Are You A Planner?

This year, I thought I'd try doing a crafty planner again.  I've tried a couple times before and I didn't stick with it.  After seeing some YouTubers show how they used their planners, I thought I'd give it another try.

Have you checked into cross stitch planners. Whew, are they expensive!  I also didn't like that the pages were so pre-planned that I couldn't add other crafty endeavors.  So, what's a girl to do?

This girl went to Walmart and found a hardcover planner.  They don't have this exact one anymore, but the 2024-2025 one it available.

Planner by Mintgreen

I like that this planner allows you to see a month at glance and then has a daily/weekly section also.  It's hardcover with 2024 stamped in gold foil.  This and the flowers drew me in!  For the eco-conscious, the pages are printed with soy ink and are made from 60% recycled paper.  Pages are color coded making it easy to flip to the date I want to go to.  There are pages in the back for notes.  As time goes on, you'll see how I turn this into a very functional crafty planner. 😃

With some sprucing up, the title page looks quite "crafty", don'tcha think?

After the title page, there is the typical "personal information" page.

I didn't need this page, so I covered it with scrapbook paper and added my own flair.  I have a lot of scrapbook paper that I plan on using up with this planner.

Isn't this much better?  And cuter!

At the beginning of each month, there is a Notes page.  I started off January by documenting my most recent start.

On the opposite side, I decided to list out all the WIPs for each of my hobbies.  Quite a lot!

I didn't start the planner until the beginning of February so I had to go back and try to fill in January's activities.  I make notations of what I worked on each day.  I also keep track of unusual weather conditions.  We had a LOT of snow the second week of January so I spent a lot of time shoveling and snowblowing.

February's Month-At-Glance is much more fun.

If you take a look in the upper right corner of the monthly page, there's a section for notes that I've turned into "To Do" projects.  If any are completed, then I cross them off the list.  Any that aren't done are usually carried forward to next month.  I did finish a couple things on my February list. 😃

I can be more detailed on the daily/weekly pages since there's more room.

There are a couple of pages for addresses and phone numbers in the planner.  I turned these into Finishes pages.  I love the banner font!

March was a very busy month!  In addition to my typical crafty endeavors, I went to the Hoosier Retreat.  It'd been four years since we all had seen each other.  Thank you, Pandemic.

Month-At-A-Glance

Week-At-A-Glance

Mr B turned two while I was at the retreat

Another March Week-At-A-Glance

Had to document JG stitching finish!

I added a ribbon bookmark to my planner.  I didn't want the monthly tabs to get bent up due to my constant accessing the pages to make my notations.  More stuff used up from my stash.  Win-Win!

I went overboard on the stashing in March. ::sigh::  It was fun, though!

As I previously said, there are pages at the back of the planner designated for notes.  I turned several of the pages into pages for the Hoosier Retreat.

While I was away, it snowed at home and Baxter celebrated his second birthday with his first ever taste of ice cream topped with two mini dog biscuits for candles. Lucky dog!

Both furbabies were happy to see me come back and take them for a ride home.

April came in with more snow. Then the solar eclipse made it's way through followed by Earth Day.  Lots of crafty stuff going on, too.

Hopefully these layouts give you an idea of where I'm going with a typical planner.  So far it's been fun and I'm using up my paper crafting supplies.  Another Win-Win!

Until next time...