Have you ever wondered how to create fun daily spreads with doodles? With just a few simple steps, you can design eye-catching spreads that are both creative and enjoyable! Hi, Friends! I’m Ian DJ from the Archer & Olive Ambassador team and RavenFox13 on Instagram. Today, I’m excited to share how you can create simple yet charming doodles for your journal spreads using just your pens! I’ll walk you through my thought process as I design doodled spreads in my Archer & Olive notebooks. This beginner-friendly journey is all about adding a touch of fun to your spreads. So grab your pens, and let’s get creative with these playful doodles!

The materials that we will be using today are

• Archer & Olive Notebook

• Archer & Olive Calliographs 

• Pencil and eraser

• Fine liners

Remember you can use my code RavenFox13 and get 10% off your orders at Archer and Olive!

I've created a printable for you to practice the doodle tips featured in this blog! You can use it as a guide or cut out the shapes to create stencils for your journal. Grab your Calliographs to add colors and textures to these simple doodles, or keep it classic in black and white.

1. Let’s kick off our doodle journey by practicing some fun and functional widgets! These simple elements can help highlight the date, set the mood, or add a personal touch to your pages. Start with basic geometric shapes or colorful blobs as a base. Then, add details like the month, date, weather, or a memorable moment from your day. Creating these mini spreads at the end of the day can be a fun way to unwind while also preserving your memories. You can go for a sleek monochromatic look, embrace a full-color design, or use a limited color palette for a cohesive visual effect.

If you're looking for a starting point, you can practice creating widgets using the printable I've provided in this blog!

2. Another way to make your day even more interesting is by noticing patterns in your surroundings. Patterns can appear in the most unexpected places—on pavements, textiles, wrappers, walls, trees, plants, the sky, your pet’s fur, a table, or even a small object that catches your eye while walking.

For example, I doodled a playful pattern from an ID lanyard and a charming floral design from a wet tissue package. Observing and recreating these patterns connects us to our surroundings through tactile or visual memory. You can also take quick snapshots throughout the day to use as references for your doodles later!

3. One fun daily doodling activity is capturing the food you ate! To make the process easier, I’ve created simple stencils and patterns to help you design layouts effortlessly. Use the glass and cup shapes to illustrate your beverages, and the bowl and plate stencils to 'plate' your food doodles creatively.

Remember, your drawings don’t have to be realistic—simple, stylized versions work just as well! You can also add notes, like the food’s name, ingredients, or a quick review. Whether you keep it monochrome or add pops of color, it’s entirely up to you. Highlighting your doodles with colorful shapes can also add a fun touch to your spread!

4. You can use my postcard or polaroid templates to capture a scene or memory from your day. Try doodling a place you visited, a street sign that caught your eye, or any moment you want to remember—all within the frame.

Feel free to experiment with different shapes and templates as creative frames for your doodles. You can even sketch things from a dream and write about them in your journal. Let your imagination guide you!

5. Make your doodle spread even more exciting by adding notes and lists around it! You can jot down your daily highs and challenges, a new recipe you discovered in a magazine, or even interesting quotes and trivia you learned that day.

Personally, I love doing quick research on everyday things and writing down fun facts. It’s a great way to make your pages more meaningful and engaging!

If you're curious about how I created some sample spreads featured in this blog, feel free to watch the full video below

If you’re starting a new notebook or journal, be sure to check out my other blog filled with helpful tips and inspiration—I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it!

I hope these easy doodle ideas have sparked your creativity! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned journaler, experimenting with these doodles in your new Archer & Olive notebooks can add a fun and personal touch to your pages. Don’t be afraid to play with different styles, colors, and layouts to make them your own.

I’d love to see how you bring these ideas to life in your journal spreads! Feel free to share your creations and inspire others with your unique take on these doodle techniques.

For even more inspiration, follow me on social media—just search for RavenFox13 on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If you create a page or two using the ideas I've shared here, don’t forget to tag me and @archerandolive, add these hashtags #AOShare and #archerandolive so the community can easily find your posts.

So let’s grab more notebooks to fill and share this blog with your friends. Remember you can use my code RavenFox13 for 10% off your orders at Archer and Olive!

Stay Inspired, and doodle those worries away!