebook
  • The Pigeon Letters Paint Brushes
  • Tumbitri Meri A5 Dot Grid Notebook
  • Washi Tape – Black & White Striped
  • Winsor & Newton Fineliner Pens – Pack of 5 – Waterproof (Assorted Sizes)
Video Set-Up
  • Blue Yeti Microphone
  • Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera
  • Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing!)
  • Scissor Arm Mic Stand/Video Camera Stand

How I Used Dutch-Door Layouts This Month

I may or may not have gone a little crazy this month with the dutch doors. The thing is, I want them to work practically. I know there are a few ways I can improve them in the future, but I think I’m onto something.

Habit Tracker

For the habit tracker, I must admit that the form exceeds the function on this page. I stuck a black page behind a stack of books I cut out for the welcome page and liked it so much that I had to figure out a way to keep it. I love the peek-a-boo effect for the habit tracker. Now let’s hope I use the tracker.

When using a design on my dutch doors, much like the leaves, I love to use both sides of the page, and the stack of books is no exception. But hey! I’ve discovered that I won’t use my bullet journal if I’m not excited about it. It can’t all be about function with me. Many people wonder why others use themes in their bullet journals. This is why I love to use themes in my bullet journal.

Book + Dutch Door bullet journal theme - Habit tracker | ChocolateMusings.com

Monthly Log

How many times do you write down an appointment in your bullet journal? The idea behind this dutch-door monthly bullet journal layout is to eliminate at least one of those times. Instead of writing an appointment on my monthly calendar and a weekly page, I’ll use the weekly pages for specific to-dos and looser notes for the week. Meetings and day-specific items have their section, so I don’t have to skim through notes and to-dos to know that I have a dentist appointment on Thursday.

Using a clear numbered sticker down the left-hand side of the page, I split the page into sections. The first page keeps appointments, school notes, errands to run, and a cleaning chart. If I flip the next page over, I use the same numbering system from the previous page but track daily notes and goals and have space for one line per day.

These pages keep all the things that are either calendar-related or that I do daily. That way, I don’t have to copy those items over and over to a weekly page. This reason right here is why I love the idea of a perfect dutch door theme.

Bullet Journal Dutch Door Book Theme - Flip Out Pages | ChocolateMusings.com
Bullet Journal Book Theme - Flip Out Pages | ChocolateMusings.com
Bullet Journal Monthly Log Pages | ChocolateMusings.com

Weekly Pages

Since there is no need to record appointments on my weekly pages, I wondered if I needed them. But I’ve tried eliminating weeklies in my bullet journal, which didn’t go well. Even if I skip a week of using my bullet journal for one reason or another, I always return to it and use the weekly pages for journaling, ideas, task lists, and general information specific to those weeks.

I continued the scalloped book dutch door theme, indenting the pages a little more each week and adding stickers to the first week’s left edge. These pages will be primarily task-related instead of appointment-based. I left them open and did not separate the pages into specific days. I’m trying to follow Laura Vanderkam’s advice to focus on a week instead of a day.

Bullet Journal Monthly Log Pages | ChocolateMusings.com
Bullet Journal Weekly Log Pages | ChocolateMusings.com

Using Books in My Dutch-Door Theme

Beyond the first dutch-door book stacks featured on the welcome page in this month’s bullet journal, each page in the monthly log and weekly pages has a scalloped edge that reminds me of stacked books.

Yes, I could have cut the pages in a straight line and achieved the same function. But I trimmed the indented pages into the curved outline of book spines. So I could continue with the book dutch-door theme in my bullet journal. The scalloped edges add just a little flair to the pages and, quite frankly, make me happy.

There are many possibilities to combine a book theme and dutch-doors in your bullet journal. It’s like a bullet journal book inception. You could go deeper and deeper.

Things I Learned While Creating a Book-Themed Dutch-Door Bullet Journal

While creating this dutch-door bullet journal theme, I learned the number one thing: I need some serious practice using an Exacto Knife. Especially with those curved edges I added for the book spines. After cutting out the dutch-door on the welcome page, I reverted to scissors for all the weeklies.

