Planner Covers

    I have been working on my planners. I have decided to do 2 to start with to see which one will work better for me.
    The Arc binding planner is very easy to update as the pages are easy remove, while the spiral binder has a limited number of lined pages but I can easily add pages that I create myself.

    The first photo shows both of the covers. The paper is Zoe. On the Arc binder I used Modpoge to seal the paper. It does give it a shinier look. I have not decided if I will add any thing else to the spiral cover so I will wait bit before I use the modpoge. I do think that if the paper is untreated it will tear.        You can use a clear transparency as a top cover. The stickers are from the Zoe Complements package.

I drew the lines in for the calendar and used a roller number stamp that I had in my stash for years. I actually like the font a lot and it was very quick to stamp.

It took bit of time to measure out template the way I wanted but creating new pages is very quick.

I really like the look of the graph paper though.

Once the new catalog is released in Sept. I will have photos that are not hiding the new stamps.

Keep checking back as I will update my progress.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Marye Anne

mystampnook@gmail.com

Planner Project First Video

I have spliced together some short videos to show how I started my Arc planner and a quick comparison to a spiral planner that I am going to create at the same time.

This is my first video that I had to edit and voice over, so it is bit rough. Hopefully as I move along they will become smoother.

I have created some cute pages already but they are with new stamps that are available on Sept. 1, so I will post those right after Sept. 1.

Here goes, hope it works.
Thanks for watching.

Sorry my hands look a lot older than I though.
Yikes.
Marye Anne

The Planner Project

    I have been looking at planners on Pinterest and online way too much lately and I really do need one or should I say want one. I have priced the different ones out and they can become very expensive. I have decided to try and make one from scratch. How hard can it be?

    Well if you grew up before Excel and Word, it can be much more difficult than you think. I tried finding free printables online but then I decided I wanted to do it myself. The problem is that I can not get anything to format exactly the way I want it. One of the big issues is that I want it to be 8.5x5.5 inches in size.

    I had the look but could not get the margins to set up properly. And I really wanted it to be part art journal and part planner so I decided to make it pretty much all by hand.

    There are many different styles of planners on the market but the 2 that I am starting with are the spiral bound and the Arch system. Mainly because I can create additional pages without having to purchase anything new. The Arc system does have a punch(about $49 CDN) that you can get at Staples but I knew that I could either use a hole punch or my Cinch to punch the holes. And of course the spiral will work with the Cinch also.

   The Arc does have different kits that you can buy but I wanted to go with the least expensive. They also have planners and note books. I wanted just the basics, so I picked up the rings and a pack of 8.5x5.5 graph paper inserts.

    The rings are 1 1/2 inch in size. Staples does have a smaller size and I am starting to think that they might have been the better size but the beauty of the system is that you can easily change the rings.

The rings were about $3.69 for a 12 pack and I only needed 8 and the paper was $0.95 a pack for 50 double sided sheets. The graph paper is on clearance but they also have lined paper and more. It is heavier than printer paper also. I did find that I could only add about a 1/3 of the paper at a time to the rings. Plus it came with a thin piece of cardboard which will become my front cover and I did get 2 packs so the one from the second pack will be the back cover.

    This a picture of the start of my planner. I realized once I started taking the photos that I really did need better lighting so I ran out and bought an OTT light. What a difference it makes. I am working on videos of how to punch the pages for the planner and I think the OTT light will help a lot.

    I also have an 8x8 spiral bound album that I will be doing at the same time just to compare the two.

   And I will hint that I have ordered some great new stamps from the new annual catalog from Close to My Heart that are going to work perfectly with my planner. You will be able to see these Sept. 1st. Or if you are a consultant you can see them and order them right away.

    I would love to see other people's planners or have you join me in this project. Post a picture of your planners in the comments.

    If you have any questions please contact me.

Marye Anne

mystampnook@gmail.com