Every Gift I've Received this Year as a Part-Time Stationery Influencer
🎁 A haul and a transparent mid-year review of my side hustle.
On #gifting and #influencing
If you follow me on TikTok or Instagram, you’re likely familiar with my unboxing videos. Gifts are one of the perks of #influencing, and in my particular niche, shopping for stationery and art supplies is half the fun. A lot of my content is about shopping! I love sharing my personal taste in stationery1, and I love shops, especially small businesses. ❤️
Influencer gifts (as opposed to paid collaborations) do not offer payment, and are given in the hopes that the influencer will create non-contractually-obligated content in exchange. (EG: honest reviews, videos without creative restraints, etc.) Typically, an affiliate link or coupon code is offered to sweeten the deal, paying me a small percentage (usually between 1-6%) of the sales generated from that link or code. Because I have to declare the monetary value of the gifts on my taxes, and affiliate link conversion can be quite low, gifts can sometimes make me negative money2. This calls for some level of discernment with the gifts I choose to receive, HOWEVER, I am still getting free stuff that I like, that I might have purchased anyway, and I am very fortunate. Gifting can also be used to build relationships between brands and influencers, some gifts have even led to paid partnerships in the past! (It’s true, it happened to me last year.)
Do I make any money from my stationery side hustle?
No, not much! Followers do not equal = $$$. My paid partnership income for 2025 is: $03, and since I shut down my my Am*zon affiliate portal this year, my affiliate link income in 2025 amounts to: $2.16. (🎻🎻🎻) I mostly just get free stuff. Last year brought a couple of paid opportunities, but my only stream of actual income from my stationery endeavors in 2025 is from Substack4. (A huge thank you to my paying subscribers!!! I just made my first $500 on Substack!!!!! Your support means so much!!!) 🎉 I’m really proud of this, because it means that I’m making more money from creating something original, rather than peddling products for other brands.
I think of affiliate links as a [small] potential bonus for posting about products that I love anyway. My shopmy mostly serves as an open-book resource to answer the number one FAQ on all of my platforms, that question being: “where did you get that? Share the link.” But when someone comments or DMs me to tell me they visited a small stationery business on my recommendation, or that they bought a watercolor set from an indie brand because of a video I made, that’s a gift in itself!! Thankfully, I don’t depend on this source of income—I have a full-time job to support myself while I do this stationery/journaling thing in my free time, so I can be honest about sharing items and shops that I love.
My part-time influencer lifestyle allows me to have the freedom to say “no” to collaborations with brands that don’t share my values, to do pro-bono PR for brick and mortar stationery shops because I believe they are a part of the bedrock of a society worth living in, and to make videos and write essays for the love of the game. Sometimes running JournalingDan feels like a fulfilling, creative outlet, and other times, it just feels like work5. I am constantly walking the line between creating things for myself, and searching for paid opportunities because maybe I do deserve money in exchange for my time!6 I do often question whether or not it’s worth it to “monetize” this hobby, using the limited time outside of my 9-5 I could have spent creating or doing something for myself, rather than worrying about having enough natural light early in the morning to film something for my platforms, (and then stressing about drawing on camera with limited time, the stress showing in my work, and then the video being scrapped)7. Then I’m offered the exact watercolor set I’ve had my eye on for the past year, and my passion is reignited, and sometimes, it’s exactly what I need to keep going.
Before we get into the gifts….
This preamble is meant to be a reality check - NOT a bid for sympathy. In the influencer economy, transparency is rare, and I love learning about what’s going on behind the scenes, which is something I want to offer to my audience as well! From some of the comments8 I receive on social media, there seems to be an assumption that I’m making beauty-and-fashion-influencer-level money from this stationery thing, but that’s simply not the reality….however, the gifts really are fabulous.
I often find myself trying to strike the balance between creating videos and essays that inspire creativity, or encourage consumption. The norm on TikTok/Instagram is to *sneakily sprinkle* promotional/gifted content into your posts, lest viewers scroll past because they’ve detected an ad. I’ve recently received many items in a short period of time, and I don’t feel like creating separate posts and surreptitiously integrating affiliate links into each one, so this post is the opposite: a haul of everything I’ve received this year, a short review, and the straightforward link+ coupon code (if any).
Because of the tax thing, and because I live in New York City, I do not need, or have room for every item that’s offered to me. In an effort to minimize waste and reduce overconsumption, I consciously choose to only accept gifts from businesses I’m proud to support, and products that I genuinely enjoy using (or know I will). As such, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about any item in this post. Every gift I’ve received is wonderful because it’s been perfectly curated by and for me. (Again, I am very lucky I get free things for my hobbies!) Okay on to the fun part: 🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁HAUL!
