Bleeding, Ghosting & Your Bullet Journal - how to stop it, avoid it and fix it!

This video is dedicated to every bullet journal user who has ever lost a page to excessive bleeding. I've been there. I feel your pain.
Use these handy tips to reduce, avoid and potentially even fix bleeding and ghosting in your own bullet journal!
-----
✨Video Chapters✨
0:00 Intro
1:31 Part 1: Pens - Alcohol based markers
6:01 Part 1: Pens - Water based markers
8:12 Part 1: Pens - Acrylic paint markers
10:28 Part 2: Paper thickness (GSM) & journal varieties
14:22 Part 3: Ghosting - what is it?
15:09 Part 3: Ghosting - how to avoid it
19:19 Part 4: Fixing existing bleeding & ghosting
22:47 Final thoughts
-----
✨Links✨
Don't forget to scroll down and check out my discount codes below, I can save you some $$ on some of this stuff!
• Artistro brush-tip paint markers set: bit.ly/3qleT32
• My 2020 bullet journal flip through (Leuchtturm1917 notebook with 80GSM pages): • My 2020 Bullet Journal...
• My 2021 part 1 bullet journal flip through (Notebook Therapy Tsuki with 160GSM pages): • My 2021 Mid-Year Bulle...
• My 2022 part 1 bullet journal flip through (the Washi Tape Shop Moonbeam journal with 120GSM pages): • 2022 Bullet Journal Fl...
-----
✨MORE ERIN✨
@erinsmith.art on Instagram: bit.ly/3EEcTaS
Website: www.erinsmithart.com.au
Etsy store (bullet journal printables!): etsy.me/3bxn7gG
✨Learn all about bullet journaling in my Creative Fabrica classes✨
www.creativefabrica.com/teach...
-----
✨Disclosure✨
Some of the below links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links I may make a small commission, which helps support me and my channel.
-----
✨DISCOUNT CODES & AFFILIATES✨
• THE WASHI TAPE SHOP •
Use code ERINSMITH10 for 10% off! The MOST beautiful washi tapes I own are from here!
Visit the Washi Tape Shop here: bit.ly/3SwDn68
• NOTEBOOK THERAPY •
Use code ERIN for 10% off! Incredibly beautiful and robust journals.
Visit Notebook Therapy here: bit.ly/3ZpdAza
• STATIONERY PAL •
Use code ERIN for 12% off! Incredibly affordable stationery!
Visit Stationery Pal here: bit.ly/3kvTJiV
• ARTISTRO ART SUPPLIES •
Use code ERIN for 10% off! Get amazing quality art supplies from a family-owned brand.
Visit Artistro here: bit.ly/3Z2u6Ff
• PHOMEMO THERMAL PRINTERS •
Use code ERINSMITH for 10% off! Printing my habit tracker calendar stickers with my Phomemo printer is my FAV bullet journaling hack!
Visit Phomemo here: bit.ly/3kvW2CG
• KUMA STATIONERY & CRAFTS •
Use code ERIN for 10% off! Kuma make beautiful high quality journals as well as other stationery items!
bit.ly/3mdYRZi
• PAPERWRLD •
Use code ERIN for 15% off! Paperwrld have a beautifully curated range of antique- and vintage-inspired stationery.
Visit Paperwrld here: bit.ly/3IqKTuM
• EPIDEMIC SOUND •
Try Epidemic Sound free for 30 days! A huge range of awesome music to give your content that ~mood~
bit.ly/3Zm7Tlx
✨What I use to make my videos✨
• Lumix G9 camera & 12-60mm lens: amzn.to/3NWHOGk
• Lumix G 25mm f1.8 lens: amzn.to/3RTG55L
• Manfrotto 190XProB tripod with boom arm - no longer available, similar style: amzn.to/3NZVmkr
• Sandisk Extreme Pro 256GB memory cards: amzn.to/3HgKdIb
• Adobe Premiere Pro
#bulletjournal #bulletjournal101 #howtobulletjournal

[@polinamyag]

just a couple weeks ago I bought a large box of 80 alcohol markers only to find out they bleed SO MUCH....honestly I was shocked...at least now I know more about this topic thanks to your video💫

[@ErinSmith]

Ohhh Polina I’m so sorry! How traumatic 😭

[@brynnashley]

