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The Useful Journal
Australia
Приєднався 22 лют 2021
Stay for reviews of dot grid notebooks used for bullet journaling that include an in-depth analysis of the journal's construction, packaging, features and paper. I am one of the only reviewers investigating the company behind the journal, including their approach to environmental and social responsibility.
I use all these notebooks for my own journaling practice, which helps me keep track of things, express my creativity and manage my mental health. Along the way I've explored new ways to decorate my journal and have fallen in love with washi tape art, so this is often a feature of my videos.
My UA-cam channel works alongside my website TheUsefulJournal.com, where you can compare features of dot grid notebooks to find the one that best suits you, or view all the themes I've used in my past journals.
I'd love to hear your feedback on my reviews, your questions and which journals you would specifically like me to review. If you use my creative ideas, I love seeing pictures!
I use all these notebooks for my own journaling practice, which helps me keep track of things, express my creativity and manage my mental health. Along the way I've explored new ways to decorate my journal and have fallen in love with washi tape art, so this is often a feature of my videos.
My UA-cam channel works alongside my website TheUsefulJournal.com, where you can compare features of dot grid notebooks to find the one that best suits you, or view all the themes I've used in my past journals.
I'd love to hear your feedback on my reviews, your questions and which journals you would specifically like me to review. If you use my creative ideas, I love seeing pictures!
Sourcing collage papers and making some with gel plate printing
I like to decorate all my journals with collage papers, and in particular my weight loss journal, which I've decided to deck out in pink and green colours. To increase my choices, I've sourced collage papers from various sources, which I describe, and I also have a go for the first time at gel plate printing, sometimes known as gelli plate printing, with acrylic paints.
I don't start off very well, but just by continuing to try and watching a few good videos, I finally turn out some decent results! I can recommend the following videos:
How To Gel Print, the Basics - Ceri Griffiths
ua-cam.com/video/rV9Pbkwo5pI/v-deo.htmlsi=urjwFW1wWkUMbGsJ
(Ceri also has really good advice about storing your gel plate and cleaning things)
Beginners and Pros Start Here: Techniques for Gelli Plates - Susan McCreevy Artist
ua-cam.com/video/WvZutLNKy4k/v-deo.htmlsi=d3JChFwIre9cHlGY
And I was very inspired by this guy!
Monotype with acrylic on gelli plate - Dag Rottereng Artwork
ua-cam.com/video/c1boGJnACLc/v-deo.htmlsi=oJmRYjew_IhOrwgm
I don't start off very well, but just by continuing to try and watching a few good videos, I finally turn out some decent results! I can recommend the following videos:
How To Gel Print, the Basics - Ceri Griffiths
ua-cam.com/video/rV9Pbkwo5pI/v-deo.htmlsi=urjwFW1wWkUMbGsJ
(Ceri also has really good advice about storing your gel plate and cleaning things)
Beginners and Pros Start Here: Techniques for Gelli Plates - Susan McCreevy Artist
ua-cam.com/video/WvZutLNKy4k/v-deo.htmlsi=d3JChFwIre9cHlGY
And I was very inspired by this guy!
Monotype with acrylic on gelli plate - Dag Rottereng Artwork
ua-cam.com/video/c1boGJnACLc/v-deo.htmlsi=oJmRYjew_IhOrwgm
Переглядів: 47
Відео
Reading journal update - plan with me
Переглядів 10019 годин тому
You saw me set up my reading journal, now have a look at how the pages worked for me, as I show you what I read in October, November and December of last year.
