Starting a Commonplace Book | How to Start + Tips & Tricks

[@lillabjornco]

I will be doing a Q&A in my next video, so please reply with any questions you might have for me! 😇 (they can be stationery-related or not)

[@allgoodthings1438]

What's your favorite part about making these KZbin videos? 😀

[@bujowithsarah]

What is the one stationery product you can't live without?

[@js-rr2sr]

What’s a book you think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime? What’s a book that you think perfectly captures the essence of life?

[@squallgallardo]

Could you please put the link to the video you mentioned at the start?

[@lillabjornco]

@@squallgallardo Yup! Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6bEepKOhK6asKcsi=wRN0avCJbHVb1xdO

[@debrawalters617]

I've watched several videos about commonplace notebooks and never really got the 'big idea' behind it. I'm so glad I watched your process today and now it makes perfect sense. Thank you!

[@lillabjornco]

This is such a sweet comment! I too was a little confused about commonplacing at first -- I am so happy I was able to explain it in a way that resonated with you 😊 💕

[@ellebee1707]

Making a commonplace book has been on my "want to do" list for a while now, and I've started one but had no sense of organization behind it 🙃 This video is very beginner friendly and has given me an idea of how I'd like to set up my own! Thank you for the inspiration 📖

[@lillabjornco]

I am so glad you found this video useful! Good luck with your commonplace, and let me know if you have any questions 😇💞

[@just_kos99]

I was keeping a commonplace book without even knowing it! Now that I've learned what they are and the long history behind them, I'm enjoying hearing tips and tricks! My current one is in a binder, which I'm realizing makes it a LOT easier!

[@lillabjornco]

That's a great idea! I can imagine why that would be easier, especially for organizing ☺️

[@RulesofPepper]

I do it a lot for the article/ newletters i read. I like being able to remember what i read/ learn and revisit the quotes especially when i read some other stuff in the same themes

[@lillabjornco]

That's a big reason why I am commonplacing too -- I find I can never remember where I get information from haha!

[@RulesofPepper]

Also i have OCD too ! It's nice seeing people being open about it !

[@lillabjornco]

Agree! I feel like it's not talked about enough! You are welcome here 😊

[@thejournalnook]

Honestly, I love the idea of using this planner as a common place book, especially using the dates at the start as an index. Bravo 👏🏼

[@lillabjornco]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed ☺️🙏

[@bujowithsarah]

Love how the cover came out 🙌

[@lillabjornco]

Thank you! 😊

[@rbethgeiger]

I just stumbled upon your channel and the title intrigued me- I'd never heard of a Commonplace Book - thanks so much for sharing what it is and your process in creating one. It seems *beautiful and functional * - my two favorite things to combine!

[@lillabjornco]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Beautiful and functional sums it up perfectly 😉💞

[@TheKoffeeVerse]

Loved this setup. For now my commonplace book is just a plain school notebook. I've divided it into sections instead of using a dot system. I have so many notebooks/journals lying around that I'll probably just start filling those when the current one is full.

[@lillabjornco]

That sounds like a really good system too! Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@SharkLizard]

I've got an a5 stalogy set aside to try commonplacing again and I really feel you on the intimidation factor! Maybe I should downsize too.

[@lillabjornco]

So far, I've been finding it much better in the smaller size. I feel less pressured to make each entry long, and I like that even the shorter entries still take up a few lines! Let me know what you end up deciding 😇

[@Chaos_and_Creativity]

I have an A5 stalogy too and what helped me was using it for literally everything.... Commonplacing, journaling, memory keeping (did a whole spread on the eclipse) and commonplacing but I use my index and color code there. It's made it so much easier. I used it for a moving checklist, monthly brain dump, anything and everything. I was trying to hard to be like everyone else and when I did what worked for me, it stuck! I'm also OCD and this has helped me jump out of that for a little while and just be creative!

[@Youngajumma]

Your commonplace book setup is very straightforward and easy to follow , thanks

[@lillabjornco]

So glad it was helpful! 😇💞

[@lfaq1059]

I adore this video and your supplies! Very clear and easy, and doesn't feel like something too big to overcome. Also, you're handwritingis lovely

[@lillabjornco]

So glad you enjoyed! Thank you 😇💕

[@loriray3680]

Just a funny quote I heard when motivational posters were so popular, someone said “Eagles may soar but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.