So I found your channel a month ago and have been BINGING all of your videos ever since...!! Tomorrow marks my 5 YEAR bullet journal anniversary :D It has changed my life, which sounds dramatic but it's accurate. I never used to think of myself as artistic or creative, but after 5 years of designs and doodles and hand lettering practice, I realized not only am I okay at art, but I love it. It's become my favorite form of self-care. Plus, the ability to organize my thoughts, plan my days, track my habits, see my growth...it's all just benefitted me greatly over the past 5 years. I'm so glad to find other bullet journalers on KZbin and be able to connect. Thanks for sharing your journey and providing me with inspiration and company (I watch while I'm at work so...I feel like I have a friend with me haha).

[@ErinSmith]

Aww Brynn! I love your comment so much, I’m so glad you found such a wonderful outlet and learned so much about yourself! I’m also MORE than happy to be your friend at work, thank you for allowing me to keep you company! 🥰🥰🥰

[@johncriser]

I’m late to this but I wanted to comment anyway. It made me feel better to see how you were so flexible with yourself. When you spelled “alcohol”, you just joked about it. Sometimes the need for perfection in journals overwhelms me. It was nice. Thank you!

[@ErinSmith]

I'm so glad. We don't do perfection on this channel! Pretty yes, but never perfect!

[@AbiNomac]

Excellent info. Thank you

[@Airelda]

I am new to journalling. It's so lovely to watch your charming and informative videos! It's the icing on the cake that you're a fellow Aussie :) I'm learning so much from you - you deserve way more subscribers!

[@joannedixon-jackson7348]

Started bullet journaling this year and it really took off for me in March when I discovered Oops a Daisy and their fab stencils!

[@kellyldriver]

I started bullet journaling after taking a class on Domestika in May 2021 and I absolutely love it. I am so glad I found your channel because I have now in addition to my yearly bullet journal have also started a reading journal and a food/restaurant journal.

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so excited to hear that Kelly! 🥰 A food/restaurant journal is such a good idea!

[@ericateroy9190]

It is really helpful, I just started decorating my devotion notebook.. thank you very much, I will definitely follow this.

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad you found it useful Erica! 🥰

[@mhta0508]

This video was soooo helpful! I started bujoing in January this year, and I was lucky to start off with a 120 GSM paper and water based pens (I just looked it up on my stuff now, I had no idea), so bleeding was never really a problem, only when I saturate the paper. Ghosting bothers me a bit, so now I know what to look for in my next notebook. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad I can help! 🥰

[@TheArtOfJerry]

Thanks for the video. Nobody talks about bleeding on KZbin. You are honest. Thank you. This video is Very useful.

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad you found it useful Jerry! ☺️

[@TheArtOfJerry]

@@ErinSmith I recently started using Markers, they bleeding like crazy.

[@giulianacarnevale6062]

This is great information!!! I’m pretty new to bullet journaling but I had a English Literature teacher who used a writing board in between her pages…I thought it was something fancy but it turned out to be a laminated piece of cardstock !!

[@ErinSmith]

That’s a smart way to keep the bleeding damage to one page only! 😍

[@tiny.kawaii]

Thank you for this video, I love the idea of covering up things with drawings! To answer your question: I started decorative planning with drawing my own headers and doodles in the year 2003. It wasn't called Bullet Journaling back then (if I remember correctly we called it filofaxing). Before that I kept a diary of some sort since 1984 (yes, I'm that old). Nowadays I am using a Nuuna Notebook (which I highly recommend for people in Europe). It's a German brand, has beautiful 120g paper which takes watercolor and even some of my fountain pen inks beautifully and the light grey colored 2.5mm dot grid is very nice for my small handwriting. I'm not a "full" Bullet Journaler, because I keep my appointments in my Google Calendar (which I find way more comfortable for online business meetings and reoccurring tasks) but I love my paper notebook for collections and sketches.

