How To Start a Commonplace Book You'll LOVE USING! Using my MOLESKINE EXPANDED

[@SeaweedKisses]

✍JOIN my Patreon Journal Club for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/SeaweedKisses

[@PorschaWrites]

Putting things in my journal is my favorite form of recycling. Junk mail, packaging, receipts. I save yogurt lids as mini paint palletes. I'm right there with you, the less I buy the more creative I am

[@kayjay9516]

You’ve really helped me get over the fear of “ruining” a book. A couple of weeks ago I bought a Moleskine, decorated the front and moved in, not worrying about how good or bad I was. This is after throwing out several books that I decided I’d ruined! I love that your art journal isn’t done by a trained artist, and that you actually USE it rather than preserve it perfectly. I’m really enjoying doing random doodles, stamping, scribbles etc. Thank you ☺️

[@SeaweedKisses]

Oh, wow! You're very welcome! I'm so happy to hear that I could help you overcome the fear of "ruining" a book and that you've embraced the idea of using your journal without worrying about perfection. Your approach of diving into your Moleskine with doodles, stamping, and scribbles sounds wonderfully creative and freeing! Remember, the most important thing is that your journal is a reflection of your unique self and experiences. It's meant to be a space for your personal expression and exploration, not a "perfect masterpiece." Keep enjoying the fun, creative journey, my friend! 😊📓🎨

[@sushanart]

💜💜💜

[@Ms8Mega]

Oh my goodness, you have just solved all of my notebook emotional issues! I have difficulty ‘starting’ any notebook because I am so afraid of ‘ruining it’. When you said you had STARTED with a pen test, I almost had a heart attack! How could you start with something so disorganised AND not decorated!!! 😊 But I soon realised that’s how I need to start, just put some on the page. You have given me so much to consider. Thank for your wonderful channel. I am now a new subscriber! Thank you once again for sharing your talent and time. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@elenajopp5128]

The longer the videos from you, the better. I don’t like these shirt 5 minute teasers here because influencers are being told that peoples attention spans won’t make them want to click on longer videos. I’d love an hour from you every week of showing your notebook collections and how you use them. For now I’ll have to rewatch everything until something new comes out. Thank you for sharing this journal goodness!

[@SeaweedKisses]

Hi Elena! Thank you so much for your feedback and for your enthusiasm for longer videos! I enjoy creating longer, too. But over the years, noticed that average watch time on my videos is like 5 minutes.😅Guess that never stopped me, though, because this video was still 20 minutes long! Hahaha! I'll definitely take your request into consideration, though, and continue to create longer videos. Stay tuned for more, and thank you for being a part of this wonderful community! 😊📓🙏

[@rfoley402]

Same.

[@Chaos_and_Creativity]

We love long videos! Because of my attention span... I need longer videos and explanations!

[@Jona___27]

I love the moleskin notebooks as well. Specially soft covers. I’ve been using them for for 4 years and its messy. I don’t use a lot. 99% of the time i just use the notebook and a black pen. Ocasionally i would print photos and put them in there as well as things i gathered during a trip (card of restaurants, train tickets…) it’s so personal and so calming to put things that i don’t really want to say out loud. Loved this video so much. Thank you❤️

[@SeaweedKisses]

Beautiful! Love hearing how you use and enjoy your journal. You're right- it's a personal process, but that's what makes it so interesting and unique. Thank you for sharing!

[@peacefuldingus]

Your videos are such a calming & safe space for me, thank you for that. Your voice is so soothing and your journaling philosophy is amazing. It helps me to rewatch your videos when I start to feel like my journals aren’t “good enough” or I feel the urge to buy more supplies I don’t really want…all I want is to feel comfy and at home in my journals and to use what I have 🥰 the peace and the flow is what matters to me ✨