[@lillabjornco]

Haha I love that! Thanks for sharing 😆

[@jlstrick1]

I use 1/4 inch dots too! It’s a great size for smaller notebooks (I use Field Notes, mainly). The dots I use are Stalogy washi dots. I get mine from Jet Pens.

[@lillabjornco]

That’s awesome! Thanks 😇🙏

[@Are3.14]

Hi Lilla! I've been watching your videos for a while now and only now I heard you say you have OCD. I have that too! Your personality is very relatable to me and your videos have been helping me to hide away from my stressful situations. Thank you so much!

[@lillabjornco]

This comment means the world to me! I am so glad you find my videos helpful, you are so welcome here 🥺💓

[@Are3.14]

@@lillabjornco they're helping me a lot to go through this week and even helped me start planning! I already bought my kinbor weeks and it will be arriving tomorrow🫶

[@lillabjornco]

So excited for you!

[@Are3.14]

@@lillabjornco it makes me happy! 🩷

[@syddlinden8966]

I prefer the smaller .25 inch stickers. I ended up having to get small rectangles and using tombow pastels for the colors because the Avery doesn't come with enough colors and everything I found online was either way too big, or way more stickers or colors than I could ever need. I may even end up swapping to just using my tombows to draw a dot. But right now I'm in colored paper to the stickers are certainly helpful.

[@lillabjornco]

I agree. I really like the Avery brand, I just wish the pack came with 2 extra colours! 🥰

[@yaimamartinez9576]

This is the most wholesome video about commonplace book I've watched. Thanks for explaining the concept so well. Any tips on how to conquer "blank page" fear? Thanks 😄

[@lillabjornco]

Aww that is so sweet thank you 🥹💞 For blank page fear, I’d suggest starting with a simple quote. You can’t go wrong with a quote! 😉

[@dawnyWestScotland]

Yes it turned out so cute! ✂️☀️💙

[@lillabjornco]

Thank you!! 😇💖

[@LydiaQ17]

OMG where did you find Jugoslavija?🤔 Although does not exist anymore is stamp really nice.🙂 I kept commonplace book for years, but I didn't know the english expression for it. I my language there is not specific word for that. Greetings from Slovenia, former republic of Yugoslavia. 😁🤭

[@lillabjornco]

Oh my gosh hiii 👋☺ I purchased the stamp stickers from AliExpress, I suppose they are outdated haha 🤣 How was your commonplace book experience? 💖

[@LydiaQ17]

@@lillabjornco Hi! 👋Well, in the beginning I put in everything. From garden tips to wellbeing. Then I discovered stoicism and write some notes and reminders about that. And discover some other topics. Now I'm on quotes. When I start I didn't use decorations, but now I do. Usually stuff, washi tape, stickers, stamps and I like it ☺. I write in english just to practice.😉 I do not write about personal stuff, for that I keep diary. For commonplace book I have one rule, that is no rule.🙃

[@lillabjornco]

@@LydiaQ17 That is so cool! I am currently reading some philosophy, so I definitely expect to include quotes from that 😋 Glad to hear you aren't limiting yourself with your commonplace book! Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@LydiaQ17]

@@lillabjornco You're welcome.🤗

[@CiceroSpeaketh]

I used to keep commonplace booked when I was a voracious reader. Most of them were regular exercise books that students here use and are sold cheaply in a pack. Gone are those days...sigh. I should probably throw away my laptop, my smartphone and get a dumb phone. Then I can be less distracted and start reading like I used to again.... Addendum- where did u get those postage stamp stickers? They're so cute 😍

[@lillabjornco]

That's one of the main reasons why I am starting one too! I don't read like I used to 😪 I have faith in us though 🥰😜 The postage stamp stickers are from AliExpress!