The second thing I learned while creating this theme, I love using templates for repeating shapes. Since the scalloped book edges for the weeklies, I cut out a template from a notepad and used that edge to create all of the weekly pages.

I learned this month that I need a visual calendar when using a monthly log. But I ran out of room on my page, so I added a flip-out set of books with a calendar.

The fourth item I learned about this month’s theme was to use flip-out pages when you run out of room on your page. What’s nice about the flip-out pages is that you can also use them on subsequent pages. So if you don’t want to cut pages like a dutch-door, a flip-out page is a great alternative.

The fifth and final thing I learned when creating this theme is not to be afraid to cover it up. I covered up a messy mistake on my brain dump page called “Not all thoughts are black & white. That’s why we have grey matter.” I love the look of the torn pages and the contrast on the page. Some of my favorite pages have come from trying to figure out how to fix a mistake.

Your Thoughts on Dutch-Doors

What are your opinions on Dutch Doors in your bullet journal? What concerns do you have? If you’ve tried it, I’d love to know what worked and what didn’t.

Oh, and by the way, if you have ideas on more ways to use books and dutch-doors together as a bullet journal theme, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Artsy Planner Spreads, Blog, Bullet Journal, Get Organized & Start Planning, Plan With Me 2021, Planner Spreads Tagged: book, Bullet Journal, dutch door, October, pirate theme, plan with me

Pirate Planner Theme

February 3, 2019 5 Comments

The Inspiration for this Month’s Bullet Journal Theme: Pirates

I’m so excited to show you my planner set up for February. I use the different spaces in my planner to learn and try new techniques and styles. The pirate theme this month in my bullet journal was so much fun and opened the door to many ideas and styles. Overall, I am so pleased with the outcome. By the way, after months of seeking the perfect notebook, I love this notebook by Archer & Olive.

I’m a fan of finding inspiration and then adapting to my own needs or tweaking until I can make it my own. I learn visually so I find inspiration all around me. What I’d like to do is show you my inspiration for my monthly spreads to help inspire you!

Watch the unfinished version of the flip through below.

Pirate Theme Bullet Journal Cover Page Ahoy Matey! | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo

Table of contents

  • The Inspiration for this Month’s Bullet Journal Theme: Pirates
  • Cover Page Inspiration
  • Monthly Calendar
  • Pirate-Themed Bullet Journal Habit Tracker
  • Pirate Theme Weeklies in My Bullet Journal
  • Collection Pages
  • Brain Dump Page/Idea Log

Cover Page Inspiration

Inspiration for this adorable boat welcome page: I have to admit that it came from Baby Shark’s related videos on Amazon Prime. My two-year-old is obsessed with this song, and I occasionally turn it on and watch it with him. Then they sing counting songs and other silly lyrics. There is a counting song that shows cute little boats and inspired this cover pate.

In June 2018, I did a cover page that I love to this day. Palm trees, flipflops, coconuts and a sign pointing the way to June. I added a little homage to my favorite cover page this month. Complete with a giant red X marking the spot – because that’s where you find the buried treasure!

Here’s a link to my June Plan with Me Playlist on YouTube

How to Watercolor Paint with Markers in Your Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com Step-by-Step Tutorial + Video

Monthly Calendar

Using the idea of masking off areas like I did in July 2018 I used sticky notes to ‘mask’ off areas and paint/draw over them.

This result turned out beautifully. I love the look of old-looking parchment paper and the ship’s wheel. They really add a fun twist to the pirate bullet journal theme I was going for. Since I’d been dying to paint with some ink, and the Iridescent Coppery Plate Gold added such a subtle shimmer to the pages.

Below you can see how I blocked off the squares so I could draw out the design ‘behind’ the monthly calendar squares.

Here’s a link to my July Plan with me on YouTube.