Clever Fox Planners 120gsm Dotted Journal 2.0 detailed review
Переглядів 150День тому
This was one of my very first dot grid bullet journal reviews and since I did it a few years ago, I've included a lot more detail in my reviews, so I decided to update it and add more detail. Brand and products 1:04 Packaging 3:25 Features 3:43 Construction 4:49 Markings 5:32 Paper 6:29 Pen test 7:58 Environmental and social responsibility 9:02
Weight loss journaling and a huge range of layouts to help you lose weight
Переглядів 23614 днів тому
I've always had a problem with emotional eating, so while I have often been a healthy weight, when my life goes through some form of upheaval, I tend to put on a bit of weight. On top of that, menopause happened, and weight has been harder to shift. It's another new year, and I've decided I want to lose 10kg so I'm fifty and fabulous in May! For the first time I've decided to set up a weight lo...
Midori MD dot grid notebook first look and MT washi tape unboxing
Переглядів 38014 днів тому
I've been wanting to look at the Midori MD dot grid notebook ever since I reviewed the Midori MD paper in my Travelers Notebook (and LOVED IT). It will be interesting to see whether my future review of this notebook has the same results. I'm very impressed with my first look, so it's a good start. In this video I also unbox a small MT washi tape order, and another novelty notebook from Midori t...
2024 (Part 3) bullet journal flip through - Caran d'Ache
Переглядів 9521 день тому
Every now and then I like to throw in a journal into the mix that has lighter-weight paper, to see how I can test my creativity and use materials without destroying the paper and experiencing bleeding of the paper. This Caran d'Ache notebook has 120 pages of 90 gsm paper and performed outstandingly for the weight of the paper. Obviously I didn't load it up with watercolours or lots of dark-colo...
Plan with me January 2025 in my bullet journal with old childhood photos
Переглядів 15521 день тому
In 2025, my first bullet journal should last six months, and will cover a decade of my life per month up to May. That means January is all about my life from 1975-85, and includes a whole bunch of photos sprinkled amongst a flower power theme of 1970s colours and flowers. I even came up with my own lettering design!
2025 journals
Переглядів 13928 днів тому
While I have several more journals, these six (plus one) journals are the ones I expect to use the most this year. See them in these chapters: Bullet journal 00:18 Journal journal 01:38 Mental health journal 2:25 Reading journal 3:12 Board games journal 4:30 Birding journal 5:35 Swatches journal 7:13
2024 mental health collaboration journal spreads
Переглядів 105Місяць тому
I participated in two mental health collaborations on Instagram in 2024. We are given a quote, and we prepare a spread in a journal (or just on a piece of paper) - I use my mental health journal and try out all sorts of hand lettering, collages, and use watercolours, gel pens etc. This video goes through all my mental health spreads in 2024 and includes some footage of creating them. The two co...
2025 bullet journal setup - this one's special
Переглядів 224Місяць тому
I'm very excited to be using a Koko and Lynn journal (previously Your Bujo: review here ua-cam.com/video/KE5vscWoVoE/v-deo.html) because it has 100% recycled 150 gsm paper. I've been planning this journal setup for a long time, but didn't know quite how I was going to tackle it. I finally came up with a solution and I'm really happy with how it turned out. If you just want to see what types of ...
Plan with me and try these layouts to finish your bullet journal for the year
Переглядів 87Місяць тому
I show you three ways to layout an end of year summary in your journal. I've chosen to do a layout for my personal events and achievements this year, then another one for my journaling and UA-cam achievements, and finally one to cover the main world news items that dominated the media this year. I had considered doing a goals review, but I didn't have many this year, so I left it out! My Person...
Unboxing Kaiko fidgets review for neurospicy ADHD and ASD stimming
Переглядів 70Місяць тому
This video is not sponsored or subsidised, and Kaiko Fidgets were not involved in the unboxing. All opinions are my own. I'm pretty old to have only recently found out in the last couple of years that I have ADHD. It has explained a lot about my behaviour, and now, instead of thinking that some of my habits are just bad behaviour that I need to learn to 'deal' with, I have learnt that they are ...
