Uh Oh...I've discovered decorating planners :)

I've always had a planner....way back in the days of Franklin Covey and Day Timer, I tried those and even today I use the system that Staples carries, the ARC System.  I also knew that there was a cult following of several newer planner systems, such as Erin Condren, Moleskine, The Happy Planner, etc., but I had NO idea the creativity that is out there in regards to dressing up aka decorating your planner.

I made the "mistake" of checking out Pinterest and etsy to see what others were doing to their planners and I was immediately hooked....played right into my love of paper crafts.

Rather than buy new when there really wasn't anything wrong with the one I have seemed silly especially for a retiree (there are other things I'd rather spend that money on) so after considering several, I stuck with what I have and what has worked for me for several years. 

I just need to get creative with it!

I used the 8 x 5 size of planner and a horizontal weekly calendar.  I use my planner not only to schedule my time but to plan my projects, keep to-do lists and goal lists, keep business cards organized,  and hold store coupons.

Here's the cover of my pink planner and of course, it needs to include a Iowa Hawkeyes Tiger hawk sticker.  :)
 

 

Before I got crazy buying stickers and things from etsy and other sources, I knew I needed to look no further than my own craft room and I was right, I found TONS of stuff that I can use in my planner.

I have tons of washi tape and found a couple miniature stamps that will work perfect in planner decoration.

 

 

I did find these Halloween themed packages of washi tape at the Dollar Tree store when I was there for something else.  SCORE!

 

I also have tons of pens that can be put to good use for decorating and doodling.

 

Found all of these sticky notes and flags in a drawer.

This is just a small sampling of what I found in my craft room.  I also found tons of sites that have FREE planner printables too! 

 

I did decide to spend the money of a special punch that Staples sells to punch paper and such to fit the Arc planners.  It was a bit pricey but I got in on a sale, had some Staples rewards to spend and I won't need to buy the calendar refills anymore so I bit the bullet and purchased the punch.

 

 

I also decided to make a couple more divider for my planner.  I have tons of chipboard so using one of the purchased planner dividers I already had as a template, I cut out a few other dividers and using scrapbook paper covered them in coordinating colors.

 

I found a few really cute free planner printables and using one of my circle punches and a pair of scissors.....presto.....free planner embellishments!  There is a gazillion out there!

I also found skinny elastic hair bands at the Dollar Tree that I've wrapped around my planner and I can slide things under if needed.

The tabbed dividers that I purchased with the planner years ago are plain black poly and I decorated the divider for my calendar in washi tape and border stickers.

 

I also found a bunch of embellished paper clips in my craft room and picked out a few to use.

 

I've got a couple plastic pocket pages inside that hold things I want to keep for reference.

 

 

I also have a few poly pocket dividers that I use to hold coupons, receipts I need to hold on to and stuff I clip off of newspaper, magazines, etc. that I want to check out further.

 

 

Here's my first attempt at decorating my weekly calendar.  I'm sure my "style" will evolve over time as did my scrapbook style, but it sure is fun to do.  I'm not sure it's helping to get me get projects and to-do's done any faster, but the pages and lists are fun to look at.  :)

 

I also re-purposed a box I had hanging out in a closet that I've dedicated to storing things I've specifically identified I'll be using for my planner.

It's a fun extension of my scrapbooking hobby that I still love to spend time doing, so I call that "a good thing and one, if enjoyed is never a waste of time".

Thanks for stopping in!