[@JessXOVanityRoom]

Very informative! I just began literally last week after I found your kmart video 🥰 I've shied away from bujo for ages but your vids lay it out sooo simply that I felt excited to start! I live in Australia too and you better believe I near ran to Kmart the next day! Lol my haul was pretty epic 😂

[@ErinSmith]

Ohhh Jess! I’m so glad you’re finding my stuff helpful. I hope you love your bullet journal journey! If you have any questions reach out anytime 🥰🥰

[@ceres090]

I've been journaling since I was a kid, but I thought I'd try this fancy bullet journal style this year. That said, I think I like the cheaper books. As much as I love the feel of leuchtturm1917 paper, the five dollar sketch books from my local bargain bin store feel similar to the journals I used to buy as a kid. Plus, since they are so cheap I don't feel so beholden to making sure they're beautiful which ironically, means I'm more likely to decorate them.

[@ErinSmith]

That’s amazing - you get to have the nostalgia feeling and save some money at the same time! 😍

[@hillarybigham5872]

I started July this year! My hubby got me a 120 gsm book from Scribbles That Matter and I love it! Your videos are so helpful and clear! I’m definitely sending it to my sister-in-law to further her bujo education! 😆

[@ErinSmith]

Ohh what a good hubby! 🥰 thank you so much Hillary, I hope your sister finds my lil videos helpful too!

[@hillarybigham5872]

@@ErinSmith I’ve gotten a few of them into journaling now and it so fun to have people to do it with!

[@charleneroodt1815]

I started Bullet Journaling this January. I even got my husband into it. Well, I have to design his. Haha. I use one as a journal and then I have one I use for my "Everyday Lists". And yes the "Everyday Lists" one is 80gsm. Ghosting hell. My husband and my journals are from Notebook Therapy. Loving the texture and thickness. Even paint in them. Can't wait for your October setup.

[@ErinSmith]

That’s so lovely Charlene - my partner has a bullet journal too! I got him a Notebook Therapy journal and he says it’s too nice to use 😅 so he sticks to his cheap one instead. I’m so glad you’re enjoying your bullet journal journey! 😍

[@lovingmyfamily]

Thank you for all of your fun and informative videos!! I discovered bullet journaling in July and started my first journal in August. So I am VERY new to Bujo. But LOVING it!!!

[@ErinSmith]

Aww welcome to the bujo community! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it, and thank you for being here on my lil channel too 🥰

[@juliangelus]

I started a reading journal in January 2022 with a cheap slightly odd sized 80gsm bujo from amazon, that lasted me 6 months. Then I bought a B5 160gsm dotted journal from a little company on etsy and used it until november 22 when my cat knocked a huge mug of coffee all over it and killed it. This year I'm using an Archer and Olive A5 snake journal, which I'm doing a combined bujo and reading journal in. It's mainly a reading journal but I've got a future log, monthly calendars and habit trackers, but no weekly spreads. This is a 192 page journal and I'm hoping to make it last all year. Next I'll probably get a couple from notebook therapy to try. Great video :))

[@ErinSmith]

Oh my goodness, cats and ruining journals 😅

[@WendyInMD]

Great video! Another type of marker is the oil-based pen. Sharpies are oil-based for example. They can bleed terribly through some papers.

[@ErinSmith]

Ohhh that’s such a great tip Wendy! I had always wondered what Sharpies were (besides a big no-no for journal pages)

[@racheljoyfairy]

Can't believe I actually blew towards the screen during the acrylic paint section. Such a weirdo! LOL Super useful video, Erin!

[@ErinSmith]

I love that you did that! Thanks for helping haha - butterfly effect? A Rachel blows on her screen in Arizona… a bullet journal page dries down in QLD! Magic!

[@racheljoyfairy]

@@ErinSmith every little bit helps!

[@malinf6654]

I started my journey September last year. ( I just realised that I have been doing it for a whole year😲yay me 🥳). I actually meant to say that you can save the writing with a Frixon pen if you accidentally left your journal in a hot place. Just put it in the Freezer for a night. All your writing have come back. I can’t remember who it was but I learned that from another KZbinr. Thank you for sharing this with us. All the tips and tricks you have learned for all of us to benefit from. Love your videos 💕

[@ErinSmith]

Aww happy bujo anniversary! Yes, they say the cold can bring it back - I have never had to try it thankfully 😅 also I think they suggest putting the pens in the freezer if the ink stops working but it hasn’t run out! They’re such a cool lil bit of pen technology!

[@malinf6654]

Happy anniversary to you too 🥰 I didn’t know that when I first used them so I laminated a paper that I had used them on. Then it took me a couple of weeks until I heard about the freezing so I tried - and it worked!

