Leelajournals Haul, Swatching Inks & Making Fountain Pen Friends | July Journal Vlog ✨

[@sabine4480]

Mitsus appearance (especially with the "loading" gif) ist SO adorable. And of course your content I like a lot! All of it. Thank you 😙

[@Littlepea88]

I love your journaling content, but I'm also really enjoying these Vlog videos! You seem to have such a lovely crafty community where you live, and it's so nice getting a sneaky look behind the scenes at both crafty and not crafty things. Your trip to the nature reserve carpark to record audio had me laughing, and I've had long nails since I was 16 so I totally understand your discomfort when you end up with a nail that short. I LOVE Leela Journals designs, and I'm waiting on an order right now, and you introduced me to Paper Monogatari, and London Gifties which I'm now addicted to. As soon as I saw your July layout, I had to pick up those gorgeous hydrangea and bird stickers! P.S. The Mitsu loading bar, it makes me smile every time so now I'm watching out for his arrival!

[@ErinSmith]

You sweetheart, I’m so glad you’re enjoying my lil videos! I’m really enjoying injecting a bit more of me-as-a-person on the channel too 🥰

[@themission137]

"i don't disagree, i just don't want it on my tapes!" i laughed so hard because i totally get it!

[@ErinSmith]

I’m sure there’s a market for inspirational washi… it just isn’t us 🤣

[@julia-here]

This was super fun, Erin! The meetups!! I so wish I had that where I live - the stationery and pen community = the best! Your gifted pen looks like a Jinhao 82; the other one I don't know by just the looks. (also vibing the Washi tape shop building washis that are actually washis haha)

[@ErinSmith]

We are so lucky to have the stationery community here that we do Julia! I’m so spoiled! I looked up the second pen in my emails for the order history lol - didn’t think of that earlier - apparently it’s a Jiaxiang JX a002 🤷‍♀️

[@moultingrook8091]

That orange pen one is a Jinhao 82 ^^ It’s modeled after the body of a Sailor Pro Gear Slim. I love my medium nib ones. They’re good and solid for a really inexpensive pen.

[@Rachel.Christine97]

BRB picking up the honeymoon crashers audiobook immediately 😍

[@ErinSmith]

Say hi to Harry for me! 😍😍

[@janalewis3030]

Tip if you're changing inks or refilling them - latex gloves (or equivalent)! It will save ink from getting all over your hands!

[@ErinSmith]

Definitely need to invest, thank you! 😅

[@themission137]

i love these vlog style videos erin! i feel like i'm catching up with you for the week or something. i also love mitsu just sitting and staring at you clearly waiting for your 'unimportant business' to be over while you attend to him, the star of the show xD

[@ErinSmith]

He is actually very patient isn’t he! 🤣 thank you so much! 🥰

[@mariesalway91]

ohh, those fountain pen stickers worked so well 😄

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you for that excellent snaffle 😍 I’ve since worked out I can’t make the next fountain pen meetup! Might just use it to swatch my existing things again because it’s fun 😅

[@madamejuke]

Oh the little houses tape! Perfect for Christmas villages theme in December 🤣

[@ErinSmith]

That was my first thought too! 😍

[@cvvzdesigns]

Nail stickers in a journal is a yes. 😘

[@ErinSmith]

I think it might have to happen!

[@ChantelleArts]

I love creating alongside your videos ☺☺

[@ErinSmith]

I love that you do that! 🥰

[@Karen_Tries]

At least the writing on that one pet tape is light enough to where you don’t have to read it on white paper!

[@ErinSmith]

That’s true!

[@cvvzdesigns]

The whole time you were working on the "Abbey" I kept reading it as "Happy". Oh brain. 😋

[@ErinSmith]

Close enough, it was a very good event 😉

[@sheemapatel]

I'm absolutely loving these vlogs. 🎉

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad Sheema! I’m really enjoying making them! 🥰

[@TheConsultingReader]

I’m using nail stickers in my tiny journals (A6 and TN sizes). I’m mostly using flowers just to bring a bit of colour to the pages and make them look cohesive. It’s so exciting to watch you embark on your fountain pen journey. I used to have lots of fountain pens in the past, and there are so many new beautiful ones on the market now. But I think I’ll try to resist their calls and stick to my dip pens for now. I’m getting into fancy ink though at the moment 🖊️

[@ErinSmith]

I can see how it could become a very expensive hobby very quickly! 😅

[@TheConsultingReader]

@@ErinSmith I’m eyeing some Ferris Wheel Press fountain pens… But I don’t think I’m willing to spend that much money (100-400£ 😩)

[@ErinSmith]

I’ve looked at them too, and reached the same conclusion for now 🤣 excellent wish list items if someone wants to get a really good gift!

