So I know I’ve said I wouldn’t try bullet journaling. Well… I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to give bullet journaling a proper go! So off I went on the quest to find the perfect notebook… and was disappointed. Most of the bullet journal notebooks have book / sewn binding (which I always avoid as they never seem to lay flat), plus they had boring covers, no personalisation etc. –  and then I stumbled across the bullet notebook from Letter Love Designs!

Added bonus for my fellow Aussies: the company is located in Australia (i.e. cheap shipping!)

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of the planner in exchange for this review. I was going to purchase the planner anyway. As always, all opinions are my own!

This is the version I chose.

 

Quick facts

• Size = 5.8″ x 8.3” (A5)
• Wire binding
• Personalised strong chipboard front and back covers with your choice of pattern and colors
• This belongs to page in case your planner is lost
• Annual dates at a glance for the current year
• Bullet journal key
• 50 double sided sheets of grid dot paper

Price: $38 AUD

The planner arrived gift wrapped <3

Let’s take a closer look!

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The Cover

The cover is sturdy chipboard on the front and back with your choice of pattern and colors. I opted for the sample design but there are plenty of other designs to choose from!

There’s a clear plastic sheet over the front and back cover to protect from spills and damage.

The main reason I wanted this notebook (not just for the personalisation), was for the wire binding. I’m not a fan of book / sewn bound notebooks which grid dot notebooks typically have.

The wire binding means the pages lay completely fat and the pages can be folded back on themselves (i.e. if you just want to look at 1 page not a 2 page spread).

This belongs to page

Key

For recording your symbols, color code etc.

Grid dot pages

There’s a wide margin on the edge of the page if you want to mark the pages with a strip of washi tape, or write the title for the page.

2018 Dates at a Glance

Pen Testing

I tried various balllpoint, gel, fine tip and marker tip pens – there was some ghosting on the back side of the page. When I use this notebook I’ll be using ballpoint pens as these showed through the least.

I also did some highlighter and stamp swatches. The highlighters had heavy ghosting (and the purple cheap store highlighter bled through the page).

As always, the MAMBI stamps bled through the page ?

Pros of the Planner

• Portable size
• Lightweight
• Sturdy cover
• Plenty of cover options to choose from
• Personalised
• Key page
• Wire binding means the pages lay completely flat and stay open without you having to hold the pages

Cons of the Planner

• No index page
• Only 50 double sided grid dot pages
• Expensive
• Most of the pens had ghosting or bleed through on the back side of the page
• The pages aren’t numbered
• No index page

Would I use this notebook?

This is the prettiest bullet journal notebook I’ve found. I’m the kind of person that won’t use things unless they’re pretty so yes, I’ll definitely be using this notebook!

More planner reviews:

• Bloom teacher planner review and flip through 
• Review of the Do It All Weekly Planner by Orange Circle Studio 
• Review of the Plum Paper Me Planner

Bullet Journaling:

• 12 Planner Layout Ideas for Monthly Habit Tracking in Your Bullet Journal
• How to make printable graph paper in Photoshop (perfect for habit tracking and bullet journalling!) 
• Minimalist Planner Decorating: Title Ideas for your Bullet Journal 

Planning Tips:

• Arcing my Plum Paper Planner – everything you need to know if you’d like to try it yourself! 
• 10 Quick planner hacks you need to try (planning tips & inspiration)
• 5 expensive pen brands that are worth the money (I have no regrets for splurging on them!)

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