The fear of making bullet journal mistakes can stop you from starting a journal, let alone enjoying it. It's risky to try new spreads, create dutch doors, or even attempt to use different mediums.
Not wanting to make mistakes, and ruining your journal can really hold you back from being creative.
While bullet journaling in no way needs to be perfect. Some mistakes you just can't ignore. What if I told you that mistakes are sometimes the perfect opportunity to spark your creativity. Want to know how?
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10 hacks to fix bullet journal mistakes
Use some Kraft Paper Bag
Since starting bullet journaling I never threw out a Kraft paper bag again. It's beautiful to add to your spreads and the perfect solution to covering up a mistake.
Back to my bullet journal mistake, the tag in this spread was originally a drawing. Things took a turn when I got the lettering wrong. Kraft paper came to the rescue, and I actually preferred it to what I originally had in mind.
Glue in grid paper
I love Kraft paper bags, but sometimes I want them to be lined or grid paper to make lettering easier. That's why I always have Kraft grid and lined paper on hand.
I get them in different tones to add different textures to my spread.
In my January spread, I wrote the quote wrong and used this graph paper to cover it up. Also when you try and letter and don't feel so confident, this is a great way to keep trying till you get it right and then pasting into your bullet journal.
MUJI Notebook A5 5mm-grid 30sheets - Pack of 5books
Glue in Black paper
Black paper creates an amazing contrast to your spread. So the next time your page doesn't turn out the way you intended. Give black paper a try and you might even be happier with the end result.
I completed this whole spread only to realize I left out one 'R' in February. The floral ink drawing took so long, I dreaded the thought of redoing the whole spread. I used black paper and cut out the moon crest design and gave lettering 'February' another try with my favorite gold Sakura gel pen.
Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Gel Pens, 6 Piece Gold, 6 Pack
Black micron pens and white gel pens
Color the section you messed up with a black pen and write on top of it with a white gel pen.
White gel pen - This has got to be your bullet journal's best friend because it can fix so many imperfections like they never happened.
My shading for the word 'family' was a disaster so it turned into a black background cloud and added the shading with my trusty white gel pen.
Sakura Pigma 30062 Micron Blister Card Ink Pen Set, Black, Ass't Point Sizes 6CT Set
Sakura Gelly Roll Classic 10 Bold Point Pen (3 Pack), Pt, White, 3 Count
Make your lines thicker
This is actually a recent spread where I was writing the heading and accidentally made one letter way thicker than the rest. When I finally got the whole word in proportion. Then the border looked way too thin. You see where I'm going with this...
Kind of reminds me of winged eyeliner, when you just can't get both eyes even, and keep going thicker and thicker. Absolute disaster.
It worked out in the end and way better than having to start all over again!
Sakura Pigma 30062 Micron Blister Card Ink Pen Set, Black, Ass't Point Sizes 6CT Set
Use washi tape or stickers
Washi tape does wonders - Cover up your bullet journal mistakes with some washi tape and write over it. The beauty of washi tape is that even if you mess up again, you can easily remove it without ruining your journal. It's so forgiving and a must-have!
This washi tape was perfect for my habit tracker. It tied in with my landscape theme perfectly.
Create a collage
Another quote page went rogue. I decided I wanted to use one word instead of a quote I originally planned. So I covered the quote I wasn't inspired by, with this tree painting and some colored card stock. Total different outcome but I was happy with the end result.
Actually, one of my most-liked posts on Instagram!
Want to know how I learned Modern Calligraphy? I have a full review on the course I recommend
Cardstock
This spread took a really long time. After finishing drawing the birdcage, cutting it out (which took a lot of effort), and glueing it in my bullet journal. Then accidentally tearing a piece of the cage (partly because I should've used thicker paper, to begin with).
I was so frustrated that I just let it go completely that day. Some bullet journal mistakes can be so frustrating. The next morning I was going to redo the whole cage when I thought to glue it on some cardstock and cut it out again. My cage is now stable enough that I can turn the page without fear.
Adtech 05603 Glue Runner Permanent 35Yds Total (4 pack Each), single pack
Create A Dutch Door
This spread was initially a full painting of a girl sitting on her desk looking out her window at the night sky. I messed up painting the night sky. Tried to fix it and failed.
Then thought of making the spread into a Dutch door (to get rid of my horrible night sky) and having space for a brain dump. I was intimidated to try and paint the window again so I opted for washi tape. I love Dutch doors and didn’t plan on making this spread one.
Bullet journal mistakes that are beyond fixable - Glue in a printable
I love printable's. They are so handy when your not feeling creative and just want to plan efficiently and quickly.
But they are also the perfect solution for when your bullet journal mistake is just beyond repairable.
Want free printables ready to print?
Writing this post made me realize just how many mistakes I've made in my bullet journal and thought of this quote:
'Forget the mistakes, Remember the lesson'
So the next time your tempted to rip out a page, try these hacks out!
Are you looking for more bullet journaling resources? Take a look at these sections:
If you are new at bullet journaling, start here.
Are you looking for the right supplies, these are our favorites and what we recommend!
Got more hacks? Share them in the comments below