October Doodles to Spice Up Your Bullet Journal

Picture this: you’re sitting at your favorite cozy spot with a warm cup of apple cider, your bullet journal open before you, and the crisp autumn air filling your lungs. October is here, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to transform your journal pages into a celebration of everything fall. Whether you’re a seasoned bullet journal enthusiast or just starting your creative journey, adding seasonal doodles can turn your planning routine into a delightful form of self-care that sparks joy every time you open your journal.

I’ve been bullet journaling for years, and October has always been my favorite month to get creative. There’s something magical about incorporating pumpkins, falling leaves, and cozy sweaters into my spreads. The best part? You don’t need to be an artist to create beautiful October doodles that will make your bullet journal absolutely stunning.

Key Takeaways

Why October Doodles Transform Your Bullet Journal Experience

Before we dive into the specific doodles, let’s talk about why adding these seasonal touches matters. Your bullet journal isn’t just a planning tool—it’s a reflection of your life, your creativity, and your journey through the year. When you incorporate October-themed doodles, you’re creating a visual time capsule that captures the essence of this beautiful season.

Doodling also serves as a wonderful mindfulness practice. Much like starting a thriving balcony garden, nurturing your creative side requires patience, practice, and presence. Each stroke of your pen becomes a moment of meditation, allowing you to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with yourself.

Essential October Doodle Elements

🎃 Pumpkin Varieties

Pumpkins are the quintessential October symbol, and they’re surprisingly easy to draw! Here are my favorite pumpkin doodles:

Classic Round Pumpkin:

Stacked Pumpkins:
These create adorable borders and decorative elements. Simply draw 2-3 pumpkins of varying sizes stacked vertically, each with its own unique expression or pattern.

Pumpkin Patterns:

🍂 Autumn Leaves Collection

Leaves are incredibly versatile and can fill empty spaces beautifully. Here’s how to draw different leaf types:

Maple Leaf:

Oak Leaf:

Simple Falling Leaves:
Draw various leaf shapes scattered across your page, some with motion lines to show them falling. This creates dynamic movement in your spreads.

🌰 Cozy Autumn Accents

Beyond pumpkins and leaves, these October doodles add warmth and personality:

Acorns:

Pinecones:

Mushrooms:

Hot Beverages:

Creating Themed October Spreads

Weekly Spread Ideas

Transform your weekly layouts with these October doodle combinations:

Harvest Theme:

Woodland Theme:

Cozy Vibes Theme:

Monthly Cover Page

Your October cover page sets the tone for the entire month. Here’s my go-to approach:

Mood Tracker Designs

Make tracking your emotions fun with October-themed mood trackers:

Pumpkin Patch Tracker:
Draw 31 small pumpkins (one for each day) and color each based on your daily mood. Create a color key showing what each shade represents.

Falling Leaves Tracker:
Illustrate a tree with bare branches. Each day, add a colored leaf falling from the tree, with different colors representing different moods.

Cozy Meter:
Draw a large mug or teacup and fill it gradually throughout the month, with different colors showing your overall emotional warmth each day.

October Color Palette Inspiration

The right colors bring your October doodles to life. Here are my favorite combinations:

| Palette Name | Colors | Best For |
|————–|——–|———-|
| Classic Autumn | Burnt orange, rust red, golden yellow, chocolate brown | Traditional fall spreads |
| Harvest Moon | Deep purple, navy blue, gold, cream | Evening/nighttime themes |
| Pumpkin Spice | Cinnamon brown, cream, coral, sage green | Cozy, warm layouts |
| Woodland | Forest green, tan, burgundy, mustard | Nature-inspired pages |
| Moody October | Black, gray, burnt orange, white | Modern, minimalist designs |

Step-by-Step: Creating an October Border

Borders frame your content beautifully. Here’s how to create a versatile autumn border:

Habit Tracker October Designs

Incorporating self-care essentials into your bullet journal becomes more engaging with themed trackers. Here are creative October habit tracker ideas:

Pumpkin Vine Tracker:
Draw a curling vine across your page with 31 leaves or pumpkins representing each day. Color in each element as you complete your habit.

Autumn Tree Tracker:
Sketch a bare tree and add one colored leaf for each day you complete your habit. By month’s end, you’ll have a full, colorful tree!