[@Karen_Tries]

I LOVE my Leelajournals notebooks! I need to make another order soon for some washi and stickers!! (I also got a similar pink bow with my order and used it in my setup this month! 😂)

[@ErinSmith]

Oh that’s so cute Karen! I bet it looks right at home in a LeelaJournals notebook 😍

[@tarapreston4143]

Erin - Where do you get the beautiful illuminated letters? I am planning a very floral, vintage, romantic, witchy journal for next year and those would be so amazingly helpful. Totally agree about inspirational messages. I don't want them on my tapes either. LOL

[@ErinSmith]

I got them from Journalsay a while ago - they still have the listing but they're all sold out sadly! I'll link it anyway in case you want to keep an eye on them: bit.ly/45GappV They have a similar style at the moment though: bit.ly/4cDqLCU I don't own these ones so I can't say for sure but some of them look like they might be quite a bit bigger than others! STICKII also have this sticker sheet but you only get one of each letter, so might be best to grab two: bit.ly/3TS8hIm

[@tarapreston4143]

@@ErinSmith Thank you so much! I actually have that one from Stickii and used it today for my September set up.

[@rabarella]

I have the exact same platinum shooting star pen! It’s cheap but writes so well

[@ErinSmith]

I really like it too! 🥰

[@stationerystream]

Finally getting to see what you were supposed to bring! 😂 Would have loved to see the Lumos pen. "I'll keep this out for a sec" Famous last words. Jinhao 82 for the first pen, and potentially Jinhao 100 centenniel (depending on size) for pen no 2. Andrew was the exuberant gentleman with the empty fishies :P I hope you have fun at the next one! Look forward to seeing you explore a new medium. ^^

[@ErinSmith]

I won’t be at the next one sadly - I thought it was going to be Sunday! 🥲 the next next one though for sure! 🥰 thanks for my lovely pink inks in fishes!

[@melizzavelez6823]

Omg those are all in my cart 😂. Would love to see how you use them.

[@ErinSmith]

Which ones? I showed a lot of stuff 🤣

[@antzieslife]

I love these vlogs! Maybe you could do a reverse google search with a pic of the fountain pen to see what matches you get and if you can confirm suspicions that it's a Jinhao?

[@ErinSmith]

That's smart Antz! I think I've worked it out, apparently it's a Jiaxiang/JX-A002 - no idea what that means but it sure is pretty!

[@KitSixx]

YAAAAAS- I squeed as soon as I saw this title.

[@ErinSmith]

It’s happening! 🤣

[@My.Curiosities]

Lovely video as always :) I really like that vlog style where we can see how you integrate journal in your everyday life. I was wondering what your microphone was, I couldn't find it in the description, I apologise if you've mentioned it somewhere I couldn't find.

[@ErinSmith]

I haven’t linked it because I can’t find it online anywhere sadly - it’s a Stadium Sydney USB microphone, if you live in Australia you can get it at JB HiFi!

[@PurpleCeders910]

I love your vlogs! 💕

[@ErinSmith]

Thanks Ceders 🥰🥰 I’m having a great time making them!

[@PurpleCeders910]

@@ErinSmith that’s wonderful! It definitely shows how much of a good time you’re having. It’s lovely to see! 💜

[@mystlady85]

Welcome. You have arrived. As for me, I've always been a fountain pen gal. ❤🤟🏽✒️

[@ErinSmith]

It’s overwhelming but it’s SO exciting! 😍

[@KimTaehee_95]

I love your videos.

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad! 🥰

[@DefyAllLogic]

How do you "decant" your stickers for your sticker books? Or are they premade sticker books? Are they loose stickers in sleeves or are they pasted on glossy pages? I'm overwhelmed with the amount of stationary and not sure how to contain it all.

