How to Bullet Journal By Ella Peeples
The first thing to know about Bullet Journaling is that it looks like different things to different people. Bullet Journals are called as such from the small dots that make the normal journal a bullet journal. The name derives specifically from bullet-lists, made easier by the already spaced dots. Ironically, I’ve never made a bullet list in my journals. In time, you will learn what works for you - and what styles you prefer.
I started Bullet Journaling, or BUJO, in February of 2019, so I’ve completed one journal and am started on my second. But your journal doesn’t have to be defined by a year. Here is the first choice to make: is your journal just that - a place to write thoughts? Or is it more like a planner? A place to keep memories? The first choice is what the journal does for you. My journals have functioned as all of the above, planners, places to keep memories, and places where I write about things happening in the world around me.
The first page of my bullet journal was originally a quote of some kind, something to convey to future readers what I intended with my journal, but has now shifted into a page that shows my ‘theme’ for the journal - 2020: Geometrics.
I then have pages where I show the month, little doodles or designs, or even the calendar! Here is a comparison of yast year’s January and this year’s January. Some pages are always included, like these pages where I record my classes, who was in them, and have my teachers sign their names!
As far as materials go, there are a few obvious ones, like the journal itself and a set of basic pens. Although I have a fairly impressive collection - a literal binder of pens - your bullet journal may be as complex or as simple as you like, and your materials will match that complexity. I recommend Papermate Flair pens. Most of the pages you’ve seen above have been completed just with those pens!
Now, I’m sure you’re thinking ‘well that’s all well and good but how do I actually do it?’ My page for March this year features one of my favorite patterns that I’ll teach you how to do! Oh! And - yes - even though it’s March 22nd as I write this, I’ve still not finished the page. Bullet journaling is flexible, so take your time to make something you’re proud of!
Within Bullet Journaling, the patterns commonly used are called “Zentangles”, and the patterns themselves “Tangles.” This tangle is known as the Cadent Tangle. There are many variations, but I’ll show you the basic steps here. For more ideas, try googling ‘Cadent Zentangle’ or just ‘Zentangle” once you’ve mastered the cadent.
Step 1:
Draw the shape you want your pattern to be in. In the above example, see the triangles. Here, because I was freestyling, I chose a simple rectangle. In your bullet journal, the dots are easy to space, just color over the pre-existing dots on the page. The key here is you want the dots all roughly the same size!
Now, we play connect-the-dots. Using small s-shaped wavy lines, connect the dots vertically. The lines do not need to be perfect, most flaws will be unnoticeable in the final product so don’t worry! Try to pull the line to the outside of the dot without making the dots any larger - remember you want them all the same size.
Step 3:
Now, rotate your paper 90 degrees and add the s-shaped wavy lines in your new vertical. I’ve found that I don’t do them well horizontally. When you finish, the pattern should look like a pattern or tangle of interconnecting shapes. This tangle gets better with practice, so start on a piece of scratch paper until you’ve got it down! Eventually, you can start experimenting with the pattern and doing more tangles!
Comments
Post a Comment