Journal gifts are the focus for this 2020 holiday season gift guide. Journaling has been such a wonderful hobby for me. There is an extraordinary creativity in putting words onto paper. There are journaling paths that are suitable for every hobby or interest and the journaling lifestyle is easily accessible for writers at every stage of life. A journaling gift for someone who enjoys writing will convey a thoughtfulness about their special connection to words.
The ideas in our 2020 gift guide are suitable for a wide range of interests and include everything from pens at less than $20 to some mechanical binding machines priced at more than $100. You have options! I've categorized the similar items and am hoping to spur your interest in this amazing hobby.
DIY Journal Gifts – Printable Journal Pages
I like having pretty paper for my self-care journal sessions. When I could not find the perfect pages, I created some of my own! Watercolor artwork has been my go-to design for making elegant journal pages. The artwork is subtle and enhances my journaling experience. There are many options now available in my Etsy shop, just click on the photos or links below.
These floral-themed printable sets are available for an instant download (.pdf). You will receive a cover page, scheduling pages, and a variety of lined and unlined pages that you can print and gift as a bundled set of pages or bind with a spiral using the mechanical binding equipment. Click here to see more choices in my Etsy store.
DIY Journal Gift – Binding Options
This TruBind Coil Binding Machine is a workhorse for making professional-looking journals at home. It includes a coil inserter and 12-sheet hole punch. This unit allows you to bind papers and create custom books, which is awesome! The side and depth margin adjustments give full control to choose where the holes are punched on the paper and this model is not limited to letter size pages. The coils are available in a variety of colors and sizes, including the red coil shown above!
These binding methods are only two of the many options for creating custom DIY journals to give as journal gifts. The possibilities are endless for using the spiral tool. Beyond journals, you (or your gift recipient) can create planner books, calendars, or even custom cookbooks. With the right tools the journal gifts will be professional quality and sure to bring joy for years to come.
Journal Gifts – “Ready to Deliver”
Bound Notebooks and Journals
Moleskine Notebooks are the classics for writing journals and making notes and are an excellent choice as a journal gift. When I'm on assignment as a travel writer, nothing is better than a compact notebook (240 lined pages!) to keep my writing in order. Moleskine notebooks are feature the elastic closure band and include inner storage pockets. The paper pages are thick enough to prevent blotches and are perfect for writing with a wide variety of pens and pencils.
Journal Writing Pens
COLNK Colored Gel Pens are packaged in a set of eight and have a fine 0.5mm writing tip. The muted tones are suitable for journal writing or for sketching. The pens feature an ergonomic silica grip to make writing so easy for over-worked hands. These pens are shipped from Amazon in a vintage color gift box.
For brighter colors, the PILOT FriXion Clicker Gel Ink Pens are ideal. These pens have a fine point for writing and sketching but the coolest feature is that the ink is erasable! As I journal, I usually leave the random thoughts for later reflection but it's nice to know that these pens give me an “undo” feature to clean up small mistakes. The ten color choices are bright and beautiful and the protective packaging keeps the set together even while traveling. These make an awesome gift with the bright vivid colors!
The Gift Basket
Consider a journal gift basket with a combination of a journal, some pens, and a gift subscription to Grammarly. Top it off with a thoughtful note of encouragement for the writer for a truly one-of-a-kind present.
Comfortable T-Shirts
Designed for the writing girls in your life, this “Just A Girl Who Loves Writing” t-shirt is casual and comfortable. It's a perfect gift to accompany a DIY journal gift basket and is available in many colors. I personally prefer the purple one!
Summary
Gwyn Goodrow
John Goodrow