7 Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies to Get You Started!

If you’re just staring with a homeschool bujo – or looking to expand on your bullet journal supplies, I’ve got your new favorites right here. I’m super excited to share all of my favorite bullet journal supplies and accessories.

You’ll have to excuse my geeking out, but I think you’re going to love them!

Bullet Journal Supplies to Get You Started!

I’ve been bullet journaling for a few years – well I guess since they started calling it that. But before that I did the same type of journaling, I just used a composition notebook or sketch book.

Bullet journaling is so super flexible. You can plan, track, doodle, and draw pictures – basically whatever you want can all go into one book.

Using a bullet journal to plan and track your homeschool curriculum and activities is fantastic. You’ll love the flexibility it gives you. Homeschool families are unique, after all, and a bullet journal is the perfect, completely customized planner.

If you’re just getting started, you’ll need a basic stash of supplies for your bullet journaling. Below I’ll share my very favorites to get you started.

Bullet Journal Supply List:

1. Bullet Journal Notebook
2. Pens
3. Highlighters
4. Bullet Journal Cover
5. Paperclips
6. Geometry Set
7. Stamps, Stickers, and Washi

Related: Take a peek inside my homeschool bullet journal!

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Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #1: Notebook

I will tell you, I burn through notebooks. I have notebooks of all sorts! Composition notebooks, Moleskine soft cover journals, I love my Leuchtturm 1917 dotted, and I have a new Scribbles that Matter that I’m super excited about.

Check out a few notebooks before you choose.

• Do you like a soft cover or a hard cover?
• Do you prefer dots, grid, notebook lines or blank?
• What size fits your needs?
• Would you rather be in a ring binder where you can add and remove printable bullet journal pages instead of creating your own?

Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #2: Pens

I get a little excited about pens. You will too – when you have ones that you love. Gel pens are a must. Here’s why they’re so fabulous:

You know how you have to get ballpoint pens started by scribbling on a separate piece of paper? You will never have to do that will a good gel pen.

They write smoothly and the color and line is consistent. And that’s what you want whether you’re designing intricate annual trackers or scribbling down your daily to-do list.

I’ve learned that pen preference is all about barrel size. I love the Inkjoys because they have a big, thick, sturdy barrel. I also like that there’s not a difference between the main barrel and the tip. I hold my pens super close to the end, so that makes these pens super comfortable for me.

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Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #3: Highlighters

If you’re homeschooling a big family – or even a small one, you will probably want some sort of color coding system. I use specific colors for each child and the whole family. It makes it so easy to see who is doing what and when at-a-glance.

I’ve used all sorts of highlighters, but I have settled in with Mildliners and I absolutely love them.

They have the big fat barrels that I like. But the ink (like it says) is mild. It’s not heavy or inky, and it doesn’t look too rich. The thick side can feel a little wet, so pick it up right away when you’re finished with your lines or you might get a dot of bleed.

The best thing about these markers, though, is that the double sided end is great for color coding and functional journaling. 

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Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #4: Bullet Journal Cover

To anyone getting started with bullet journaling, I will always recommend picking up a bullet journal cover. The cover will make your bullet journal infinitely more versatile… and pretty. A few reasons you’re going to love these:

• Fancy Factor: With journals and planners, it is so important to choose one that you want to pick up every. single. day. Many bullet journals are just plain notebooks.  A cover helps make it your own.

• Supply Storage: Keep paperclips, stickers, stencils, your library card – whatever you need right with your bullet journal. Keeping all of your supplies in one place will save you time and make your super functional journal travel-friendly, too.

• Big Fat Pen Holder: The covers I use from Woodland Cottage Farm have a huge pen holder that will hold a pen and a highlighter – perfect for on-the-go journaling. I also love that I can hang other pens on a fabric cover without worrying about denting the journal cover.

• Protection: If you’re traveling with your bujo – of if you have kids (hello!) you will be happy to have a washable cover that protects your journal and keeps it closed.

• 

I absolutely love my journal covers from Woodland Cottage Farm. (See cute blue floral cover above) They add a layer of protection and versatility that you just can’t get with a stand-alone journal. Find these and hundreds of fabrics and colors custom made for your journal on Etsy.

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Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #5: Paperclips of All Sizes

I love bullet journaling, but I don’t love flipping through every page every time. There are some I go back to, like checking off curriculum we’ve covered, but I rarely need to go back to old monthly or weekly pages.

Enter one thousand paperclips.

Bookmarks are great, but when it comes down to it, I’ll never let go of my paperclips. I love turning a big chunk of pages all at once. Clip together chunks of pages for easy flipping or use a paperclip as a bookmark to mark your month, week, day, or next page.

If you’re fancy (I am not) there are a million clips that stick out of the top of your journal. Bows and poms and cute sayings. That’s awesome, but I just do not posses that level of fussiness. I wish I did. Then my nails and hair would always be done…

Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #6: Geometry Set

If you’re a visual person and like structured layouts or the familiar calendar-style monthly view, you will be happy to have a little ruler set stashed in your bullet journal cover. A small ruler is so handy and makes drawing straight lines and boxes super simple. And fast!

This super inexpensive Westcott Geometry set is just the right size for smaller notebooks – like A5 sizes when you don’t want to drag out a 12 inch ruler for an 8 inch notebook. I also love sharp edges of the triangles for tearing washi tape.

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Must-Have Bullet Journal Supplies #7:  Stamps, Stickers, and Washi

The best part about bullet journaling is that you can make these notebooks truly your own. It can be anything from simple lists to intricate zendoodles. Just be you.

Decorative bullet journal supplies can be functional too:

You might find that you prefer stickers and stamps to writing the same headers over and over. Or that you like using skinny washi tape to make a straight line instead of a pen. Or that you like using a checklist stamp instead of just drawing it over and over.

More homeschool planning from the Resource Room:

• Homeschool Bullet Journal: Custom Planning & Tracking
• Printable Bullet Journal Pages
• The Homeschool Portfolio
• Free Homeschool Planners to Create Your Custom Binder!