Bespoke Letterpress dot grid bullet journal review
Переглядів 133Місяць тому
Bespoke Letterpress dot grid bullet journal review
The 150 and 160 gsm dotted notebooks I've reviewed
Переглядів 136Місяць тому
The 150 and 160 gsm dotted notebooks I've reviewed
Post user review of 7 dot grid bullet journals: Stalogy, Leuchtturm, Paperblanks, Midori
Переглядів 512Місяць тому
Post user review of 7 dot grid bullet journals: Stalogy, Leuchtturm, Paperblanks, Midori
Plan with me an Australian Christmas theme in my bullet journal
Переглядів 72Місяць тому
Plan with me an Australian Christmas theme in my bullet journal
Post user review of 6 dotted notebooks: Jumping Fox, Primrosia, Reverie, Clever Fox, STM and Kleid
Переглядів 2132 місяці тому
Post user review of 6 dotted notebooks: Jumping Fox, Primrosia, Reverie, Clever Fox, STM and Kleid
Post user review of my 10 dot grid bullet journals: A&O, Notebook Therapy, Vivid Scribbles, Nuuna
Переглядів 3352 місяці тому
Post user review of my 10 dot grid bullet journals: A&O, Notebook Therapy, Vivid Scribbles, Nuuna
Sketching birds in my Reverie 160 gsm watercolour journal by My Mellow Days
Переглядів 1282 місяці тому
Sketching birds in my Reverie 160 gsm watercolour journal by My Mellow Days
The 7 dot grid journals I'm most excited to use as my bullet journal
Переглядів 5482 місяці тому
The 7 dot grid journals I'm most excited to use as my bullet journal
Reading journal setup in a small 80gsm spiral notebook
Переглядів 2462 місяці тому
Reading journal setup in a small 80gsm spiral notebook
Canadian dotted notebook Hemlock & Oak bullet journal review
Переглядів 1842 місяці тому
Canadian dotted notebook Hemlock & Oak bullet journal review
Relax while I create fantastical trees with washi tape
Переглядів 672 місяці тому
Relax while I create fantastical trees with washi tape
Take 2: The brands that sell traveler's size inserts and notebooks
Переглядів 1842 місяці тому
Take 2: The brands that sell traveler's size inserts and notebooks
Stickers, designing trackers, weeklies vs dailies, all in my journal in November
Переглядів 2633 місяці тому
Stickers, designing trackers, weeklies vs dailies, all in my journal in November
Rhodia Rhodiarama 90 gsm journal dot grid notebook review
Переглядів 3823 місяці тому
Rhodia Rhodiarama 90 gsm journal dot grid notebook review
Relaxing natural bird sounds while creating trees from washi tape - no talking
Переглядів 1493 місяці тому
Relaxing natural bird sounds while creating trees from washi tape - no talking
All the brands selling notebooks with dot grid kraft paper
Переглядів 1473 місяці тому
All the brands selling notebooks with dot grid kraft paper
Archer & Olive 2024 bullet journal flip through
Переглядів 3853 місяці тому
Archer & Olive 2024 bullet journal flip through
Thank you for this review! I recently received one of these journals and thought to myself " this thing is really nice!" Glad to see that there's some data to back up the feeling!
Love this journal so amazing!
Thank you ☺️
The Thorn Birds, had a flash back to Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward :) I always remember the colour of her dress being described as ashes of roses. Loved the lay outs, specially making a note of the first line. Picked up a few new books to add to the list.
Thank you! I can’t remember the movie (or was it a mini-series) very well. Maybe I should plan to find that somewhere to watch after I’ve read the book 🧐
I have an "interested in" list and a to read list. My interested list are books I might want to read, heard about, read about, etc., and might read. My to read list are books I have already vetted & plan to read.
That makes sense. I think mine is an ‘interested’ list then 🙂
Bailey! 💜
Just chillin’ 😎 He’s getting old and clingy these days - he’s a lovely boy ❤️
I love how cute these are thank you for sharing!!!!
Thank you - I need to get back to creative layouts. After a few years you stick to what works for you but I did used to enjoy the creative process of these!
