Scribbles That Matter Notebook is the cool kid on the block when it comes to bullet journaling. There are already a lot of reviews on it as well as plenty of 5-star reviews on Amazon. But this review is different. I’ve actually used a Scribbles That Matter Notebook as my only bullet journal for a whole six months. I’ve filled it up from cover to cover. So this review will provide you with everything you need to know about this notebook.
I have been following the Scribbles That Matter journey from the very start. Almost 2 years ago I stumbled across a photo on their Instagram account showcasing a lovely black notebook covered in what has become the iconic Scribbles That Matter doodles with a bright red contrasting elastic band. I was hooked and waited eagerly for its release. I was lucky enough to win one of their early competitions and was sent this lovely number:
About Scribbles That Matter
Here is what you’ll find in their own product description:
“ScribblesTM are premium quality all-purpose journals that make preserving your life experiences, thoughts and records an enjoyable experience. Typical journals use 70-80gsm paper however by using true 100gsm high-quality ivory paper in our journals you can use pencils, gel pens, fountain pens and markers without any ink bleeding through the paper making the other side of the paper also enjoyable to use. ScribbleTM journals are engineered with the user experience in mind thus we obsess over tiny details in the design”
And it is the tiny details that count! As we shall see…
First Impressions
The Notebook is made with synthetic vegan leather. It comes in the “Iconic Version” where the cover is engraved with doodles or the “Pro Version” without the doodles. Both come with a bright contrasting elastic band. Or if you’ve chosen a lovely pastel one, the elastic band is a slightly deeper shade to the actual notebook.
The cover itself is thick and durable and claimed to be waterproof and sweatproof. Sorry, but I haven’t tested either of these claims – the thought of pouring water over my journal or rubbing it over my husband’s sweaty chest is not a risk I’m willing to take. I’ll just accept the claims as truth for now.
I carry my notebook around with me everywhere in my handbag so it gets thrown around quite a bit. The pages have been protected with no creased pages and the notebook has kept its shape. This guy still looks in great condition after the beating it has taken over 6 months (check out the first photo!)
The Details
Scribbles That Matter has two different coloured bookmarks which are of high quality. I love having two bookmarks as I tend to use one to mark where my monthly log is and the other to mark my current page. There is also a pouch on the back inside cover which is very durable. Here I like to keep my most used stencils and any stickers I’m using for the month (Need stickers? Check mine out here!)
When you first open the notebook, there is a page for you to write your name and address. Then there is an index and also a colour code and bullet journal key, ready for you to fill in. This can be a huge time saver if you always use these three items. If not, then it does use up valuable space in your journal.
Now for the paper. The paper is 100gsm, so pretty thick. You’ll find it a lot thicker than the Leuchtturm. And it is very smooth. Your brush pens will just glide along these pages. I love these pages as there is very little ghosting and I’ve never had any trouble with bleed through. I have used all sorts of pens in this notebook – Staedtler Pigment Liners, Sakura Microns, Muji gel inks, pilot get inks, Triplus fine liners, Mildliners, Tombow Dual Brush, Pentel touch, and even a fountain pen. I am super happy with the way that this paper holds up to all my favourite writing instruments. However, the only drawback is when using water – such as watercolour paints or with your Tombows – you do have to be wary about how much water you use as it can bleed through the page.
Here is an example of watercolour used in the notebook. I’ve had to restrain myself when using water, as using too much of it can cause the pages to pill and bleed through to the other side. I’ve tried using water with Tombow Dual Brush pens as well and it is very hard to get colours to blend without destroying the pages with too much water. However, if you’re careful, don’t be afraid to use water in the Scribbles That Matter.
In this photo, I’ve used Tombow Dual Brush pens on their own to colour in my January page. The colours still appear bright and vibrant.
As you can see there is still ghosting, but this has been the worst of it in the 6 months of using this notebook. And considering the heavy use of colour, especially black, I think the pages have handled it incredibly well.
There is an added bonus of an actual Pen Test page at the back of the notebook where you can test out your pens on the paper before using them in your spreads. This is super handy if you hate bleeding and ghosting. Now you have a defined place to test your pens!
As you can see, the Scribbles That Matter Notebook also lies open completely flat, which is great for working on your double page spreads!
The Price
Not only is the Scribbles That Matter a great notebook on all fronts, it comes at a great price as well. They are currently on Amazon and available at around USD20, especially as my last one lasted me 6 months! It’s definitely worth the small investment!
Your Options
All their products are FSC certified, this means that the notebooks are made from sustainably managed resources. Which is great for the environment!
I have used an A5 dot grid journal, but Scribbles That Matter notebooks also come in A4 size and a mini pocket size version. All sizes come in either grid or dot grid.
- A5 Dot Grid – Iconic Version
- A5 Dot Grid – Pro Version
- A5 Square Grid – Pro Version
- A4 Square Grid – Pro Version
- A4 Dot Grid – Pro Version
They have also just released an all Black version, which looks a lot more professional and luxurious.
As well as this, there is also a Scribbles That Matter Bullet Planner. So if you do not have the time or inclination to set up your own spreads, this journal has pre-printed templates for you! It’s a hybrid of a bullet journal and a planner.
The Great
- the choice of colours
- the cute doodles on the cover
- the contrasting elastic band closure
- the paper quality (no bleeding or ghosting)
- the pen loop
- two bookmarks
- durable back pocket
- the pre-printed key and index
- the price
The Not So Great
- the paper doesn’t hold up to water as much as I would like it to
In Conclusion
I would definitely recommend anyone purchase a Scribbles That Matters notebook to use as their bullet journal. I absolutely love the quality of the paper and I love the colours of the notebooks themselves. If you’re interested in buying one of these yourself, then you can find them here on Amazon. It’s a huge thumbs up from me!
If you’re interested in other notebook reviews, check out this review on Dingbats Notebooks. Are there any other notebooks you want me to review? Just let me know in the comments!
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