[@bec1.618]

This video made me so happy, a subject I love and beautifully made. I’ve only been commonplacing for the last year but it’s so much fun! It also gives me another use for all my beloved stationery haha. I just recently ordered the uni ball one F in that exact pen body colour, I’m so excited to get it!! Sending lots of love 💕

[@lillabjornco]

I am so glad you enjoyed! I have been loving the UniBall One F -- usually I do an ink swap because I find the uniball one ink to skip, but so far this pen has been amazing! Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@bec1.618]

@@lillabjornco what do you normally swap into it? So far the only refills I’ve found that fit are the sharpie S gel and zebra Sarasa

[@lillabjornco]

@@bec1.618 I swap it for the Uniball Jetstream (ballpoint), and it's been a personal favourite 😇

[@bec1.618]

@@lillabjornco I tried the jetstream, the refill I have didn’t fit 🥲 thanks so much for responding though!

[@lillabjornco]

@@bec1.618 It's specifically the JetStream sport! It's a 0.7 ballpoint JetStream into a 0.5 Uniball ONE (I don't think it fits inside of a 0.38 because the nib is too big). Hope this helps 🥰

[@CM-ey6qy]

Good video, and I wish I had neat handwriting like you do! 🥰

[@lillabjornco]

Glad you enjoyed! Thank you 😊

[@ROBLOX-h8l]

Heyyy you used my country’s stamp! 🇨🇱

[@lillabjornco]

Yayy! ☺️☺️

[@dawnyWestScotland]

Lovely postage stamps ☀️

[@lillabjornco]

Aren't they adorable?! 🤩

[@dreamcleo]

❤

[@lillabjornco]

😇💞

[@onesmileygirl]

Where did you get your postage stamp stickers? They are so cute.

[@lillabjornco]

They’re from AliExpress!!

[@JuuC]

I watched some videos about it and I've seen them a lot on Instagram but I failed to understand exactly what it was, how to make one and for what, now with your video I understand better what it is and I feel tempted to give it a try❤ By the way, where did you get the stamps? I'd love to get one of Sweden, because my husband is swedish, and one of my country 🥰

[@lillabjornco]

I am so happy that my video gave you a better understanding of a commonplace book! 🥺💖 The stamp stickers are from AliExpress -- they came in a pack, so there is only one Swedish one (I am part Swedish ☺), but I think they sell other Swedish-themed stickers too 😇

[@JuuC]

@@lillabjornco thank you 🥰

[@lillabjornco]

@@JuuC You are very welcome!

[@teaforthesoul]

You definitely need a cream correction tape for this notebook!

[@lillabjornco]

Oh gosh I know 😅 I'm on a low-buy right now, but I really want cream correction tape. Do you have any brand suggestions? 😇

[@teaforthesoul]

@@lillabjornco I looove the whiper petit correction tape in 2.5mm for really finicky correction, but you only get 6 metres. I like to pair it with a wider 5 or 6mm tape for bigger coverage areas since that way you waste less and can switch between them depending on your needs. The Midori brand is obviously a perfect match, but I don't like the boxy shape and find it goes down less smoothly.

[@lillabjornco]

@@teaforthesoul Thank you so much!! 😇💘

[@amandasteven1400]

ooo' this was fun! . . .evr notice how girls focus on colors.. and stickers.. and washi-tape.. and layout.. and design.. and decorative drawings? but with guys, less is more :)

[@lillabjornco]

That’s too funny! I wonder why that is 🤔

[@Sujowi]

I’ve watched so many writing and craft videos that start with waving,wafting hands. It’s not the most engaging start to a video so don’t do it again. You have lovely props…use them creatively!

[@lillabjornco]

I appreciate your feedback! What would you rather see instead? 😇

[@lillabjornco]

QOTD: Have you tried keeping a commonplace notebook before? How did it work for you? 🤍

[@Stationerypuff]

It didn't work for me, but I wanna to try again 😩

[@anitayodermarshall2561]

I tried without success, but I want to try again.

[@lillabjornco]

@@Stationerypuff Oh noo! 🥲 I'm curious, which part didn't work for you? 😇

[@lillabjornco]

@@anitayodermarshall2561 That's lovely you want to give it another go! What didn't work the first time? ☺

[@JessicaSmith-ie7cm]

I just purchased some AE companions. I’m going to either use the weeks or A6 for CP. I won’t be using an index though. I’m just going to treat it as a regular old notebook and just put put things-lists, recipes, etc in it. I think this will work. Fingers crossed.