Merry Christmas everyone! I hope this is a happy and healthy holiday for all of you, wherever you may be.
I hope you don't mind that on this Christmas day, I am going to jump ahead to the new year. More specifically, creating a planner for the new year. I am one of those people, and I imagine many of you paper obsessed scrapbookers are too, who take their personal planners pretty seriously. I want it to look pretty, feel good in my hands, and meet my organizing and notetaking needs. I want a place for to-do lists, and a place to collect ideas for blogging and scrapbooking. And since I am a teacher, I also need a place to write lesson plans.
A few years ago, I began making my own planners, and they have stayed pretty similar each year. This September, at the start of the new school year, I made my planner as usual, but in my mind, I thought it was time to make few changes. With a new year upon us, it seemed like the perfect time.
So, to begin, I got myself a brand, spanking new 8.5" x 5.5" binder with rings that are a little bigger than the ones I have used in the past. I thought I would add a lot of embellishment to the cover, but I loved the kraft color so much, I just added a touch of washi, and a chipboard letter.
Side note: You will read the words "washi tape" A LOT in this post.
Let's Take a Look Inside
I started off my binder using a page protector to house a cute little notebook that I can pull out, carry around, and jot down some ideas. (I didn't photograph the page protector because of the glare.) My hope is that if I quickly write down a to-do list, I can tear it out and slip it right into the planner pages. And how will I adhere those loose pages to my planner? With washi tape, of course.
Section 1: The Monthly Calendar
I made a section for my monthly calendar using this Microsoft template, that I resized and modified in Microsoft Word.
I used a little washi to draw my attention and a little cuteness to the pages.
Section 2: Weekly Calendars
This is the section that I will use the most.
Inside this section, there lies my weekly planner. Each week has my personal planner across a two-page spread, followed by my lesson planner for the week. I made these calendars from scratch in Microsoft Word, (by inserting tables) and I typed each date in there, though I feel fairly certain there is a more efficient way to do this. I used this font by Amy Tan, and I might be in love. To me, it makes the planner.
And, what's that? Some washi tape? Why, yes. Yes, it is. I added some tape where I had notes written down, like the start of a vacation or holiday. I also used tape to make tabs on the side of the page, to remind me when something important is coming up. More and more often, dates seem to sneak up on me out of nowhere, but now, armed with washi tape tabs, I can see them coming!
Section 3: More Note Taking Possibilities
I made another little section with blank notebook paper, because, hey, you never know.
And, Finally...
I used some page protectors just to hold papers that accumulate in life. I had some 6x8 page protectors, which is not exactly the right size, but close enough for my purposes. The holes were not in the right place, but I hear washi tape can be a useful little product. So I covered up the original holes, and then punched some new ones.
Well, I might be the last person on earth still using paper to organize my life, but if not, I hope this gives you some ideas you can use.
Once again, enjoy your holiday, and may you have a happy, healthy, and organized new year!