Obligatory disclosure: every product featured below has been gifted to me!
Affiliate links will be expressly denoted.
The actual Haul!!! (by brand, in chronological order of receipt)
Moleskine
I’ve expressed my adoration of this PR package on Substack before, (see above), and was so happy when Moleskine reached out. Venerated as THE notebook, receiving free Moleskine products made me feel like I sort of made it in this stationery influencing thing. My very first Bullet Journal was a lined Moleskine, one whose weekly spreads I would post to my <100 Instagram followers in 2018.
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The packaging, decorated with sketches on all 6 sides from an NYC-based artist (@theartistzac), was a wonderful touch, but the highlight (for me) is Moleskine-shaped gift box, complete with the signature elastic band, ribbon bookmark, and embossed “Moleskine” logo on the back. This has of course, now been repurposed as a trinket-storage box I keep on my shelf. [Inside the box] I received a Moleskine classic, in the signature red, which I’ll likely be using after my current Moleskine is completed. Since I Bullet Journal, I had no real need for the pocket-sized weekly planner hidden underneath, (otherwise very handy, and a lovely touch) and gave it to my cousin.9
Items received (no affiliate links below):
🎁 Hardcover Moleskine Classic in red with blank pages and 70gsm paper
🎁 Pocket Size Moleskine 2025 Weekly Planner
Happy Rudy
This collaboration is with my IRL friend and founder - Kristin! We met in grad school, and like me, she has a side hustle: her nail polish business Happy Rudy. As someone who doesn’t show their face but ALWAYS their hands on their social media, a nail polish collab is only natural. +I love supporting my friend with her small business!
About Happy Rudy: This indie nail polish brand is 10-free (aka free of harmful chemicals), cruelty free, and the color collections are designed to complement the beautiful range of black and brown skin tones. The nail polish formula is made and sustainably packaged10 in Canada.
This isn’t my first collaboration with my friend, and it certainly won’t be my last. Her first collection, named for and inspired by Studio 54, remains my favorite, with colors like “Groovy Baby” (a silky, metallic orange) and “Donna” (a sparkly, translucent, purple) in my constant rotation. ++This collection goes perfectly with my living room, and I had so much fun promoting it last summer.
The most recent collection, Self Care Spring, features a jelly (translucent) version and crème (opaque) version of each shade, should you desire a sheer finish or a bold effect. “Manifest That,” an opaque, cornflower blue, might be my favorite for this rotation, but I also love the natural, sheer-nude jelly of “No Calls, just Quartz” (aka the blossom pink)!
Items received:
(Use my code: JournalingDan15 , for 15% off! An exclusive discount for friends of friends! 💕):
🎁The Entire Self Care Spring Collection
Syme’s Letter Writer
I’d been following the Syme’s Letter Writer book promo, and after reading part of it in a bookshop, decided to DM the publisher for a copy, and it worked! (This has never worked for me and so it was very exciting.) Somewhere between a Klutz-craft-book and an etiquette guide, Syme’s Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence by Rachel Syme, includes guides on how to scent letters, press flowers, use wax seals, buy your first fountain pen, and more.
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Prompts to write letters for specific situations, EG: how to write a letter to your mother, how to write from abroad, how to mail a recipe, and other helpful advice on mastering the art of letter writing are sprinkled throughout. Touches like the pop-out letter from the author, and the visually pleasing flat-lays of analogue materials make this book a joy to flip through. By a stationery lover, for stationery lovers, it sits perfectly on my coffee table.
Items received (affiliate links below, and above):
🎁Syme’s Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence
topdrawer
When my mom exposes my side-hustle to family/friends, (I’m shy11), they always ask if I’ve been to topdrawer….to which I answer, yes of course! The Japanese shop is owned by Itoya, (yes the huge stationery store in Tokyo12! Topdrawer is the American subsidiary), and has been staking its claim in shopping districts around the country, with locations in San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Boston, DC, and 3 in NYC alone.
WELL, I’m pleased to announce I’m now a part of the topdrawer affiliate program, with my own special code (JOURNALINGDANI20OFF) , and my own special haul of beautiful products. A purveyor of mostly Japanese gifts and goods, such as house shoes, travel pouches, and yes, stationery, topdrawer offers an excellent curation of art supplies, many products of which I already know and love!