@ I love to draw so for a while I used to try to avoid drawing in my bullet journals because they would just end up turning into sketchbook lol, but then I realized that drawing is a part of brainstorming so I really like to see other people’s spreads. It kind of reminds me of sketchjournaling, or sketch notetaking. Please do make more!
@ so true. I will!
super helpful! thank you so much!
You're so welcome!
Your spreads are so creative, Ruby. I wish you luck on your weight-loss journey. I am also on a self-awareness journey and will take inspiration from you. I wonder if the sunny weather in January is more beneficial to starting a New Year's health-improvement program🤔 Many greetings from Germany, Kendra.
Thanks Kendra 🧡 I think it’s easier to implement new exercise and mental health plans in summer maybe because the sun makes you feel more positive, but I tend to eat healthier in winter - I’m not sure why 🧐 Maybe it’s having filling hot breakfasts like porridge and healthy soups! Let’s see if it works the next few months. Good luck with your own journey x
@@theusefuljournal Thanks! I'm waiting for the sun ☀
I love your setup here. Great ideas ❤
Thanks 🤩 I’ve had lots of practice with weight loss spreads! Maybe when I get to goal I should prepare a weight maintenance journal 🩵
Amazing in depth review, thanks for the effort
Thank you, glad it was useful! I’m a details person 😅
Hi there, Ruby! I haven't been commenting lately because my health is, well, let's say a lot of work, which means that my mental health is "oh my god, will it stop already!", and in this kind of periods I try to limitate as much as possible my interactions with my phone. But I still watch and LOVE your videos, and I wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR, and wish you ever more crazy creative ambition, and pretty things and flourishing. Hope summer treats you well!
Thank you. Happy New Year to you too! I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been well - I completely understand how looking at the Internet doesn’t help. Don’t ever feel like you owe me anything ❤️ I hope you have a creative year ahead of you xx
Thank you for this video. You encouraged me!
I’m so glad - it’s inspiring to help people get creative! 🎨
A great spread. Thank you for sharing your stories. :)
Thank you ☺️
The bird watercolours are lovely. I've watched so many journalling You Tubes I finally started one in December. I've smooshed my diary, book reviews and commonplace journal all into one journal :)
@@fionacahill3133 perfect! That’s the best way to start. You’ll gradually work out what you do and don’t use and what type of journaling you enjoy the most 🩵
Im so glad to have found an Australian journal channel!!
And I love having Australian viewers ❤️ Check out youtube.com/@erinsmith?si=N_t7KS448n_JqAf1 too - she’s one of my favourite Australian journalers
As a fellow Aussie, love the bin chicken theme ❤
Haha - perhaps something only Australians would understand 😂
Merry Christmas my friend with kind wishes for your and your family
Thank you so much ☺️ I hope you had a wonderful Christmas 🎄
Omg this Layout is so underated 😮 U are inspiring... Thank u 🌲🦊🌲
Thanks so much! 😊 Sometimes my videos seem to slip through the net. I’m glad you like this setup because its one of my favourites 🧡
So wonderful to see your art collabs here. I really appreciate the creativity in the variety of spreads, lettering choices, and the important mental health messages. Thank you for sharing this with us here on UA-cam.
Thank you - I’ve got a lot more to come around mental health journaling 🩷 Happy New Year!
I'm so glad I found your channel, and looking forward to watching your videos in 2025 :)
Thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy the videos I’ve got coming! 😊
I suppose in society, we make it a very big milestone date. But I love your idea of decorating with all the old photos in this bujo, how lovely in theming it for this milestone year... very cool. I enjoyed watching your setup. Wishing you the best for your 50th year!
