Scribbles That Matter Bullet Journal Notebook Review
I recently saw a post in the Bullet Journal Junkies group on Facebook (check it out if you’re not a member!) where someone had bought one of the Scribbles That Matter notebooks to use as a bullet journal. It looked super cute and totally bullet journal ready, so I ordered one (Okay, I ordered two, actually!) to try out. I decided that it would be fun to review it on a video so other people could get an idea of what it’s like.
I also thought it’d be nice to review it here on the blog so you could get an idea of it with photos.
First up, how cute is that cover?? I love the cutesy cartoonish aspect of it. It definitely makes this a journal for FUN. I think it’d be perfect for a beginner, a youth or a student. In a professional setting, it’s probably not going to be the best notebook, but it certainly will catch your eye. The cover itself is soft, but firm. It is a pretty teal color that I LOVE. The doodles are actually inscribed into the cover, so it’s not just a fun print. It’s indented. I think it is great for bloggers or social media managers, as it aligns so well with that sort of career.
The first page inside is a contact page, which allows you to write your information in case of loss. I think this is a nice feature, as I always write info in my journals – but I do think it’s also a kind of waste of a page since we could as easily write our info on the inside cover. That said, I figured out pretty early that this particular notebook is more for style versus function. Though the function is pretty good, too!
The next page I have a big problem with. There’s really NO need at all for a notebook to have a title page, as far as I’m concerned. If the contact page was a waste, imagine how I feel about this one. It adds no value to the notebook at all, wastes an entire front/back page and is superfluous given that the name of the notebook is already inscribed on the cover. Stylistically and functionally, this page is unnecessary and actually annoys me hugely. The only thing I can suggest is to cut out a picture/drawing/poem, etc and paste it onto the page.
I love that there is a generous Key Page, as well as a pre-done Index. The Index actually goes on for three pages, giving you ample room – which is good since the spacing is HUGE. I tend to make one page work for my entire Bujo, as I write small. But I don’t hate this. Again, if you appreciate style, you’ll appreciate this. The Key Page is wonderful. I have no complaints. If you are someone who likes to color code and/or if you are the sort who has all sorts of different symbols, this page is really good to have. Of course, if you’re a traditional bullet journalist, you probably don’t need it at all. That said, I doubt that a traditional bullet journalist would have bought this notebook in the first place!
One thing I will point out, though – if you look at the photo above of the Key Page, you will notice that the previous title page is showing through the paper. I was pretty upset by this because if the book’s own printing is showing through, I feel like the odds of ghosting with my pens are high. As you’ll see later, it wasn’t as bad as I feared, but if ghosting is a problem for you, you’re not going to really like this notebook.
The pages within are dot-grid, which seems to be a favorite among bullet journalers. Once again, I do think there is probably a bit too much space (37 spaces down 25 across), but it totally depends on your preference. The dots are also a bit dark for my taste. I like them much lighter, as then it works as a guide. The pages are all numbered (185 pages in all), saving you the trouble of doing so. This is both good and bad. Numbering can get really tedious, but then again, if you mess up and want to glue pages together or anything, it can frustrate your efforts.
The back inner cover is covered in doodles, which is both cute and fun since it allows you to color them in if you like. A fun thing to do when you’re bored. The back also features an accordion pocket so you can store stickers or other paraphernalia you want to keep with you.
A feature I really like is the double-sided Pen test page at the back of the book. It allows you to try out your various pens/markers so you can see what they are like for ghosting and bleeding. I tried out several different kinds of pens, and I was pretty impressed that only my heavier markers and sharpies really bled through. All of them ghosted a bit, but no worse than any other notebook I’ve used.
I also like that the book comes with an elastic close, ribbon bookmarks and a pen loop attached. For privacy and convenience reasons, these are really great to have.
So far, I am pretty happy with it. It is probably best for students or someone looking for a more fun way of bullet journaling. It’s got a lot going for it, but there are a few things that I dislike, which I point out in the video. Check it out and let me know if you’ve bought one or are thinking of getting one. I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on it!