Pirate Theme Monthly Calendar | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo
Sticky Notes Mask in my Bullet Journal Pirate Theme | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo

Pirate-Themed Bullet Journal Habit Tracker

If you could see me now. I am so EXCITED about this page and the possibilities and ideas that came from creating this page. My bullet journal pirate theme is not about plundering and pillaging, it’s about seeking treasure. Rare gems in my life to make me happier. And when something works PERFECTLY the first time I try it, that’s exciting stuff right there.

Pirate Theme Habit Tracker Compass Rose | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo

First of all: I LOVE circle habit trackers & other circles in my planner (read my blog post on how to create circles in your bullet journal) they’re just so well rounded (sorry/not sorry about the pun).  So when I created this page, I wanted it to be like a compass rose and then add the goals to the center.

Once I drew the compass rose & painted/colored it in, I didn’t want to cover it up! So I created this circle tracker on my computer. After resizing it on the screen once or twice, I printed it out. Viola! It was THE perfect fit. No adjustments needed. But I printed it on white paper so I still couldn’t see the compass behind it.

Enter: tracing paper.

Side Note: Don’t try printing on tracing paper with a laser printer since those use heat to adhere the toner to the paper and the tracing paper will likely melt and ruin your printer.

But I knew my inkjet could handle thin paper (I printed on a dictionary page one time as an experiment). It printed beautifully. Since I designed it on the computer, look how even those lines are!

I think this is going to happen more in my life. I better stock up on tracing paper.

Pirate Theme Compass Rose Habit Tracker with Transparency | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo

Pirate Theme Weeklies in My Bullet Journal

Oh, I had so much fun creating each of these weekly spreads: Treasure chests, Gems, Telescopes, & Bottles, oh my!

  • Pirate Theme Treasure Chest Weekly | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo
  • Pirate Theme Weekly Telescope and Hat | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo
  • Pirate theme Message in a Bottle Weekly | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com

The biggest intimidation I had was the gems. I left this page as the last to do. Ok, let me explain. No…there is too much, let me sum up. (Thank you Princess Bride for that quote.) I’ve wanted to draw gems FOREVER (over a year – isn’t that forever?), and I found a Skillshare class that taught very simple ways to understand light and dark through transparent objects like gems. But I never did the assignment.

Finally, after a year of avoiding the assignment, I included gems on a weekly and just made myself do it. There’s room for improvement – for sure! But isn’t it always the first step that’s the hardest. I can’t wait to try more. Also, the white highlights are my favorite.

Pirate Theme Weekly Gems and Pearls | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo

Collection Pages

Every month I include a journaling page that I call “all the things.” Where I record memories and other items that I did throughout the month. More circles on this page – this time in the form of pearls. Soft, subtle colors add a bit of fun to the page.

In real life, I never liked pearls before I wore them. When you wear real pearls, you know. They are heavy, but not burdensome, and warm to the skin. I love how they make me feel (I feel beautiful when I wear them). So including pearls on a page that I jot down beautiful memories is immensely appropriate in my mind.

I feel like pirates would love pearls – which naturally makes them perfect for my pirate bullet journal theme.

Pirate theme Journal Page Pearls | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com

Brain Dump Page/Idea Log

X marks the thought! I love new names for brain dump pages, and I love brain dump pages in general. There are too many thoughts in my head to try and keep them in there. I found that this page is 100% necessary so I can organize and review all the thoughts and ideas. Every six months or so I will review past brain dump pages and see what ideas I missed in the past. It is one of my most used and underutilized pages. I think I will make an effort to review the concepts more often and work on developing the ideas even further.

If you hate the name ‘brain dump’, check out this post with over 150 + different names for brain dump!

Pirate theme Treasure Map Brain Dump | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com
question mark - chocolatemusings.com

What’s your favorite page? I’d love to know what themes you’ve tried in the past!

Bullet Journal Pirate Theme | @ChocolateMusingsCreates ChocolateMusings.com #pirate #bulletjournal #bujo

5 Comments
Filed Under: Artsy Planner Spreads, Blog, Bullet Journal, Get Organized & Start Planning, Plan With Me, Plan With Me 2019, Planner Spreads Tagged: #BuJo, Bullet Journal, Circle, circles, monthly ideas, pirate theme, theme ideas

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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