Review: The Washi Tape Shop’s New Bullet Journal Collection
As far as I’m concerned, one can never own too many notebooks! I’m so excited that my mates at the Washi Tape Shop sent me these four lovely little journals to review. Watch the video review below, or read on to learn more! These sweet little notebooks come in five different designs and two sizes, and I know for sure that one of them is going to be my travel journal for my Europe trip next year!
If any of these notebooks take your fancy, you can use my discount code ERINSMITH10 for 10% off your entire purchase at the Washi Tape Shop.
The links in this blog post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links or my discount code, I will make a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you.
The new collection of journals from the Washi Tape Shop come in two sizes, which they call Large and Small. Be warned - the “large” journal is actually pretty small already by my standards, and the “small” journal is essentially pocket-sized!
How Small are we Talking Here?
The large journal measures in at 18cm x 13cm (and 1.8cm thick). That makes it smaller than A5, which is probably the typical notebook size that springs to mind when you think “bullet journal” - watch the video above to see them compared to an A5 journal! In fact, it even makes it smaller than the Original Size Notebook Therapy Tsuki notebooks. If you like to carry your journal with you to work, school or uni, then it might actually be a perk to have a smaller, lighter journal, but to others that smaller size might be a big drawback, especially if you usually opt for a B5 journal!
The small journal is 14cm x 10.5cm (and 1.8cm thick), which for my own personal use, puts it well outside of bullet journal territory, but strongly into the category of "throw-it-in-your-handbag” notebooks. I like keeping a small notebook in my purse, especially if I’m working on home projects at the time! I’ve been known to note down the measurements of particular areas of my house or stick paint swatches of my wall colours or samples of my curtains in these notebooks, so that if I find myself looking at a thrift shop bookcase or considering a new throw blanket, I can check how it looks with my existing colours or confirm that it’s measurements will work in the space! I also love keeping one of those paper tape measures you can get at Ikea in there, folded up and ready to measure at any time. It’s highly likely my new small WTS journal will end up my next “home notebook” for my handbag.
Let’s Talk Tech Specs
If you’re anything like me, you NEED to know a few things about a notebook - what GSM is the paper, how many pages it has, and does it have ribbon bookmarks?
The large and small size journals both use the same paper - a 120GSM paper that the Washi Tape Shop call “ultra thick” but I would call “slightly thinner than I’m used to”. I’m totally OK with 120GSM paper in my journals, but I’d probably advise against it for anyone who uses a lot of watercolour or other kinds of paint in their journal. Darker coloured pens can bleed through the page a little too, especially if you go over one spot repeatedly, but on the whole it’s perfectly functional for journaling purposes, especially if washi tapes and stickers are your decorative mediums of choice.
The paper is notably not bright white - it’s a gentle off-white without being too yellow, which I personally prefer over the stark, almost-blue white pages of some of my other journals. They all feature 5mm dot grid paper, with an easily visible but not too-dark or too-large dot pattern. The page edges are coated in a mesmerising holographic foil.
Each of the notebooks come with 160 pages inside, which is pretty much the perfect six-months-in-my-journal point for me! It may vary for you though - some people might need many more pages than me, others might need many less! As a guide, I usually use around 16-18 pages for a monthly setup, and around 10 for the initial setup at the beginning of the book.
These bullet journals all have three ribbon bookmarks inside - a really nice touch, I find, compared to the standard two ribbon bookmarks you’d usually find in a dotted journal. They’re also each different colours, which makes it easier to flick back and forth between them. I like to keep one on my yearly trackers at the beginning of the book, one on my monthly trackers and one on my current weekly.
They also all sport a pouch pocket at the back of the journal, and an elastic closure that matches the book’s cover. The cover itself is made from PU “vegan leather” and while I don’t personally think it feels all that leathery, it does feel nice and sturdy!
Tell Me About the Different Designs!
I’ve only got four of the five designs, but I’ll tell you about all of them anyway! If you’d like to learn more, click the name of the journal style to see it on the WTS website.
Sunset Beach Bullet Journal
She’s pink and blue, and holo too! The Sunset Beach colour way depicts a calming pastel ocean scene, with little flecks of holographic detail in the foreground.
The Sunset Beach bullet journal is US $21.95 for the small size, US $26.95 for the large size or US $27.95 for the large size with a gift box.
Phases Bullet Journal
The perfect witchy journal for spooky season, the Phases journal is black with a holographic moon phases cover.
The Phases bullet journal is US $21.95 for the small size, US $26.95 for the large size or US $27.95 for the large size with a gift box.
Tranquil Bay Bullet Journal
This journal looks very similar to the wall art I have behind my desk in my office! It features gently crashing soft blue waves on a muted pink shore.
The Tranquil Bay bullet journal is US $21.95 for the small size, US $26.95 for the large size or US $27.95 for the large size with a gift box.
Floating Cloud Bullet Journal
Pastel blue, looking at the Floating Cloud journal feels like gazing out a plane window. Its holographic accents wrap around the clouds, providing that proverbial silver lining.
The Floating Clouds bullet journal is US $21.95 for the small size, US $26.95 for the large size or US $27.95 for the large size with a gift box.
Cotton Clouds Bullet Journal
This is the journal I don’t have, so you’ll need to head to the Washi Tape Shop’s website to see it! It features dreamy purple cotton-candy clouds, floating by a peachy pink sky.
The Cotton Clouds bullet journal is US $21.95 for the small size, US $26.95 for the large size or US $27.95 for the large size with a gift box.
Fashion Sketchbook - 30 Outfits
OK, so this one isn’t a bullet journal - but it’s still so much fun! The Fashion Sketchbook has 30 illustrated pages featuring line-art of glamorous figures in glamorous clothes.
Have you ever seen those amazing reels and Tik Toks where artists sketch fashion figures and make their dresses out of washi tapes? This book lets you channel your inner fashion designer and do just that! You can use your collection of gorgeous washis to dress the illustrations and trim around the edges with a craft knife - or just colour them in if you’d prefer!
I didn’t receive the fashion sketchbook, but you can click on the name above to see it on the WTS website - it looks like a lot of fun!
The Fashion Sketchbook is US $29.95.
For Those Who NEED A5
She’s not part of the new collection, but the Garden journal deserves a mention anyway.
I actually used the Moonbeam Garden journal for my 2022 journal 1 and loved it! It has the same 120GSM paper as the new journals, but in the larger A5 size, and 160 pages, three ribbon bookmarks, rear pocket and peach page edges. The cover features delicate watercolour florals around the bottom edge, and a gold embossed floral emblem in the top third.
The journal I used (and that’s pictured here) is the Moonbeam Garden version, but they also offer a Moonlight Garden journal with a dark blue cover.
If you’d like to see how I used it from January to June this year, click here!
The Garden bullet journals are US $31.95.