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! 🥰I'm truly honored that my videos provide you with a calming and safe space. Your desire to feel comfortable and at home in your journals while focusing on the peace and flow is such a wonderful approach. It's perfectly okay not to chase after endless supplies. What matters most is your personal journey and the creative fulfillment you find in your journals. 📓✨Whenever you start feeling like your journals aren't "good enough," remember that they are a reflection of your unique self and experiences. No need to feel the pressure of being "perfect." It's okay to just let the creative process flow...You're right - that's what truly matters! 😊✍

[@cherylbalmas4901]

I’ve watched your videos over the many years you’ve been here and while sometimes I step away from YT and/or planner videos for a bit, it is so comforting to know some of my favorites are still here making great videos. I love your style, your connection to your viewers, your practicality, advice and creativity. And as someone else mentioned, your voice is so soothing to listen to. Thank you for still being here and sharing your creative process and common sense approach to planning and journaling. You are appreciated!

[@chelseag3365]

The shoes analogy makes soooo much sense 😊

[@redrockermom0630]

I love this so much! I am new to journaling and always fear it isn’t going to be perfect…. But I’m not either! And this made me realize that is the beauty of it!!! ❤

[@CaeruleaTigris]

If anyone is looking for a more reliably lasting method of flower preservation or something that would produce a "flatter result", it's as easy as putting the flowers between a couple of bits of paper, stacking a bunch of books on top and leaving it for a couple of weeks. They become a little more fragile, and can lose a bit of colour or yellow a little if they're white, but I've had great success with most flowers and leaves.

[@dalilabonilla7182]

You’re the only person I have found so far that journal very closely to my style. At some point many things I saw online were “in theme” or “aesthetically pleasing only” which stifled my creativity for thinking it wasn’t pretty enough. Thank you for sharing all these videos. You are awesome! And I enjoy your what’s in my bag videos too!! ❤

[@SeaweedKisses]

I’m so happy to hear that there are others that share similar styles. Thank you so much for the encouraging words!🩷🌸🥰

[@annette681]

I love how you decorate your notebooks. Thanks.

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you! Appreciate you being here and watching!

[@jade4994]

I've just ordered the non expanded one, in case i find art journaling is not for me. I only took up journalling last year and have discovered although the process is useful for me, i also wanted something i could carry around with me and put art, things i found, etc in and the one I have is not practical for that due to the size, left side ring binding and unweildy cover. Never kept an art journal before, im pretty excited 😁

[@elizabethk2009]

I just started to set up my commonplace book using a moleskine I got awhile ago. Loving the process! Love my journal!!!!

[@stephaniet1796]

A lot of your quotes you say refer to your art and your notebooks but they also apply to life. I’m not a consistent journaler(?) but I love your channel. Thanks for the content!

[@IngeborgNCC1701]

I'm actually working side by side with you, journalling and decorating, this is so calming and inspiring at the same time 🎉

[@SeaweedKisses]

Aww, that's wonderful! 🥹💗

[@analogMensch]

I also putting the date of the first entry and when it's full also the date oft the last entry onto the corner of the first page. And I'm also putting a lot of coffee into my noteboooks! I collected a lot of this packing paper you get at a lot of shops (I have mine from buying candles, cause they wrap then in it). Rip it into pierces, painting these pieces with coffee and glueing them in in random order. So my notebooks always smell like coffee :) I like to put feather in my notebooks. Just a bit of superglue at the shaft of the feather hold it in really nice, and it#s still soft to touch :)

[@angelasandiego1271]

I feel exactly the same way about the Moleskine extended but lined version. I love using it as my commonplace notes ❤️

[@SeaweedKisses]

It's wonderful to hear that you share the same enthusiasm for the Moleskine Extended, especially the lined version! Using it as your commonplace notes is a fantastic way to keep all your thoughts and ideas organized in one place, isn't it!💖💖

[@sophiaisabelle027]

We appreciate content like this. You'll always have our support.

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you! Appreciate your support!🥰🥰

[@bogikah.]

Your Moleskine journaling style is so relaxing. I found an alternative for this notebook for art journaling on Amazon for €14 which has similar qualities. I use the Moleskine for “pretty journaling” as in my area it’s quite expensive. I always waycj your videos to help me feel inspired to “let go” and doodle away.