Harvest Basket:
Draw a large basket and add items (apples, gourds, corn) for each successful day. This visual representation of “harvesting” your good habits is incredibly satisfying.

Seasonal Quote Boxes and Banners

Enhance your spreads with inspiring autumn quotes framed by October doodles:

Banner Styles:

Quote Ideas for October:

“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“October is about trees revealing colors they’ve hidden all year.”

Doodle Practice Tips for Beginners

Starting your doodle journey can feel intimidating, but remember—every artist begins somewhere. Just as you might approach budget-friendly back to school shopping with a plan, approach doodling with patience and practice.

Daily Doodle Practice:

Essential Tools:

Advanced October Doodle Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, try these advanced techniques:

Layering and Depth

Create dimensional doodles by:

Texture and Patterns

Add visual interest through:

Incorporating Lettering

Combine doodles with beautiful lettering:

Monthly Themes and Collections

Create cohesive spreads with themed collections throughout October:

Week 1: Harvest Time

Focus on agricultural elements—wheat, corn, apples, and farm scenes. This connects beautifully with meal planning sections and gratitude logs.

Week 2: Halloween Prep

Introduce spooky-cute elements—friendly ghosts, black cats, bats, and spider webs. Keep it fun rather than scary for year-round appeal.

Week 3: Cozy Season

Emphasize comfort—sweaters, books, candles, warm drinks, and blankets. This theme pairs perfectly with your Sunday reset checklist spread.

Week 4: Nature’s Transition

Highlight the natural changes—bare trees, migrating birds, hibernating animals, and falling temperatures.

Creating October Doodle Stickers

If you’re short on time or confidence, create reusable doodle stickers:

This method is perfect for busy days when you want decorated pages without the time investment.

Combining Function and Beauty

Your bullet journal serves a practical purpose, so ensure your October doodles enhance rather than hinder functionality:

Decorative Headers:

Functional Art:

October Doodle Inspiration Sources

When you need fresh ideas, look to these sources:

📱 Social Media: Search #octoberdoodles, #fallbujo, or #autumnbulletjournal on Instagram and Pinterest

📚 Nature Walks: Take your journal outside and sketch what you see—real leaves, acorns, and seasonal changes provide authentic inspiration

🎨 Doodle Books: Invest in seasonal doodle guides for step-by-step instructions

🖼️ Vintage Illustrations: Public domain autumn artwork offers beautiful reference material

🍂 Seasonal Activities: Your own autumn experiences—apple picking, pumpkin patches, cozy evenings—become doodle inspiration

Troubleshooting Common Doodle Challenges

“My doodles look childish”:
This is actually part of the charm! Embrace the whimsical nature of hand-drawn art. If you want a more sophisticated look, focus on clean lines, limited color palettes, and symmetry.

“I don’t have time to doodle”:
Start small. Add just one tiny pumpkin or leaf to your daily log. Even minimal decoration creates seasonal ambiance. Consider this part of your self-care routine—a moment of creative peace in your day.

“My doodles don’t match”:
Create a reference page with your color palette and key shapes. Refer back to maintain consistency. Remember, slight variations add handmade character!

“I make mistakes”:
Use mistakes creatively! Turn a wonky pumpkin into a unique gourd. Add decorative elements to cover errors. Washi tape can hide major mishaps while adding design interest.

Building Your October Doodle Library

Create a personal reference section in your journal:

Doodle Index:

This library becomes invaluable for quick decorating and helps you track your artistic progress over time.

Seasonal Transitions: From September to November

Make your October doodles flow naturally by:

Late September: Begin introducing autumn colors while maintaining summer elements—green leaves starting to turn, early harvest items

Early October: Full autumn display with pumpkins, colorful leaves, and harvest themes

Late October: Add Halloween elements if desired, introduce bare branches

Early November: Transition to muted tones, add thanksgiving elements, include more browns and grays

This gradual shift creates a cohesive journal that tells the story of the changing season.

Mindful Doodling Practice

Transform your October doodle time into a meditative practice:

This mindful approach makes doodling part of your wellness routine, similar to following a summer self-care checklist but adapted for autumn.

Sharing Your October Spreads

Once you’ve created beautiful October doodles, consider sharing your work:

Remember, sharing isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection and inspiration within the creative community.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Creative October Journey

October doodles transform your bullet journal from a simple planning tool into a celebration of the season’s beauty. Whether you’re drawing elaborate autumn scenes or adding simple leaf accents, each mark you make personalizes your journal and creates a meaningful record of this special time of year.