Thank you so much ☺️ I suppose it’s a bigger event for me because I upended my life in recent years and feel like I’m on the threshold of a new direction. I’m hoping reflecting on the past will help me determine my future path. Have a great New Year 💛
Really liked the World Times spread, I find it difficult to remember what year event happen so this will be useful. Good luck for your channel in 2025. :)
Thanks so much. That’s exactly why I do these end of year spreads that cover the news of the year. I also forget everything and forget what year things happened so this is why I use summaries. I hope you have a happy New Year!
Loving your video and with the conversation with us as you do your end of year wrap up. I really like seeing the process and how you discern what to include and how. Thank you! Looking forward to 2025 with you and this channel.
Thank you for being such a big supporter of my channel. I really enjoyed our little chats back-and-forth. I hope you have a lovely end of year break and a fantastic 2025 and I look forward to talking to you soon. 💚
Oh wow just saw this and it’s made my morning! Couple of tips .. all metal ones can go in fridge (cold often helpful). I like to tie my caterpillar one (10 beads) at end and put over wrist and drape in hand. Also try the one you didn’t like so much - middle finger at base and clench and or twisting around tip of finger also :)
@@michaelseymon6172 ooh thank you! I like the sound of the cold tip!
I would never have thought of using tombows for stamping. Thanks for the tips and sharing your process. The spreads look fantastic.
Thank you! Any water based marker works well and I love that they’re so easy to clean off and that you can do blends or colouring. If you’ve got a picture stamp you can colour it with multiple colours (quickly before it dries).
Ruby, thank you very much for all of the informative and inspiring videos you've produced in 2024! All the best of the holiday season and wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
Thank you so much! I wish you the same! And thank you for all your great comments and support 💛
One page to go in my my art journal. Been art journaling for 7 years.
Well done! It’s so satisfying finishing a journal!
maybe I have undiagnosed ADHD. I've been fidgeting all my life but at 65 I think it's too late for me. I would get into so much trouble with the nuns and got the strap every day for being naughty'. Well, 99.5 % of the time I got the strap because I couldn't keep still. I pick at myself, my face in particular till it's red raw. When I'm stressed my picking gets worse. I don't bite my nails, and I got rid of what was left of my hair. I'm on kidney dialysis and can't move (or barely move) for 4 hours as it sets of the alarms. I took myself off for a rest because I was experiencing excruciating pain, so I am surviving on 6% renal function. Not that dialysis makes you feel better. After a run and most of the nest day it feels like you've been in the ring with Mike Tyson. It's a truly dreadful situation. Unfortunately, no one's offering me a kidney even though you can live a perfectly normal life with just one. Makes me feel like I don't matter. It's a bit hard not to wallow in self-pity, but I do especially at this time of the year. I've lost all my friends from moving about and being in hospital so often. No one wants to hang around a sick person. 30 + years as a nurse and this is my reward for caring for others. It doesn't seem right, somehow.
@@janececelia7448 its never too late to do things for yourself. I’m so sorry you’re going through such a hard time. I had a boyfriend on dialysis years ago and it really knocked his self confidence. Biggest thing first is finding someone to talk to. I struggle sometimes to find someone because I don’t want to dump my problems on them, so when I’ve got big feelings to unload I write in my journal. That at least gets the thoughts out of my head because if I didn’t they’d just keep tumbling around in there. Talking will help too. I go to a therapist sometimes just to unload. Even finding a sympathetic doctor who has time to talk to you about the picking. I won’t give medical advice, but I will send you a big hug. 🤗
Never too late to find out if you want to One of my cousins has Aspergers syndrome, one of my other cousins sons also hs Aspergers , my mum was just recently diagnosed 2yrs ago in her 50's and I'm believed to be on the spectrum too just haven't been formally diagnosed and in my 30's and I placed my first Kaiko fidgets order just yesterday will be getting more when I can..
Thank you for taking the time to review our journal🥰 We sincerely appreciate your insights and wish you a joyful holiday season!✨❤
@@MellowDays thank you! I love your journal - did you see what I’m using it for? ua-cam.com/video/nRXvJ_NrkkM/v-deo.html. I hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year ❤️
So sad that Bespoke Letterpress isn’t up to snuff for the favorites list. May they take this feedback and consider changes.