[@traceythibault4946]

Watching your videos Inspire me to write a lot or once in the morning and also in Evening as well I have about 3 journals and i also started using a notebook as a journal as well 📓📔✍️✍️😃 i Love writing every day if i am feeling sad i write in it 😢📓✍️ i Love today's video too 🩷🩵 i am writing in my notebook While I am watching today's video

[@SeaweedKisses]

I'm so happy to hear that my videos inspire your journaling journey! Writing in the morning and evening is a fantastic habit. It's wonderful to see you exploring multiple journals and enjoying the journey. Journaling can be a great way to process emotions too. Thanks for watching today's video while you write! That's awesome! 📝😊

[@poshplans]

I love love this. I jump right into notebooks and I love them. This was inspiring.

[@horsdubleu0]

im using moleskine expanded for this year bcs of youu & surprisingly i love this book so much, idk if its just me or not but i love it when my journal messy & chunky 😂♥️

[@SeaweedKisses]

That's awesome to hear! 😄I'm happy to hear that you decided to give the Moleskine Expanded a try because of my recommendations, and it's even better to hear that you're loving it! Embracing the messiness and chunkiness in your journal is a fantastic way to let your creativity flow freely and make it uniquely yours. Keep enjoying the magical process of your journaling journey! 📔💕😊

[@rfoley402]

Same!

[@BoomerVonsMom]

Received my blue expander notebook today. I am so excited. Of course I did a pen test in the back. I’m currently staring at the first page 😂

[@lightball84]

Your video really inspire me❤ I done the decoration this afternoon. It was fun and without any rules. Just like life🥰 there are so many ways to live. Thanks again.

[@chelseag3365]

Also love that you infused your notebook with nature to dry the tea 😊

[@Treewhisperoracle]

Such a stunning earthy video. Thank you for sharing your creativity and love and integration of nature in your process 🙏 🌲🌿

[@asahb3406]

This was so freeing watching you just create. Perfection gets in the way of everything for me. This was so inspiring.

[@YD1234-y1d]

Hi Michelle! Can you do a video of your planning system?

[@Dreblueskies]

That would be great!

[@CristaBudgetsPlans]

Love love this. I use my soft cover a5 moleskine expanded w the blank pages I use it for my creative planning. So much pages to brain dump in. Love LOVE it. I wouldn't have discovered it if it weren't for you introducing it to us in here YT. Thank youuu!!! I found my favorite peaceful notebook. That is so stress free for me. Thank you 🫶🏽

[@SeaweedKisses]

Oh! Thank you, thank you! Oh, this makes me happy to see! 🥰 I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that you've found your perfect creative journal companion in the Moleskine expanded, too! It's amazing how having those extra pages for brain dumps can really help with the creative process, right? 📖✨

[@amygalewoods]

I use moleskine expanded dotted grid. Love it

[@iliana.m]

How I break into a new notebook: I number the pages !! 😆😆 Making the cover would mean commitment that I would start it... Numbering on the other hand doesn't (in my head lol) But when I see my handwriting on the pages I want to start it anyway haha --- p.s. I hate doing pen tests in any notebook lol, I much rather tear a page and do it there if I must test a medium, otherwise I just go for it and see what happens 😂

[@Patricia.R.]

I number the pages first too! And the year on the spine. I haven’t decorated the covers... I love this idea!

[@Specks_Page_Plans]

Really enjoyed this video - thanks for sharing. Definitely feel like I've been swallowed by perfection and lost my creative side. Trying to get it back!

