A New Planner

It's going to be a new year and I need a new planner!  I had been using the one on the right, made with Graphic 45 papers, for a while, I think 2 years...  I loved it, but it is small and I decided that I needed something a little bigger that I can keep all of my things together in, in ONE PLACE!  One of my goals is to be more organized, and I am hoping that this will help.  I custom designed it.  I made it classic size, and I think it will meet my needs.  I don't have a hugely busy life.  I work a lot.  I don't have kids in the house anymore, so school and after-school stuff is not an issue.  My planner is simple, and does what I need it to do.

I got the ARC binding system from Staples.  So far I love it!  I decided to use up some of my hoarded stash, and this is what I came up with.  I have included a bunch of links that inspired my creation so that you can see them also.

The cover, pockets and dividers were made from seriously heavy duty file folders I bought at New Seasons, by Cavallini and Co.

WARNING:  VERY PICTURE HEAVY, BUT I THINK YOU WILL LIKE IT!!!

 I cut the folders and created pockets on both of the covers.  The piece on the right folds out...

 ...Where I put a Post-It pocket on one side and created a pocket on on the other for my coupons.

 Turn the page, I added some other Post-It notes for use later.  And, they match!!

 Turn that page and I am going to use this section for my stuff, ideas, journaling, lists, home stuff, etc.

 I used some left over stickers to make this page.  Once I started listing all of the projects I need to FINISH, I was amazed!  I better get busy!

 I found this list of ways to stay creative on Pinterest, printed it and put it in the book for inspiration.  This section has graph paper that I folded.  I figure I can draw out my plans for projects on the graph paper and...

 ...it opens up to blank paper so that I can write notes, steps, etc.

 Another pocket...turn this page...

 ...and a section of papers for notes about work...my schedule, call schedule, etc.

 I got this idea from a brilliant person!  Beckie at Infarrantly Creative had created a system that I incorporated for my monthly/weekly planner section.  It looks like above when first opened.  When you flip open the left side...

 I have clipped inside a calendar I created from this site, here.  This flip out section also hides some project cards that I made using Rolodex cards I got for super cheap at Tuesday Morning, and a variety of craft tapes in my stash.

 I have my project cards, a year/day reference and my birthday/occasion sheet safely tucked away under this flap.

 I also made a tape page.  I took a piece of graph paper and sandwiched it inside a piece of folded waxed paper.  Then I put on some of my tapes, so that I can have some to use as I need it.

 The tapes come from a variety of sources, I think some are Washi, some are Cavallini and Co., some are Recollections and some are from Smash Book.

 So, the reason that I did the flip page this way is so that when I am looking at my weekly section (on the right) I can flip out the monthly section to see it while I plan.  I use the blank page on the back of the weekly pages (in the middle) to write to do lists, make notes, etc.

 If I don't need to see the monthly calendar, it just tucks away.  I used a piece of file folder to create the page marker.  On the other side of it, not shown, I put some sticky notes made from the same paper line as the file folders.  Here is one of my project cards.  If I have a big project that will span over a couple of weeks, I can just remove it and place it in the next week.  When done, I can just toss it.

 My week pages, you notice are different.  I have almost every weekend off and every Wednesday off. These are the days I can make appointments.  The other four days of the week are work, 10 hours a day with about 2 hours of commute.  I don't get much done during those days.  So...I made the weekly pages so that I had more room for my days off, and less for my working days.

 I also created a little mini page that folds, so I can try to do some menu planning and grocery shopping planning.  I need to get better at that, since I get home so late.  The left side is the back of the previous week page that I will use for notes.

 I found these free printable address pages at SampleWords.  They have tons of free printables.

 Phew, this is long!!  I put another Post-It pocket on this divider page for stamps and stickers.  I had some labels, again by Cavallini and Co., and I also put some slide stickers by Industrial Chic...you never know when you need to embellish something.

 The blog planner is based loosely off of a bunch that I have seen.  I am going to try to plan and stay more organized with my posts. This is the section where I will also keep track of my activities and assignments with the group, Just a Few Friends, headed by Elsa, of Just a Few Designs.

The back cover, is another pocket.  I also took another scrap of a folder and made a pen holder, the rectangle on the far right.

Woo Hoo!!  Done!!  I hope you enjoyed it.  I had a bunch of influences that inspired me when I was creating this book.  Please check out the links and check them out for yourself.

Stay crafty and organized, my friends!!