I hope so, it’s such a beautiful journal
I like how your shirt matched the journal cover. Looking forward to seeing your Australian notebook review. :)
Haha thanks. I just wanted to wear a new top - happy coincidence that they matched! Yeah, I think an Aussie list is required ❤️
Very useful video! Thanks for taking the time to make it! 😊 I’m considering the official bullet journal, so special thanks for covering that. Looks like I’m going to love it! Regarding Stalogy, I agree. The dots are so faint! The construction is top notch. Some their marketing photos show the journal bent completely in half, like you would for a spiral bound notebook. I did that with mine and it performed exactly like their photos. The paper performs VERY well considering its thinness. I might consider the graph version since the lines would probably stand out better than the dots. Sometimes thinness is worth the ghosting trade off. Take care and thanks again!
@@maxillariadendrobulum4079 yes, I’ll give Stalogy credit for being durable! I’ve done a full review of the Leuchtturm Bullet Journal - I do really like using it. Review is here (paper hasn’t changed since then) ua-cam.com/video/bwDFNQ9cw9k/v-deo.html
Thanks! I’ll check it out!
Love the month theme. I think the Ibis on the beach with the sand castle really needed a bucket and spade in its raised leg. But that’s only my option not a criticism.
Oh that would have been good! I thought afterwards the sleeping one should have had a table with beer or biscuits for Santa too!
What an inspiring journal. Glad I found you!
Thank you so much! It’s so nice to hear that you liked it as much as I did 😊
I love the bird! 🙂☮️❤️
Thank you - ibis are kind of cool 😎
I love your watercolours! So pretty.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for this. I recently ordered from Bookfell Studio. She was fine with custom work, I wanted my dot grid at 3mm - no problem!
a very beautiful journal.
Thank you so much!
Excellent
Thanks!
Thank you for this delightful journal bringing together some of my favorite art/writing items. I use the Platinum Carbon Black ink in fountain pens and the ink does not clog up the pen . Other permanent inks do tend to clog nibs/feeds, but not the Carbon Black, in my experience. The Mellow Days is so nice for fountain pens. Thank you for introducing me to this journal. They had a shop drop recently which delighted me. Appreciate being taken along on your journal and art journeys.
Thanks for the tip on the ink! It’s a new bottle for me and people are always warning about permanent inks so I was a bit nervous! The Reverie journal is so beautiful- I’m glad you like it too 💙 I think this is going to be a special memento once it’s full of watercolour birds 🦅
@ Love your bird art too. Please continue to share more with us. Have you done any washi tape birds?
what a beautiful background for such a beautiful person 💗
Aww you’re too kind 😊
Hi Ruby! I was so excited to come across this - thank you so much for giving my small NZ business a shot! I 100% hear what you're saying about plastic. We've stopped using bubble wrap, so that's one improvement. The plastic around the box is hard - in order to keep the notebooks safe and dry while shipping and in the warehouse, I have yet to find a better option that helps keep costs low, but I am so open to suggestions! Did you get a chance to play with pens etc? Thanks again - so stoked to see us getting an opportunity to play with the big businesses :)
I’m always happy to share reviews for small journal brands, especially those that are making an effort to improve their sustainability! I’m looking at doing a video on sustainable journals soon - I’ll have to look into some solutions before then 🩷 I’ve got more than enough pens so don’t buy them much any more!
Having 2 indices is brilliant. Your layouts are lovely. I can see why they take awhile
I think having a contents AND an index is going to be essential with so many entries in this journal!
On behalf of a college student who has to be careful with money, thank you so much for your amazing and insightful journal reviews! I hope you continue to do them! ❤😊😊
Thank you ☺️ I’ll try my best to keep going. I really enjoy researching and making them. Journals are so expensive, so I think it’s really important to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth!