Blue Agate Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook

This is my third dot journal from Peter Pauper Press, and I have to say it’s absolutely stunning in person. The stock photos really don’t do it justice, and certainly can’t capture the gold foil detailing. The elastic is nice and tight, and while it arrived with the elastic closer around the journal, it didn’t leave any indentation or marking. The ribbon bookmarks is a beautiful baby blue, and it matches perfectly with the cover! There is a little inconsistency with the lining up of the dots when the journal lays open, but it isn’t every page, and the pages that aren’t lined up perfectly are only off slightly, so it shouldn’t be too bad when doing a two-page spread.The pages are a nice, clean, white, but not a brilliant white where it’s too bright, and the dots are the perfect shade of grey where they blend in with doodles or lines and don’t peek through inks like others journals from different brands do. In terms of bleed through, it doesn’t happen unless you do layers and layers of markers (tested it), and ghosting is minimal. Watercolor isn’t the best for this journal, as the paper crinkles, but if you weigh the journal down so the paper is forced to stay flat, there shouldn’t be too much of an issue.Overall, it’s a gorgeous journal. The GSM is better than leuchttrum1917, and has more pages, an index not being one of them (which I prefer since I don’t use indexes in bullet journaling). There might not be a pen loop, but I don’t count that as a loss! I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to save a few dollars but doesn’t have to sacrifice quality, anyone who wants a unique looking bullet journal, anyone that wants a few more pages, or anyone that doesn’t need an index and wishes to purchase a journal that doesn’t have one.

I got this so I could get an early organizational start on my 2019 Bullet Journal. I think it was a great choice, the covers are as lovely in person, maybe better, than pictured online. The dot matrix paper on the inside is good quality, even, and has good dot spacing. I have not had any issues with ink seeping through or being visible on the reverse side of the paper. The paper holds up well to multiple pencil writing and erasing trials in the same space without ripping or peeling up. Great for the price! The one thing I wish it has was a pocket on the inside rear cover for stickers/note papers/ etc. like my journal from 2018 did - but it certainly wasn't a dealbreaker as it is secure enough with the elastic band to hold loose papers inside if they are closed between the back cover and the last page. The only other thing I would change is the sticker on the back cover for the price/branding/barcode - it peeled of well (thank you for that kind of sticker!) but was sticky enough that it felt like it loosened up some of the decorative cover paper when I peeled off the sticker. I was able to press it back down into place, and there is no visible sticker residue, but I think that section of the rear cover might be more delicate now than the rest of the cover.

The cover design is beautiful and the paper is thick enough that I can't see my writing through it on the other side. Good quality for the money.

Love Peter Pauper Press and this is my second dot grid journal from them. So affordable and the paper quality is nice. Great for colored pencils, pen, markers and highlighters. I have used watercolor in it for a light wash. Paper does crinkle but I don't mind the look. It's a great beginner journal and I would highly recommend them! I included samples of all different media for reference. Just a note: Tombow markers, sharpie's and watercolor will bleed through paper. Goauche didn't. This isn't a deal breaker for me but just a heads-up.

When I get cheaper notebooks/journals, I usually don't have very high expectations. The fact that this came with an elastic closure and a bookmark ribbon and I could get it in dot grid format on top of being very pretty is a plus.The wild card with all notebooks for me these days, however, is whether or not they are fountain pen (or any very wet ink pen) friendly. This one doesn't have a lot of feathering or ghosting, but there IS bleed-through from wetter inks and wider nibs. EF nibs with less wet inks work fine, but that's a narrow enough set that I can't call it fountain pen friendly.

This journal is gorgeous. The colors are muted enough in person to see the silver in the pattern, which I couldn't see in the photos. Its the prettiest journal I've had in the decades of journals I've bought.I'm a lifelong journaler and the only options I'm used to is lined or unlined paper but ive been so happy with this dot matrix which is pale enough to be overlooked when drawing but visible enough to use for traditional writing also, I've done both.The pages are fairly thin, my fine tip markers and felt tip pens bleed through a little but regular pens are fine.Overall its a great book. I highly recommend.

I love the journal cover. The colors are lovely and look like the inside of a geode. The paper is nice and thick, and has less bleed-through of pens than some of my previous journals. Great quality for the price. I'd buy again.

This journal is just as beautiful as the pictures show! It has a lovely pocket in the back if you want to save sticky notes or small documents, and the paper has a nice texture. The metallic lines actually do shimmer in really delicate shades of gold/silver. I get tons of compliments and it’s a joy to write in. I take it with me everywhere I go and it has been a wonderful way for me to schedule, meal plan, and record my thoughts in a way that is free flowing and creative. I highly recommend this journal to any creative spirit, this journal will not disappoint you!

Feels sturdy/good quality. I didn't realize there was a little bit of gold in the cover design (made me happy). Using it for bullet journaling and love it. It is a notebook, so not sure how you could go wrong with it.

Esta libreta es de muy buena calidad, de hojas punteadas; eh de decir que a pesar de que en las fotos las hojas tengan un tono blanco en realidad son un poco más crema, pero si eso no te afecta es ideal para ti, la textura es suave y los plumones fluyen increíble. El traspaso de tinta es muy poco, si bien no dice de que gramaje las hojas se sienten resistentes.En cuanto a la portada tiene un diseño super bonito con detalles dotados, es gruesa, con un elastico para cerrar la libreta y un listón como separador de hojas.En general las hojas si abren 180 pero puede costar un poco más en medio, sin embargo con un clip ya está lista.

The design was nice, but a bit smaller than I expected.

Se escribe suavemente en el papel, la uso con plumas micron. Buscaba algo grueso q no traspasara tinta. Me gusta como fluye la escritura. Muy bonita. Buena relación calidad-precio. Maa de 100 hojas.

Love it! I’m having so much fun with it!