I remember onion skin paper from when I was younger! Almost like vellum but still different. I think my dad used to sketch in one

That would make for a special gift to someone who is into unique paper and inks

when I was in primary school (in the 80's) my mom taught to me use this paper for drawing maps with china ink and coloring with color pencils shading with a swab with a bit of oil

What a pretty journal, it's a bit pricey but for something super special it's great. I remember writing letters to my cousins in the US on paper like this to keep postage down when I was a kid. we used to write one side horizontally then spin the paper 90degrees to write on the reverse! :)

This would be a cool book for writing letters to myself. 🥰

I’ve used onion skin journals for years. The company is great and the quality is top notch. I use them for journaling and travel journaling. I use my fountain pens but also like doing water colour designs in them with zig kuretake’s metallic watercolours. This journal takes me back to a lovely time of evenings in my Dad’s library, surrounded by old leather books, a good fire in the hearth, old cracked leather chairs and being given some onlonskin and one of Dad’s older fountain pens to play with. This was used as copy paper in older typewriters - Dad had a Royal. It’s tough paper and can take a lot if you enjoy the magic of its transparency. A blotter is your friend. Your journaling will start to look like manuscripts in this journal/notebook. The feel of the paper gets me every time. Truly one of the treasures in the notebook, pen and ink universe. Draw a map on it…you’ll be taken back to treasure map days. Seriously magical paper.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these journals. I have two of the hardcover journals and several of the softcover cahiers in various sizes. My preferred nib size is extra fine or fine depending on the pen, so I haven't had any issues with drying times while using fountain pens. However, I do use a blotter just in case. One of my two journals I'm using as a writing journal. Occasionally, I will put in a washi sticker or two, but it's mostly just used for writing. And for the most part, I only write on one side of the page. However, there are times when I write on both sides. If you are strategic about doing so, it can be quite beautiful and interesting when going back and flipping through the pages. The second of the two journals I am using as a mixed-media art journal. I do a lot of collage with paper, stickers, washi tape, etc., but I also use colored pencils, acrylic, gouache, and watercolor paint, various inks (India, acrylic, calligraphy - NOT alcohol ink. It bleeds straight through as does alcohol markers), crayons, various acrylic mediums, markers, and I use my Distress Oxide pads for stamping. Of course, mixed media work will take a considerable amount of time to dry, but I'm usually prepared to let the journal sit open to dry the same as I would a painting on canvas or another substrate. I also protect the pages underneath with sheets of acrylic paper. The nice thing about acrylic and gouache paint is that they're opaque so you can make better use of working on both sides of the paper; however, it does take some practice and creativity to make it work. 😅 Thanks for the review! I always love your videos and I look forward to hearing more about your experience with this journal in particular as you have more opportunities to work with it.

I loveeeee thin paper and all the things that come with it, like the sounds and the ghosting, so this seems really interesting to me aaahhhh

Interesting book! Great review! Blotting paper would definitely solve the drying time issue for fountain use. Write on the paper and lay the blotting paper on the page. Works super fast.

I've never tried one, but if I do, I think I'd keep it for longform journaling/memory keeping. With all those pages, it seems ideal for writing lengthy detailed entries.

I have seen some amazing junk journaling on this paper. The layering of scraps, ink paints and writing, is part of the charm on the thin paper. Crinkly. It isn't for me, but it's so beautiful when done right. Kia Creates just posted a few days ago in this journal. So pretty.

My first thought was that you need to invest in an old school ink blotter rocker for that journal. That would remove the excess ink. Of course, some books used to have a slip of thin paper between pages to also protect pages from each other.

You can dry with a heating tool. Experiment with different types of stamping inks, e.g., Catherine Pooler or Gina K inks

It is a beautiful notebook and so interesting and different. I remember “onion skin” for Air Mail to friends in France as well as “onion skin” typewriter paper (you could erase mistakes with an eraser instead of using White-Out.) This seems like something I would use as a journal of just writing out my thoughts, perhaps toward the end of the evening in a relaxing ‘old world’ sort of way. Something I would write on just the front side of the page, and being slow with my handwriting, choosing a favorite special pen that works well with the paper, and have it be a meditative and calming exercise of decluttering the brain while creating something to keep for a lifetime and perhaps pass down. I absolutely love this journal! Thanks for showing it.

Not a journal for me, BUT I do love the paper for packaging my products haha

Beautiful journal! I haven't used onion skin paper since I was a kid. I'm not sure how practical this journal would be for every day use. But I do think it would be amazing for hand drawn animations! In order for animations to look smooth, you need a minimum of I think, 36 fps. That's a lot of drawings! The onion skin paper would be perfect to make each drawing look perfect, every time. I dabbled a bit in animation for a failed TV pitch last year. Thanks for the video!

I ordered onion skin inserts from Paper Penguin Co! It’s so fun, but it does take a while to dry. Not very lefty friendly.

Great video! Really informative.

Mark I feel like this would be so hard to use lol. Thanks for the review. I will probably get one to have it lol. I a bit of a notebook hoarder.

What an interesting journal! The sound is SO good and the inks look so nice. what a shame about the stamps though! 👌🏽

That looks so cool ! This would make for a perfect gift for a unique stationery connoisseur. Loved how you reviewed all the pens, inks & stamps & loved seeing the final verdict. New Sub here, I'm so glad I discovered you.

Interesting for sure

I've seen this notebook before on KZfaq somewhere, and it was used beautifully! I could never though. lol

An interesting and thorough exploration of this unique notebook. Thanks Mark 🙂 The pages are so thin -- How could a person write on both sides of each page though? 🤔

Ah, from Instagram to KZfaq... this journal is following me everywhere! For stamping, do you have any of the VersaMagic ink pads to try? I've found the best luck with them especially with the thinner papers (Tomoe River type) in terms of drying and setting. I've used it on vellum and it stayed (after drying for a while, but it dried eventually). If you are at your desk and want to be a little extra, perhaps you can use clear embossing powder so you don't have to wait too long? Or maybe put a piece of paper between the pages while the ink hopefully eventually dry? This is such an interesting journal. Not quite ready for it right now, but maybe I'll get a smaller notebook with this paper in it to try one of these days. I'm slowly realizing I have trouble testing things out in larger journals. Smaller journals let me play, has less of a feeling of commitment, and generally has a lower price point. Have I mentioned how much fun paper sample kits can be? :P

Not for me- too thin and transparent, plus the slick finish- but I’m almost 100% fountain pen.

I can't find this online anywhere from where I'm at, but I guess an alternative would be to get some loose sketching/tracing sheets and make that into a DIY notebook. Or punch holes in it and use it in a ring system 🤔

I have a feeling that this paper is similar to the translucent sticky notes that people use for book annotation. So actually I think sharpie would work the best in these journals. In my experience, water-based inks and markers and gel pens rub off/don't dry on this kind of paper. Ballpoint pens and sharpies work pretty well

That paper seems like it would be best with pencil.