I am sharing something today here (and at Paper Flourish a couple of weeks ago) that I have recently gotten into, that I am quite excited about. My Daily Planner! I have tried all kinds of planning. I thought something on my phone would be the best course of action seeing I have my phone with me constantly, and I trialed several apps and even bought a couple, in my quest to find something that worked and got my life in order! Being a predominantly 'Stay at Home Mum', I feel like I am on a constant mission to declutter, stay on top of house hold 'stuff' as well as keep up with all my creating duties, both work and play, and nothing was working for me.
Recently I caught sight of Midori Travellers Notebooks and Journals. and it piqued my interest.
(Source Here)
I didn't love the price imported from Japan, so after filling my cart and pausing before pushing that 'Buy Now' button.... I stumbled across other handmade versions and faux-doris on the net. Never one to buy something I can make, I decided to go that route and make my own.
So thus began my love for this system if you will.
I will explain it a little further.....
So The Midori Notebooks are this lovely soft leather cover with elastic bands threaded through it. It gets more worn and lovely with age, as leather does. It feels nice and looks good. Ticks all the boxes!
Next the 'proper' Midori brand sells all these lovely little notebooks, with all kinds of insides, lines, graph, plain, diary, journal, different paper etc. These are thin little notebooks that you add into your midori cover and band then altogether using the elastic band system.
So if you like making your own stuff, you just print out paper with grid lines or lines, or just blank computer paper, and cut to size, add a cover using any scrapbooking paper that inspires you
and stitch down the middle with your sewing Machine
(or stitch with a needle and thread)
Embellish how you wish, using your substantial stash!!! :-)
So here's a sample of my Bullet Journal....made the same way......
The idea behind this particular booklet, is that you list your month on the top.... write the days in the month on the left (so you can see at a glance what you have to have done on each day)
On the right you 'brain dump'. Just jot down every single thing you can think of that you might want to achieve this month. The things that have due dates or appointments you can put straight in on the left. You mark off when you achieve the task, If you didn't manage it, when you do the next month, you flip back to the past month and transfer everything you didn't get done straight in the next month. Really cool. gets you in the right headspace and helps you remember all the things you need to do. Out of your head onto the paper kinda thing!
The actual planner is one I purchased from Etsy. Its just a file with a planner layout, which I print double sided. I make a booklet for each month, which means I print on 8 sheets of paper for each notebook and fold in half. Making enough pages for 31 days....plenty for any month.
I include a calendar printout before I stitch and add in a menu plan or a list I want to get done on the back and stitch that in as well! Folded into 3 and having it fold out full width when opened.
(The planner pages)
(The Calendar foldout)
(the Menu Plan)
Then I fill out each day. Including what I drink, what I plan to have for dinner, My studies, exercise, due dates, to do lists, what I purchased and anything else that I need to remember!
(and I doodle and draw as I go. Lovely way to relax with a cup of tea!)
Now that you have the planner elements.....You can add in what ever you need. A sketch book, diary, work planner, Calendars etc and then you plan your life!
my watercolour journal goes in here, just for play and practise.....
My little list notebook as well from 'listersgottalist' website (a challenge of lists every month)
This is cool as it often makes you think and jot down things about your history, your ideas, beliefs etc and is a lovely keepsake for your family.
I also have a pocket book in mine where I can keep lists, loose papers, receipts etc that I need.
NOW......This is where the fun begins. All that left over Scrapbooking paper and other bits and pieces come into play. Washi tape, stamps, inks, die cuts....sprays, paints, what ever you see fit!!
I keep a small stash of everything I need in a little ready-to-go basket with all these simple things so I can prepare for the next day while watching TV.....
or while sitting outside on the balcony in the sun with a cup of coffee!!!!
I doodle away....I stick down washi, and I stamp!
Fun fun fun!
(My little stack of notebooks inside my planner....mmmmm)
Best of all, because I jot down so much about daily life, I include each notebook after the month has passed, in my Project life album. It helps me catch up, with my Project life when I am behind, and it will be cool to see what each day entailed in the future!
So with that -I will leave all this info sink in, and maybe it will spark a bit or inspiration with you and your desire for a pretty and functional planner!!!
Have an awesome day :-)
