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Here’s a tip nobody tells you: the messiest doodles usually get the most compliments. A wobbly line looks way more charming than a stiff, perfect one, lol!
This list started as a scroll through hundreds of doodle pins one lazy afternoon. Most got skipped for being too fussy or needing supplies nobody actually owns.
What made the cut are doodle ideas simple enough to draw with a regular pen. No fancy markers required, though they never hurt!
Some of these work great in the margins of a notebook. Others turn a boring sticky note into something worth keeping, who doesn’t love that?
Scroll through and grab whatever catches your eye first. There’s no wrong order here, so just start doodling!
DOODLE IDEAS
Doodle Ideas For Bored Journals
We’re starting off strong with these for bored journals. This is the page I fill when my brain just needs somewhere to wander.
I grab any pen and start with a random squiggle in the corner. Zero planning gets you the best results every time!
Sometimes it turns into a monster, sometimes just a blob. That’s the fun part.
- Zero planning required
- Fills a bored page in ten minutes
- Works with any pen you grab first
Rainy Day Cloud Doodles
Rainy afternoons are basically made for these cute these. I draw a bumpy outline, add a few raindrops underneath and call it done.
She says it’s cheaper than therapy, haha!
- The window seat sketch
- Only needs a bumpy outline
- Raindrops finish it in seconds
Doodle Art Notebook Cover
A blank notebook cover is basically begging for this one. I cover mine edge to edge with tiny shapes, swirls and little faces.
There’s no white space left when I’m finished. It turns a plain five dollar notebook into something people ask about!
Not bad for twenty minutes of scribbling!
- The plain notebook fix
- Uses up leftover pens
- Twenty minutes, cover to edge
Mandala Pattern Doodle Design
Mandalas look intimidating until you actually try one. I start from the center with a dot, then just keep circling outward with tiny repeated shapes.
It’s oddly relaxing once you find the rhythm, how satisfying is that?
I usually lose track of time completely.
- The center dot trick
- Starts from one tiny dot
- No ruler, no stress
Doodle Bookmark With Tassel
How cute is a bookmark with a doodled edge and a little tassel hanging off the bottom? This one makes a plain paperback feel fancy.
I punch a hole at the top and thread embroidery floss through for the tassel.
- The five minute gift
- Embroidery floss from the craft aisle
- Fits in any book without falling out
Doodle Art On Sticky Notes
Sticky notes are the most underrated doodle canvas out there. They’re small, forgiving and honestly kind of perfect for quick practice.
I doodle a tiny scene on each one and stick them around my monitor at work. Coworkers notice within the hour, every single time!
Kawaii Animal Face Doodles
Aww! How sweet are these kawaii animal faces? Round eyes, tiny blush marks and a simple curved mouth is basically the whole formula.
Cats, bunnies and bears all work off the exact same template. I change one ear shape and suddenly it’s a totally different animal!
These this these are the ones I hand to anyone who panics at realistic drawing.
- The blush cheek shortcut
- Round eyes carry the whole face
- Same template works for six animals
Cute Doodle Fruit Characters
These little fruit characters have more personality than they have any right to. A strawberry with stick arms and a wide grin somehow makes my whole day better!
My pineapples always end up winking without me even planning it. That one detail steals the whole page every time, lol!
- The strawberry with stick arms
- Any fruit shape works
- Winks add instant personality
Smiling Cloud And Rainbow Doodle
This smiling cloud sitting on top of a rainbow is pure sunshine on paper. Curved lines, a wide happy face and a few color bands underneath finish the whole thing.
It’s the doodle I default to when a page feels too serious. Instant mood lift, every time, same!
- The instant mood lift
- Curved lines only, no straight edges
- Color bands finish it fast
Cute Doodle Heart Border
A border of tiny hearts dresses up a page without much effort at all. I line them along the edge of a letter, a card or a planner spread.
I always alternate the sizes so it doesn’t look too stiff. Uneven beats perfectly matched here, every single time!
- The uneven border rule
- Mix sizes so it looks handmade
Tiny Star Margin Doodles
Tiny stars scattered along a margin fill space without competing with actual notes. I draw a few five point stars, a few plain dots and mix them together.
This is the smallest of the small these on this whole list. It somehow still makes my page look finished, who doesn’t love that?
Small Doodle Flower Cluster
A cluster of small flowers tucked into a corner adds so much charm for so little work. Five little petals around a dot, repeat three or four times.
I always group them tight together instead of spreading them out. It reads like a little bouquet instead of scattered confetti, lol!
- The tight cluster trick
- Five petals around one dot
- Reads like a bouquet, not confetti
Mini Doodle Icons Set
This mini icon set is basically a doodle cheat sheet. A little umbrella, a coffee cup, a tiny envelope, I keep them all under an inch tall.
They’re perfect for planner spreads or bullet journal headers.
- The trace and repeat page
- Everything stays under an inch tall
- Perfect for planner headers
Basic Leaf Outline Doodle
A basic leaf outline sounds boring until you see how many ways it can go. One curved shape with a center vein line covers most of the job.
I reach for these this these when I only have a five minute break between meetings.
Not bad for something this quick, right?
Simple Doodle Sun Design
Who doesn’t love a simple sun with a few triangle rays around it, am I right? It’s the doodle everyone drew as a kid and it still holds up.
I still can’t draw one without adding a tiny smiling face inside. Old habits never really leave you, lol!
- The kindergarten classic, upgraded
- Triangle rays, no ruler needed
- Smiling face adds instant charm
Simple Geometric Shape Doodles
Last but definitely not least, we have simple geometric shapes doodled in loose repeating rows. Triangles, circles and squares layered together look surprisingly artsy for something so basic!
Fill a whole page border with them in under ten minutes. Not that I’m counting, haha!
- The layered shape border
- Triangles, circles and squares only
- Fills a border in ten minutes
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Frida