[@ErinSmith]

Bit of a combo - some of my sticker books are just books of kiss cut stickers that I bought, already bound into books. I have one reusable sticker book that I put ‘leftovers’ into - its pages are made from sticker release backing, just like the back part of a sticker sheet, so you can just your stickers up and whack them in there, and when you want to use them they peel off the pages easily. In my reusable sticker book I keep offcuts from PET tapes, letter stamps I want to organise for efficiency, and any last stickers from a pack if I’ve used the rest up and just have one or two left over. For flake stickers that come in little bags, I usually store those in a binder I got from Journalsay - I showed it in a recent haul video I did with them if you’re interested 🥰

[@Juliet_Australia]

Oh Erin, how do you find out about these meet ups. I have a fountain pen. It was a gift to my husband, its an expensive one, he gave it to me. Do they bleed in your journals? My writing isn't good enough to use it yet, but hoping one day to get to it. Juliet from Brissy. Love your Vlogs :)

[@ErinSmith]

Hi Juliet! If you’re on Facebook, look for the Fountain Pens Australia group. They have regular meetups all over the country! The next one in Brisbane is actually this Saturday, I won’t be able to attend but it’s open to all! I haven’t found that the inks I’ve tried have bled yet but you do have to let the ink dry before you turn the page, which is an adjustment for me 😅 also often, fountain pens will make your writing appear better! You should try your beautiful pen and see!

[@stationerystream]

It really depends on your paper on whether the ink bleeds or feathers. Notebook Therapy is relatively tolerable for fountain pen inks. Other well known reliable paper journals include Midori MD and Hobonichi. Leuchturrm has variable response to fountain pen inks (the 85 gsm can handle fine and medium nibs, but has ghosting), but is far superior to Moleskine. Many a fountain pen enthusiast have self-reported "awful" handwriting, and still thoroughly enjoy their fountain pens. Don't be scared to use your fountain pen. It can actually help make it easier to improve your handwriting (though does not automatically make it better, it just requires less pressure to use, so you can learn to make your handwriting better with ease).

[@michelledchen]

May I ask, where do you listen for the audiobooks?

[@ErinSmith]

I get most of mine on the Libby app through my local libraries 🥰

[@mooncraftbujo]

I'd love to know what temperature your one week of winter is, because we're currently in our one week of summer and it's 22 degrees 😂

[@ErinSmith]

The best day had a top of 17! 🤣 it’s over now though, today was 23 🥲

[@natalieeforsyth]

Not specifically *fountain* pen related but - which pen(s) do you use to fill out your journal on a daily basis? I just can’t find one I like! I use the Sakura Pigma Microns for my drawings and layouts (weeklies etc) but I’m not sure I also want to use them to fill out my daily stuff! Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated - let’s get the pen (discussion) party started🎉🙈

[@ErinSmith]

I’ve been a Pigma Micron full-time user for the past few years, I do really like them for everyday! I love that I don’t have to wait to erase pencil lines from under them or wait to turn the page because of how quickly the ink dries, and also the fact that they’re waterproof helps if you ever spill something on the journal by mistake. I don’t mind the Muji gel pens too - and I usually hate gel pens 🤣 interested to hear what others say!

[@slane_design]

Where do you find the FP meetups?

[@ErinSmith]

There’s a Fountain Pens Australia group on Facebook, they have regular meetups in lots of the capital cities! Proceed with caution though, you will be bombarded with beautiful pen and ink posts 😅

[@ErinSmith]

There’s a Fountain Pens Australia group on Facebook, they have regular meetups in lots of the capital cities! Proceed with caution though, you will be bombarded with beautiful pen and ink posts 😅

[@tulleandpens]

I'm still confused that people in other countries have to learn how to use fountain pens in adulthood. Actually, before you made this video, I thought it's an American thing, like they don't learn to do it as a kid. This is so confusing to me because here kids learn this in second grade when they're 7 or 8. But I guess you learn stuff that is absolutely foreign to me.

[@ErinSmith]

I didn’t touch one until I was in my late 20s! I wish we did have to learn in school, I’d be having a much easier time now 😅

[@blackhellebore89]

Exchange students from Europe where soooo confused when they couldn't get ink or anything for their fountain pens in NZ. Cue one parent sending over a whole bag of cheap pens and inks for their kid to give out to the uncouth foreign children 😂😂😂

[@tulleandpens]

@@blackhellebore89 Really? I didn't know! How funny! Thanks for telling me!

[@alliberry]

i also hate readable text! make it really swirly cursive, or Latin, but not a silly quote 🙃

[@ErinSmith]

Right? If I want a quote in my journal I’ll choose it myself 🤣