Start small if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Add one pumpkin to today’s date. Draw a single leaf in the margin. Sketch a tiny acorn next to your to-do list. These small acts of creativity accumulate into something beautiful and uniquely yours.

Remember, your bullet journal journey is personal. There’s no competition, no judgment, and no wrong way to decorate your pages. The October doodles you create today will bring you joy when you look back months or years from now, reminding you of cozy autumn days and the creative moments you carved out for yourself.

Your Next Steps:

This October, give yourself permission to play, experiment, and create. Your bullet journal is waiting to be transformed into an autumn masterpiece, one doodle at a time. Happy journaling! 🎃🍂✨

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Meta Title: October Doodles to Spice Up Your Bullet Journal 2025

Meta Description: Discover 50+ easy October doodles for your bullet journal! From pumpkins to autumn leaves, learn simple techniques to create stunning fall spreads in 2025.

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Image Prompts

IMAGE_PROMPT_1: Cover image in 1536×1024 landscape format. Left side shows a flat lay photograph of an open bullet journal with autumn-themed doodles including pumpkins, leaves, and warm fall colors (orange, red, brown, yellow). Colored markers and pens are artfully arranged around the journal. Right side features bold, modern typography with the title “October Doodles to Spice Up Your Bullet Journal” where “October Doodles” is in large burnt orange letters and “Bullet Journal” is in navy blue. Small decorative autumn leaf illustrations accent the text. Soft cream background with subtle texture. All text is perfectly centered, readable, and nothing is cut off at edges.

IMAGE_PROMPT_2: Infographic in 1536×1024 landscape format showing “5 Easy October Doodles for Beginners” with step-by-step visual instructions. Five rows showing: 1) Simple pumpkin (circle, add lines, stem), 2) Maple leaf (star shape, add points, veins), 3) Acorn (oval, textured cap, stem), 4) Mushroom (semicircle cap, stem, spots), 5) Coffee mug (rectangle, handle, steam swirls). Each row has 3-4 progressive steps illustrated clearly. Warm autumn color palette of orange, brown, and cream. Title at top in bold, clear typography. All text labels are perfectly readable and nothing is cut off at any edge.

IMAGE_PROMPT_3: Square 1024×1024 image displaying an autumn color palette chart. Six paint swatches arranged in two rows showing: burnt orange, rust red, golden yellow, chocolate brown, sage green, and cream. Each swatch is labeled with the color name in clear, modern typography. Title at top reads “October Color Palette Guide” in elegant lettering. Small decorative autumn elements (tiny leaves, acorns) scattered around swatches. Clean white background with subtle texture. All elements are perfectly centered and fit within boundaries.

IMAGE_PROMPT_4: Landscape 1536×1024 infographic titled “October Habit Tracker Ideas” showing three creative tracker designs: 1) Pumpkin vine with 31 small pumpkins, 2) Bare tree with spaces for 31 colored leaves, 3) Harvest basket with 31 items to add. Each design is illustrated in detail with labels and brief instructions. Warm autumn colors throughout. Modern, clean typography for all text. All visual elements and text are well-aligned, perfectly readable, and nothing extends beyond image boundaries.

IMAGE_PROMPT_5: Square 1024×1024 illustration showing a beautifully decorated bullet journal weekly spread with October theme. Features hand-drawn pumpkins, falling leaves, acorns, and autumn florals as borders and decorations. Days of the week are clearly labeled. Warm color palette of oranges, reds, yellows, and browns. Cozy aesthetic with coffee mug doodle in corner. All elements are neatly arranged, text is perfectly legible, and design fits completely within the square format with no cropping.

IMAGE_PROMPT_6: Landscape 1536×1024 image showing “October Doodle Library” – a reference sheet with 20+ small, labeled autumn doodles arranged in a grid. Includes various pumpkins, leaves, acorns, mushrooms, sweaters, mugs, candles, books, and woodland creatures. Each doodle is simple, clear, and labeled underneath. Title “Your October Doodle Reference Guide” at top in bold, readable typography. Organized, clean layout with cream background. All doodles and labels are perfectly visible, well-spaced, and nothing is cut off at edges.