Tools: What Do You Need to Start Doodling?

It’s simple really… a pen and paper. But… 

I tend to try a new hobby and go 0-100, real quick. 

So you don’t necessarily need all of things things, but they can help enhance your new doodling hobby! But honestly, a pencil and scrap paper, or old mail and a free giveaway pen you have tucked in your junk drawer, they will all work great

This is my doodling starter pack! A journal, pens, pencils, white gel pens, and alcohol ink markers. 


Tools

  • Art notebook – I recommend getting a notebook that is spiral bound so the page can lay flat while you doodle. It is also important to get an art book with thick pages if you are using markers, you don’t want the ink the bleed through all the pages. I went with the Ohuhu brand since it was available in my region, but there are loads of different brands that would work great! 
  • Pens – my absolute favorite pens are the Micron fineliners. It’s great that they come in different sizes; you can make bold lines or tiny details. The ink lasts forever and doesn’t bleed on the page. 
  • Alcohol markers – I prefer the alcohol based markers as they blend nicely. I went with the Ohuhu brand for these as they were top-rated. There is an overwhelming amount of color pack options available. I tried to get a pack that had a bit of everything. 
  • Pencils – These are great if you are wanting to ass shadows or some texture to your drawings. Also nice if you are making a detailed doodle to someone sketch it out first! *Not pictured above, but also included in my kit, a pencil blending tool. This is really great for adding the shadows and blendnig together the pencil line. A bit of a rub with your finger would also do the trick! 
  • White gel pens – this is something I saw on one of my inspo pages that I follow on instagram – adding a bit of white detail on top of your doodles where you use markers. I haven’t tried this tool out yet, but soon! 

There you have it. All my favorite tools! Your creative process may look different than mine, and that’s okay! Here are some other ideas for tools you could try:

  • Crayons
  • Colored Pencils
  • Notecards 
  • Watercolors
  • Sticky notes
  • Digital drawing tools

Wrap Up

Setting yourself up to create is part of the magic. When your tools are ready and inviting, you’ll find yourself reaching for them more often. So grab your favorite pen, flip open that fresh sketchbook, and let your creativity wander across the page. Doodling isn’t about perfection! .

What’s in your favorite doodle tool? Drop your recommendations in the comments—I’d love to know what sparks your creativity!


More Creativity and Doodling Inspiration

Creativity is a Muscle

You Don’t have to be an Artist to be Creative

Where Did My Creativity Go?

Karen Hendren

Hi, I’m Karen—an educator, lifelong learner, and creativity-seeker. For over 10 years, I’ve worked with children as a teacher and school leader, constantly inspired by the wild and wonderful ways young minds think. I’ve always been fascinated by how creative kids are, and just as curious about why so many adults lose touch with that creativity over time. Lately, I’ve been exploring doodling as a simple, joyful way to reconnect with my own creative brain. It’s part hobby, part self-discovery, and part science experiment as I learn more about how our brains work, grow, and imagine. Through this journey, I'm hoping to reignite my own creative spark, understand more about how the brain works, and inspire others to play, wonder, and rediscover the creative magic we all had as kids.

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