Crafting a Planner to Fit Your Needs

Oh, My!  I finished summer project numeral uno and I'm over-the-moon about how it came out!  I have a passion and a nemesis wrapped up in one product.  Daily Planners!  Yep, I love them and don't hesitate to abandon them.  I'm obsessed with them and then misplace them.  I won't lie, I truly HEART Erin Condren's Life Planners.  I bought one once and then... well you know the rest!  

Each school year I ooh and aah over planners.  We all have a need to buy one that fits our daily lives.  I've yet been able to customize one for my needs at home and school until now!

Here's a collage of my Daily Planner Contents!

 

Sooo...It's not brain surgery.  You can do this too!  With a few simple supplies and a couple hours of dedication, you can have a labor of love for half the price of those found online. And better yet, it's refillable which makes this planner a remarkable option.  

Okay, I hear you speaking to me through the screen... Where did you buy the supplies?

I purchased my materials at a local scrapbooking store.  With digital scrapbooking a bit more efficient in the day of technology and digital images, there are fewer stores locally.  No problem.  You can shop two online websites.  Both sites have supplies to make a dreamy planners BUT the companies are not compatible with each other.  One has two ringed supplies and the other is three ringed supplies, so research the colors, designs, embellishments, and inserts before you purchase to ensure you have the company that fits your needs.

One company is Snap Studio by Simple Stories which is the one I decided to go with.  I felt their look was a bit more bright and whimsical.  Snap Studio had more versatile options, and the prices were a few dollars less per package.  The other company is Misc Me by Bo Bunny.  There are some desirable options in this collection too. They provide a few more pieces per package making the extra few dollars still a contender for purchase. 

I decided forgo an album because it's a bit more chunky than I desire.  Do you remember when I said I abandon my planners? Size is a factor in this decision.  No kidding!  I become a minimalist by the end of the school year, taking fewer things home.  Chunky planner or binders are often on my cut list. I also decided the colorful rings, papers, and ribbons to give the planner the cutesy factor!  

Down to the meat and bones of the project...

I purchased the 6x8 craftboard dividers and the color vibe collection papers!  This is where you'll spend some time.  Designing color combinations, cutting, gluing, and giving it an extra pop with embellishments... otherwise, you have a plain planner which is NO fun!!!  I took a few pictures at the store.  Below are snapshots of the products linked above. 

The craftboard dividers come in a pack of three.  They're similar to firm particle board.  Two were used for the front and back of my binder.  I used the third divider in the middle to separate my planner into two main sections.  A pouch protector (holds pens, pencils, etc) and the 6x8 calendar pages are on one side.  The other side has pocket pages.  Specifically, I purchased a ten pack of 4x6 pocket pages for student information cards issued to each teacher with all parent contact, doctor name/number, and student enrollment information AND 3x4 pocket pages for student breakfast/lunch cards.  We are given a shameful finger when the kiddos lose their tags, so I keep the original on hand and make photo copies for the kids to use.  These cards can be used to check out library books and log into the computers with a district id for each kid.  You see, important!

The calendar pages are two sided.  One with a plain color and the other with the actual calendar.  To add a little flair, I purchased embellishments to spruce up the plain pages on the back side of the calendar. Some embellishments I scooped up where stickers, brads, and pockets. 

Two sections just won't do, so I purchased additional inserts to divide the planner further.  The collection has dividers that are smaller than the craftboard which provides a bit more division within the pocket pages without overwhelming the main two sections.

I also decided to purchase paper inserts to log phone calls, emails, and parent conferences.  Oh the pains of teaching.  I'm sure shopping lists, blog post, and pd meetings will sneak their way onto the pages.  The beauty of this planner, it's all held by colorful rings so I can insert additional pages or take away unsightly doodles.  HA!

A little ribbon...

Within a few short hours I had a planner beginning to take shape... <---Keep in mind, I'm OCD.  It may take you less time then me but I obsess over everything.  It's one of my many flaws.  LOL

It really is as simple as that!  I hope you decide to create one too!

 FYI, I just found a wonderful website that sells the Snap Studios by Simple Stories for half the price I purchased items in my local scrapbook store!  Check them out and search the above name.

After speaking with Kacey, I'm linking up with her Five for Friday post.  This is an unconventional post for her series but figured five fun things to add in the planner could work.  She agreed!  Yay!  Click the image to link over to DoodleBugs Teaching.