[@KikkiF]

You can also use gesso if you absolutely want to use alcohol markers - they comes in both shiny and matte versions and there is lots of different brands.

[@ErinSmith]

Ohh that’s really smart Kikki! I hadn’t even considered priming your page first!

[@DieterPrivate]

Waterbased markers like Tombow are good, but as you indicate still bleed with multiple layers. Using the pigment based markers like Faber Castell Pitt brush pens or the Zig Brushables will not bleed, even after 10+ layers and on 100gsm paper. I hate the thick paper, I love one with thinner paper so that it has some ghosting and lots of pages. It makes the experience so much more authentic. Also don't like bright white paper. It's hard to find great notebooks though, as or they focus on the bujo community and thus apply the very thick paper, or they are only for light note taking.

[@ErinSmith]

When did you first start bullet journaling? I started in September 2017 and I've never missed a month since! I didn't start sharing my layouts here on KZbin until a bit later though.

[@artkey_sachie]

I just subscribed here on your channel!! I started doing bujo last year August bust mostly on an ordinary notebook 📔 Also thank you for this video so many tips 😊

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you so much for being here! 🥰

[@joannedixon-jackson7348]

If you’re in the UK like me, WH Smith dual tipped brush pens are water-based and therefore suitable for journaling. I have some Tombows as well, but just to give a thumbs up for the WH Smith pens.

[@ErinSmith]

That’s so helpful, thanks Joanne! I hope some UK journalers see this, I might have to grab some when I visit too 👀

[@joannedixon-jackson7348]

@@ErinSmith When you come over, WH Smith are very good for stationery. Also Paperchase, Rymans, some stationery in Waterstone’s (including Leuchtturms) and some low-priced craft stuff at The Works.

[@mellodi]

Thicker paper feels too much like carton to me to enjoy it but then I do not paint or draw. I use fountain pens and it's a whole different story. Sometimes a thin composition notebook paper is great, depending on the manufacturer. The highest I went is 120 gsm in the Essentials Notebook but I prefer thinner paper that I can flip through easily. Ideal would be Leuchtturm 80gsm but their quality is patchy and they are extremely expensive even here in Europe. Which is weird considering it's almost local. So I do not bullet journal but I've been playing around with planning and journaling since 2020.

[@teresafauntleroy89]

I technically started a few years ago, but didn't stick with it as I am a perfectionish and couldn't get my spreads to look the way I wanted. I started back in May 2022 and haven't stopped since.

[@ErinSmith]

I love that you gave it another try Teresa! Has that pesky perfectionism been behaving itself? I can totally relate to that!

[@teresafauntleroy89]

@@ErinSmith thank you. I love how I can make exactly what I need instead of using 5 different planners at a time. It has definitely calmed down some, so that's good. I have realized that perfection doesn't exist (which I always knew), but now as long as I don't give up, I see I can always improve. Besides, I don't have to share it with anyone else if I don't to.

[@cinnaxmon_roll1779]

I've been doing something like Ryder Carol's daily setups since probably highschool.... so about 20 years.

[@ErinSmith]

Trend setter!

[@PamelaHelmich]

I love Frixon pens. If you do "erase" by mistake stick it in the freezer. Most of it will "come back". On the flip side if you live in a cold climate and leave it, say, in your freezing cold car, then all of your mistakes might also come back.

[@ErinSmith]

They are so good! I used only Frixion pens for the first year that I bullet journaled. I’m onto different pens now but so thankful for those Frixion ‘training wheels’!

[@annemettehave3580]

I have journaling since 2018. Started of in a lined notebook I just had lying around. This year I got a A&0 from my inlaws and I am just trying it out now. Oh and I learned it the hard way that you cannot use alco markers in a notebook😑

[@ErinSmith]

I love that Annemette! How are you finding the A&O journal? I always think it’s more satisfying if you start with what you’ve got, it makes finally getting a really epic journal or new supplies way more enjoyable!

[@annemettehave3580]

So far I have only made the front page. I have 2 kids so I only get to work on it when Im also tired. I’ve had a few notebooks with 100 and 120 gsm, but sometimes I got tired of the ghosting and the pages were more cream. I love that the pages are white and I’m looking forward to trying to write in it.