Items received (not affiliate links, but using the code JOURNALINGDANI20OFF gets you a discount, and earns me a small commission):
🎁Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor set of 48
🎁Lamali x Topdrawer Medium Cotton Notebook
🎁Tintoretto Watercolor Travel Brush
🎁Kolo Newport 11x14 Scrapbook (in color: Ocean)
🎁Kolo Professional Watercolor Book
These gifts were truly a pleasure to receive, I was able to choose exactly what I wanted. I’d been dying to try Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese watercolors, but had no real reason to buy more paints, so this was the perfect opportunity to go big with the set of 48 colors, which come in a beautiful, pistachio colored box. These paints are creamier, and more opaque than the watercolors I’m used to and because of these properties, many have described them as a gouache-watercolor blend, characteristics of Gansai (or Japanese style watercolor). I have no completed works to share, but I’ve swatched the paints in the designated spot inside the lid, and am so excited to continue experimenting. The individual pans are open stock at Blick (and at other retailers), and I like that if one color runs out faster than others, I can easily replace it.
The 12-color sets of Topdrawer Gansai watercolors are not exempt from pretty packaging, each set’s color palette is complemented by a matching washi paper box. It’s unclear if these smaller paint sets are from Kuretake, as the topdrawer logo brands these boxes instead. Nonetheless, they’re similarly described as opaque and gouache-like, traits of Japanese watercolor. The sets are similar to the ones sold by Choosing Keeping in London.
In other European brands available at topdrawer: you may remember from previous videos, and my haul from my trip to Paris, I love Lamali paper. The French brand distributes notebooks with paper handmade in India. The 100% cotton books are rustic with textured pages and rough edges, great for watercolor and ink! I currently use the mini size, which is nearly full, and I’m now so excited to use this medium size from topdrawer, maybe in conjunction with my new paints! Italian brand, Tintoretto, is also available in store. I’ve recently realized I only have small watercolor brushes in sizes 0 and 4, so this Tintoretto brush, size 2 was perfect for closing the gap. Also in stock: one of my all time favorite art tools, Caran d’Ache watercolor pencil sets from Switzerland.
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Kolo, a brand known for beautiful albums and journals, was acquired by topdrawer in 2016, its brick and mortar shops now offering the full range of Kolo products. I’ve been in search of an album in which to create a proper scrapbook for a trip to Greece, and I chose this one as the vehicle for my project. I’m very excited. Additionally, I am always in need of watercolor paper, and decided to try out Kolo’s spiral-bound watercolor book, filled with cold-press, 300gsm, 100% cotton paper. Good stuff. You can shop all of my topdrawer favorites here + with the code JournalingDani20off !!
Atelier Choux
I’m kind of a big deal in France. No it’s true! Ever since I posted my Stationery Shopping Guide to Paris, my Francophone audience has grown exponentially. Atelier Choux, a Parisian, family-focused13, lifestyle brand with 2 boutiques in Paris (which I cannot wait to visit this summer), offered to send me some of their new stationery items. After browsing their site, filled with charming and whimsical products with illustrations by Mattias Adolfsson, I happily accepted.
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While I was intrigued by the pop up cards, my favorite aspect of both of these sets are the envelopes, which are incredibly detailed. The outside of each envelope is features ornate illustrations, lift the envelope flap, and the you’ll find the inside is decorated as well, lined with a matching hot air balloon motif. The fanciful illustrations are just so precious, I cannot wait to send these sets to my pen pals. They’re almost too good to mail away!
Items received (no affiliate/commission links):
🎁Renaissance Balloons Stationery Set (Pack of 10)
🎁Stationery Set – Hot Air Balloons – Set of 5
And other items - re: books, art supplies, nail polish, etc.
Various reasons: Smart shoppers might find the same product for a lower price at a different retailer and purchase there (I do not blame them!) Some may search for and purchase a “dupe,” sending users to a separate website is difficult, etc. I don’t have much luck with affiliate links, but ultimately it’s nbd. If I ran JournalingDan with the sole agenda of peddling affiliate links, I wouldn’t be sharing the stuff I truly love, and the content would not be very good.
Currently looking for a manager (or assistant?) because I barely have time to actually make stuff, let alone seek out partnerships without being reached out to directly. LMK if you know of anyone!!!
This is so huge bc I’m getting paid for writing from my brain and not for peddling products.
part-time influencer aka part-time job
Alternately, I am in the beginning stages of POSSIBLY delving into e-commerce, AKA creating original items and selling them for money, which could be very fulfilling if I can make it work. We’ll see.
Hey I think I’m burning out!!!!
Comes with the territory, but some people are very weird in the comments section.
Hola Alex (he subscribes). +My early IG followers know I often give away my stationery overload. (I’ll be doing this again soon!)
No plastic!! All recyclable!!
Which is also part of the reason I’m anon on JournalingDan socials.
Each paid subscription to JournalingDan goes toward the JournalingDan in Japan fund.
Meaning - many products are geared toward families with young children, nursery decor.
this was fantastic. thank you!
Love how candid you are about your realities of influencing! I’m so appreciative that you share your creativity with us all. It brightens my days and inspires me, plus I’ve learned a lot from your writing here!