[@CydPiper]

Oh be still my heart Michelle. LOVE this video content you generously bring us. Been feeling so lost; now feeling a bit rejuvenated with ideas. Thank you for sharing the inspiration and all you do. Please keep bringing more. Luv, Cynthia ❤✍🙏🌹

[@SeaweedKisses]

Cynthia, your heartfelt messages always warm my heart! ❤I'm truly touched to hear that my content has been a source of inspiration for you, especially during those moments of feeling a bit lost. Your support and kind words mean the world to me, and I'm so grateful to have your support. Rest assured, I'll keep sharing inspiration and ideas, and I'm excited to continue sharing this creative journey. If there's anything specific you'd like to see in future videos, please feel free to let me know. Sending you lots of love and creative vibes! 😊✍🙏

[@mikewadley2700]

I'm with you. I have come around to using the Soft Cover, Moleskine Expanded journal with grid pages. It is very comforting. I use a Cross black ink, med point pen. I write down thoughts I have or inspirational quotes. I also sketch in it. I enjoyed this video. I found it very relaxing after a very tough week.

[@SeaweedKisses]

I'm so glad to hear that you're on board with the Soft Cover Moleskine Expanded journal with grid pages! I appreciate your kind words about the video, and I'm delighted it provided some relaxation, especially after a challenging week. Keep enjoying your journaling journey, and here's to many more peaceful moments! 😊🖋 Wishing you a better week ahead!

[@est-fm9ui]

I had a Moleskine for 1.5 years. It lasted a long time and I filled every page. It wasn't the notebook for me. I am much happier with notebooks from the brand Leuchtturm 1917. Their formats are simply more convenient for me, I can't really deal with the American sizing of Moleskine notebooks. ❤😅 Dot grid paper all the way. I enjoy my notebooks to have a cream colour. And I need the pages to be numbered to index important pages. ❤

[@iliana.m]

I love this type of videos!! ❤❤

[@brookehanson7431]

Wait! The flowers you tape in don't go bad?! I'd love to try that but i'm nervous i'll end up with a mold situation

[@elizabethk2009]

Lol... I also save the packets from truvia sweetner- positive affirmations- to add to my journaling❤ Do you add tabs as section dividers? I noticed you use lots of them in your journals.

[@XaspoX]

WOW I love the idea of using everyday items as decoration. I always wanted to decorate my journals but those stickers that you can buy felt not very personal. I'll definitely try this out thank you 💖

[@SeaweedKisses]

I'm so glad you liked the idea of using everyday items as decoration for your journals! It can truly add a personal and unique touch to your pages. Have fun experimenting with different items and creating a journal that's all your own. Happy journaling and decorating! 📓🎨

[@calmandcharming1599]

👋🏽💚I can’t wait to collect some leaves 🍂🍁, so I can tape them in my journal! Great video!

[@SeaweedKisses]

Oh, yes! Great idea!!

[@carrieshow7817]

I love Moleskine books exactly BECAUSE they're not that high-quality. I don't feel any pressure to make it pretty. I don't worry about my handwriting. I don't care about keeping it organized or on topic. I just use it. Messy handwriting, ugly sketches, 2 AM thoughts just scrawled in there with no worries. And I can carry it with me because I don't stress about it getting ruined while I'm on the go.

[@paperstoryjournals]

I feel that way about the Leuchtturm, though I I wish they had a thicker one. So I like the moleskine expanded sometimes because of how many pages. I tried the dollar tree label marker and couldn’t get it to work. Maybe mine was a dud. I do have the regular sized punch label marker. I love using it for writing poems.

[@IratherservetheLord]

Who knew moleskin notebooks loves coffee so much!

[@babsbybend]

At 19:23, you show that you made a pen holder. Would you please show us how you did it? Thank you!

[@KingsofLeon2112]

Yes, I keep the fortune cookie strips and the tea bag tags at the end of the string

[@SusanGW]

LOVED THIS VIDEO🎉

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank youuu!!🥹🙏🙏

[@MrsG93]

Fountain ink with ef nibs or fine nibs work great

[@jessicabarrera6412]

Yep that's my experience!