[@emilyjohnson333]

This was incredibly helpful & very watcher friendly (if that makes sense?!😂)

[@ErinSmith]

Oh that makes me very happy to hear! 🥰

[@celaenasardothien703]

Quick tip: I often make titles with very dark colors because i love to use white gel pens, i found out if you are going to make a small blackout section you can use white a white pencil color before using your marker and make a thin layer in the zone that you will black out it causes waaay less ghosting. IDK if i made myself clear englsh is not my first language so sorry.

[@ErinSmith]

That is GENIUS! Also I never expected to have Adarlan’s Assassin comment on my video 😍 it’s an honour haha

[@kristenhaynes4343]

Y'all have Kmart in Australia?! We used to have them all over the US and now I think there are only a handful left.

[@ErinSmith]

Yes! I think they opened here in the late 60/early 70s and sometime in the 90s was purchased by an Aussie conglomerate - so it started out like US Kmart but it’s very much it’s own Aussie thing now! It is THRIVING.

[@greg7371]

Thanks for this video :) Any update btw? Im about to buy an journal so.. ahaha Thanks again 😊

[@ErinSmith]

Thankfully this stuff doesn’t tend to change 😉 once you know, you know! But I do have reviews of a few different journals on my channel in case you’d like to check those out before you buy!

[@greg7371]

@@ErinSmith Ahaha that is the answer i was waiting for. Thanks Erin. Let's do that !

[@missbilbybadinage1199]

18:17 as the ink sits on top of the page, imagine the blending (I hope no smudging) if they came put with their equiv' to tombow dual 🤤

[@artbyroona]

I started my journaling journey just recently, I wanted to draw so many things. But unfortunately I got alcohol based markers and it's bleeding 😢😢.. just coincidentally came across this video and I have the same journal as it shown in thr video😅😅

[@ErinSmith]

Oh that’s amazing! Haha it must feel so strange to see it on the screen 😂

[@annamatzinger9001]

guys if ur bullet journal is not very expensive and you don't mind thicker pages, just glue two pages together. It works really well for me :)

[@ErinSmith]

Definitely, if you have enough pages to do that! I juuuuust squeeze 6 months out of a 160 page journal so I prefer to avoid the need to stick pages together, I need them all for planning!

[@tazer6766]

Here's a good tip for you: If you make a 50/50 mix of PVA glue, like Elmer's School Glue, and water, and then brush that onto your journal pages and let it dry, then you will find that it will seal the paper so that your alcohol markers will definitely NOT bleed through to the other side. Yes, it's a little bit of extra work, but it guarentees that your alcohol markers are still very useable on your journal pages. Give it a try!

[@ErinSmith]

Oh that’s so cool! I don’t think I kept any of my alcohol markers but hopefully someone reading this will try it and solve their journaling woes! 😍

[@PrincessJazzmyn]

Wow I remember K Mart I think they all closed down where I’m from 😮

[@ErinSmith]

Yeah, it’s funny - they disappeared from the states but they’re thriving in Australia 😂

[@KatrinaT]

Gah... just received the 60 pc set of alcohol markers I ordered to use in my planner and they bleed through SO much. I bought them because I read they wouldn't smudge but nothing I saw talked about how they will bleed through the paper so badly. Now what? I guess I either take up marker art or give them to my daughter...

[@ErinSmith]

Ohh Katrina I’m so sorry! Have you used them much? You might be able to return them!

[@KatrinaT]

@ErinSmith Thanks! 💕 I made swatches... I did get them on sale so I decided to keep them and learn how to use them to color sketches. I like to draw horses but have stuck to just pencil drawings. So... 🤷‍♀️

[@ErinSmith]

They could be a very happy accident!

[@veroniquecastel9582]

Tombow makes alcohol dual tip maskers too, be aware!

[@ErinSmith]

They do! They look different though, the light coloured barrels - avoid avoid avoid!

[@veroniquecastel9582]

I’m tempted to try them but my goodness the price is a deterrent !! 😮 💰 💰 💰

[@gnostie]

Never mind markers. Ordinary gel pens bleed/ghost through, say, Moleskine pages. Talk about rubbish quality at inflated prices.

[@ErinSmith]

They certainly aren’t my first choice for journaling either 😅