Traveler’s Notebooks are a flexible way to house your planning and Bullet Journaling needs. All the variety of accessories can be overwhelming! Alice is showing us her favorite Traveler’s Notebook accessories to help you organize your life once and for all!
Traveler’s Notebook Accessories Everyone Should Try
Hey, there! It’s Alice from the Geeky Burrow, and I popped over here to talk all about Traveler’s Notebooks!
One of my favorite things about using a Traveler’s Notebook (TN) on a daily basis (rather than just when traveling) is that it’s like having a mini-office with me all the time. I’ve used classic Bullet Journal notebooks (like the ever-popular Leuchtturm1917), and one can personalized those to a certain extent. Many people use the back pocket of their notebooks to carry basic accessories, but what if you need more flexibility? A Traveler’s Notebook gives you even more room to get creative!
Today, I’d like to share with you my favorite accessories for personalizing my own Traveler’s Notebook (along with a few I’m hoping to try in the very near future).
Traveler’s Notebook Essentials
First of all, let’s talk about functionality. The accessories in this section make your TN work smarter, not harder!
Traveler’s Notebook Zipper Pocket
Whether you’re using your TN as a travel journal, a personal diary, or a Bullet Journal, I believe the most useful accessory is a zipper pocket.
I tried to resist it for a couple of months after receiving my TN, but I finally gave in. Actually, the 008 refill, (the official version from Midori) is very well made, and is not very expensive. This is my absolute favorite!
I like to use the large pocket as a dashboard. I’ve added a couple of journaling cards and motivational quotes on one side and Post-it notes or random scraps of paper on the other. The zippered portion is useful for keeping stamps, paper clips, and decorative items to add to my journaling pages.
Elastic: Adding Extra Inserts to Your Traveler’s Notebook
Another item I’ve found very useful is an extra elastic to add more than one or two inserts to your Traveler’s Notebook.
I’ve been lucky enough to have a TN that allows you to have two inserts by default and I know that there are other ones with even 3 or 4 elastics to buy online, but the original one from the former Midori brand, now simply Traveler’s Notebook, only has one useable elastic. You can buy the official 021 refill or pick up something similar at your local craft store like I did.
Traveler’s Notebook Pen Loop Options
Finally, the pen loop. I see many people use it, but I’m not actually a fan of it, so my recommendation is based solely on what I’ve seen online. The Midori official one is nice because you don’t have to glue it on your TN or insert. You can also create a DIY version by attaching a binder clip to the cover of your insert and placing the pen in it. This is a great tutorial if you want a more detailed step-by-step.
Inserts to Customize Your Traveler’s Notebook System
Bonus: the inserts!
Inserts are not just an accessory; they’re the core of your Traveler’s Notebook system. There are so many options out there you can get creative with them!
For journaling and collaging, I like to use the 001 refill, but for the most part, I create my own ones using some blank paper sheets or nice printables found on Etsy.
Adding Personal Touches to Your Traveler’s Notebook
Now the fun part! Time to give your Traveler’s Notebook a personal touch. Seriously, the possibilities are endless. Just try searching “Traveler’s Notebook” on Etsy, and you’ll be blown away by all the choices!
When I received my own Traveler’s Notebook, it came with a cute little charm hooked to the main elastic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the exact one I have since it was a gift from an international friend of mine, but this shop has many similar charms.
One of the things missing was a bookmark, so I made a DIY one by attaching a Tim Holtz tag that my pen pal kindly sent me. You might try picking one with your word of the year. It’s a nice way to always keep it in front of you!
Other Journaling Supplies for Your Traveler’s Notebook
Another thing to consider if you’re using a Traveler’s Notebook is what kind of supplies you want or need.
Megan’s got you covered with her beautifully detailed page on this! But I would add a couple of things I love to use on a daily basis, as well.
Pilot G2 gel pen. This is my absolute favorite pen to use in my notebooks in general. I’ve recently started creating some inserts on my own using Ray Blake’s tutorial and printables, and this pen works very well even on the cheap printer paper I use.
Zebra Mildliners. These highlighters are very popular in the bullet journal community, I have the pastel pack and the light blue one is my favorite.
Post-it notes. I use them all the time! I’ve recently discovered the smaller size ones and I like to put them on my dashboard.
Sticky flags. I use them to bookmark some pages here and there, I know I could just add another cord with another charm to my notebook, but I actually prefer to use sticky flags!
Pencil board. I haven’t used this yet myself, but I’m very tempted to give it a try soon! Finding a smooth writing surface can be one of the challenges in a Traveler’s Notebook, especially the original ones, since they have a knot in the elastic (yep, right where you want to be writing!). The pencil board is a piece of plastic material that solves this problem. You just put it under your pages to create a flat writing surface. So handy!
And that’s it! I hope you’ll find my accessory list useful. Feel free to leave a comment down below to let us know about your favorite Traveler’s Notebook accessories!
Is there no option where we just buy the cover (nothing else inside?) I make my own book thongs (the beaded bookmarks) and already have some notebooks I think I could use. I would jsut need to find the cover (with maybe some elastics)
I’m pretty sure that if you search “Traveler’s Notebook” on Etsy you’ll find what you’re looking for. The original TN comes with a blank insert and a spare elastic, but there are plenty of shops that sell handmade unofficial versions online. 🙂
Hey Alice,
I’m a G2 fan also but in blue. It’s amazing how many of us are out there 🙂
I find the craft envelope/pocket pretty useful, especially if you use it as a wallet.
+ if I have a bulky enough pen I can turn around the leather strap on the outer elastic and use it as a pen holder.
That’s awesome! I’m all for black ink, but I love the brand. I haven’t tried the craft envelope yet, but sounds very useful and I think I will give it a try soon. Thank you for sharing! 🙂