[@mireyamacias4444]

Hi , I love you videos ❤to me there are so therapeutic 😌💕 i have a question when did you start your journal 📓 journey. What got you get into it I love to hear this stories . Thank you so much your videos they are amazing 🙌🏼 are you the only one in your family into journaling

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you so much!! You are too kind! Love the questions. Perhaps I’ll include them in my upcoming videos as they can be quite lengthy stories. Hehe☺️❤️😅

[@LivingLife9295]

Thanks for sharing ..I so enjoyed your setup and look forward to seeing how your book unfolds!

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you! I'll try to share updates and progress.

[@7775Kevin]

You may want to set your camera to a fixed exposure so the image doesn’t keep changing as you move black and white objects around in the frame. Just a thought.

[@SeaweedKisses]

Yes, I have since upgraded my camera. Sorry for that.

[@jensplannersandjesus]

When I am in a different place I like to get the paper drink coasters. Paper menus. Receipts. Napkins. Tickets. Different things like these make unique touches to my journal.

[@rfoley402]

I love this. Thanks for the great ideas!! Please keep the vids coming.

[@aleksandra.s.89]

Your videos and journals are always so inspiring to me! Tfs 💕

[@SeaweedKisses]

Aww, thank you! Appreciate you being here and for the support!💖💖

[@BooksAndBigHair]

Cannot wait to watch. I am curious if you plan in your journals as well, and if not, what do you plan in?

[@SeaweedKisses]

I've experimented with using it combined as a planner, too. For now, I enjoy keeping them separate. My planner is a DIY project in the works, Once I finalize it, perhaps I'll share.🥰

[@ElenyM]

Your voice is so soothing 😊

[@Ephemeryde]

Love it michelle ! Did you tried to make your own paint with your fresh flowers ? 😍

[@shaustin22]

Love your videos. I love moleskin too however I’m a fountain pen user so I need the hobonichi because of the tomoe River paper. ❤😊

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you! Oh, yes. Can't beat Tomoe River Paper for fountain pens!

[@just__celia]

Your journals are so inspiring. Thank you!

[@SeaweedKisses]

Oh, thank you!!🙏🙏💖💖

[@Dreblueskies]

Always enjoy your videos and your journals are so inspirational!

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you so much!! Happy to share!

[@planwithkellye2926]

The creativity! Love it ❤❤❤

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you!!🙏🥰🥰

[@sdiax11]

I just got my Expended moleskine and was wonder how I should start. Perfect timing! I'm guessing the pen holder is from Amazon? Thank you for this!

[@SeaweedKisses]

Perfect time it is! The pen holder was actually from an online retailer. I'll try to see if I can find the link as this was purchased a few years back.

[@melodyflurry]

Great video! Very inspiring. 😃❤️ Team Moleskine! 🌟

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you!! Happy to hear you find it inspiring! Yes, TEAM MOLESKINE! hehe!🙌

[@aetherKitten666]

starting off with the field notes 3 pack, hoping to get to moleskin level 😎

[@suzawilo]

Yeah,I would strongly recommend NOT using beverages to stain your journal. Theres crafting inks nowadays that do the same effect, but there's no danger of meldew 😮.

[@SeaweedKisses]

Oh, interesting. Been doing it for years and never thought about the danger of mildew. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@happymailmagic]

Love this!

[@constancewebb2191]

I'm going to try the moleskine expanded . I see you use the Bic Cristal which I like because of boldness. By any chance do you know another pen that writes bold with comfort grip?

[@sameeralazawee7524]

Nice >>>>>. Thank you .

[@SeaweedKisses]

Thank you for watching!

[@princesadedioscelines5557]

Very nice

[@jss302]

❤

[@sweetieloulita6262]

I paste in fortunes too 😂

[@mordaeu1411]

Me, never able to find these at a physical store and online is the only option 💀

[@stacieh4888]

🧙‍♀️

[@vincesavoia8829]

To much information on the actual notebook, not enough on what goes inside the notebook.

[@samplebien]

Moleskin is overpriced for the quality of paper and see trough even with the basic art supllies😢

[@SeaweedKisses]

you're right. That's why I always buy these when they're one sale, usually 50% off

[@МарияФранц-х2ш]

Что за трэш 😮