A few weeks ago, I placed an order with Hobonichi when they revealed their 2027 planner (Techo) lineup. But of course, being the stationery addict that I am, I couldn’t JUST buy planners, now, could I? 😂
So I got something Hobonichi calls a Drawer Pouch, because it’s like having a little drawer with you on the go!
I bought the small size (they also have a smaller version called the Drawer Pouch Pocket and bigger sizes too). Mine features a cute traditional ink-line illustration of a polar bear and her two cubs by artist Izumi Shiokawa. 🐻❄️
I honestly had no plan for this pouch, other than to admire it and add it to my growing collection of pouches and pencil cases. But then, as I was recently packing for a little trip, I decided to turn my Drawer Pouch into an on-the-go journaling kit! 💌
📓 What’s A Journaling Kit?
Put simply, a journaling kit is meant to contain everything you need to write, track goals, and decorate your pages.
- Writing tools: pens, pencils, or whatever you prefer to write with.
- Decorative supplies: washi tape, stickers, ephemera, and other pretty things.
- Everyday tools: glue or a tape runner, a ruler, scissors, and so on.
- Extras: sticky notes, notepaper, stencils, and other useful add-ons.
These are the kinds of items I put in my Drawer Pouch. My goal was to create something small enough to grab when leaving the house, but with enough supplies to make journaling on-the-go feel fun rather than stripped down. ✨
👜 The Contents Of My Drawer Pouch
Here are the items I decided to bring along on my trip! Click on the titles for a closer look at what I chose and why.
✍️ Writing Tools
- A mechanical pencil: Perfect for drawing or making lines that I can easily erase, without having to carry a bulky pencil sharpener.
- A Noteful gel pen: I love gel pens, but this one is particularly great for traveling and journaling because it’s erasable! That means I can fix all those little oopsies that inevitably happen when writing on the road.
- My Hobonichi 3-Color Ballpoint Pen: This came free with my order, and I love it because I can carry three different ink color pens in a single one!
- Three Mildliner Dot Pens: One end has a dot tip, which is great for creating lists, while the other has a brush tip for highlighting passages in my text. Both tips can also be used to create colorful designs. And since each pen has two tips, it’s like bringing SIX pens in just three! 😍
🧰 Everyday Supplies
- A mechanical eraser: Always handy for erasing pencil marks, but also for cleaning up when I get a little too enthusiastic with the glue. 😂
- A metallic ruler: I find this much flatter than an acrylic ruler, and it also cuts washi tape more cleanly. This one is from TheCoffeeMonsterzCo. (TCMC)
- A glue stick: I don’t think I need to explain this one! I simply picked the smallest, easiest-to-carry option I had at home. I do prefer a double-sided tape dispenser, but I was out of tape at the time.
- A clip: Perfect for holding my journal pages down while I work. This acrylic clip is from TCMC. (The other side shows the Emoti’s face, but the cheeky side always makes me laugh, so I decided to photograph that side. 🤭)
- Pen scissors: These are a lifesaver when it comes to saving space. I love them!
🎨 Washi Tape and Paper Bits
- Washi tapes: Aside from stickers, washi tape is probably the biggest part of my stationery collection. I love how it instantly gives a page a particular vibe!
For this trip, I chose a few TCMC tapes and arranged them on two washi tape cards, also from TCMC. (Not pictured: the THIRD washi tape card I prepared afterwards because I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough options. 😂) - Paper bits: As a junk journaler, paper bits are a must! I have tons of sticky notes and notepads from TCMC, but I decided to bring only the ones whose colors fit the autumn mood I’m in right now. They also pair beautifully with the washi tape strips I selected. 🍂
Note: As you can see, I’ve decided to coordinate my journal’s style around TCMC stationery for now. That might change in the future, but I love having supplies that work together so harmoniously!
🦄 The Extras
Sometimes, you just need to bring along a little something because it makes you smile, even if you have no real idea how you’re going to use it.
For example, the journal I brought on my trip didn’t have thick pages or watercolor paper. And yet, I was so happy to have my little watercolor kit with me. And guess what? I actually used it! 🎨
The tiny watercolor palette is from OnceMoreWithLove. It was a limited-edition item that sold out quickly, so it’s no longer available. But given how popular it was, perhaps Margaret from OMWL will decide to bring it back in another shape or form someday!
(And in case you’re wondering, the brush handle is filled with water, so I can paint wherever I want. How cool is that?)
💔The Hard Part (aka Choosing What to Bring)
If you’re anything like me, you’ll OF COURSE pick too many items to fit into your Drawer Pouch. And honestly, that’s a good thing! It means you love your supplies. 😂
But how do you narrow things down?
A good rule of thumb is the classic “Have I used this lately?” trick.
Whenever I pack stationery for a vacation, I’m afraid I’ll leave behind that ONE item I’ll desperately want to use. I wish I could just bring everything but I’d need a whole suitcase just for stationery, and not one of those little carry-ons you can bring into the airplane cabin! ✈️
The trouble with having such an extensive collection is that I sometimes forget what’s even in it. (Yes, I’ve bought duplicates of things over the years. LOL.) If I can’t remember everything I own while sitting at home with my collection, I certainly won’t remember it when I’m miles away!
So instead of worrying I’m not gonna bring enough, I focus on the supplies I use regularly, like all those TCMC washi tapes, or the things I’m 100% certain I’ll need.
For instance, if I’m going on vacation to the beach, it makes perfect sense to bring that beach-themed washi tape, right? 🏖️
But where are your stickers, Miss Stickers?
Yes, I admit this was a tricky one!
Although I’d decided to stick to TCMC stationery for this trip, I couldn’t very well bring my entire TCMC sticker collection with me. We’re talking FOUR full binders here. 😂
But I found a great workaround for that…
…reusable sticker albums! 🎉
Granted, it took some time to transfer all the stickers onto the pages. (And I had a few moments of serious anxiety wondering whether I should bring one copy or two of each sticker. 😂) But I worked on it while watching TV and actually had a lot of fun!
In the end, I wound up with a wonderfully portable sticker collection. Yay! 🎉
Plus, the TCMC reusable sticker albums have separators, which makes the neat freak in me SO happy. And those separators have little pockets, so I could even bring entire sticker sheets for the designs I knew I’d use a lot.
Double yay! 🎉🎉
💭 Final Thought
I got back from vacation two days ago, and let me tell you, I was SO GRATEFUL for my Drawer Pouch and portable sticker collection!
Although I ended up doing much less journaling than I’d planned, it was wonderful to have my supplies with me whenever I felt like taking a little moment for myself and writing things down.
So, what’s my verdict?
I’m NEVER going on vacation without my on-the-go journaling kit again! 🥰📓
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