My DIY Planner #2

My DIY Planner Haul

Getting Organized: I Need a Planner

Because of my craft/scrapbook/paper addiction, I have been learning all sorts of new things. Apparently there is a huge community of people who use paper planners and there are all sorts of crafty goodies and supplies available just for planners.

I've been avoiding calendars and planners since they always seem like wasted money. I've had so many planners that end up tucked away in a desk drawer and finally land in "file 13" (the trash).

More and more I've been using Google calendar especially for appointments since I can set notifications. Part of my problem with planners is that I forget to check them.

With my memory not being what it was and with my schedule filling fast, I need something more. I want using a planner to be fun. I think if it speaks to me like creating mini albums I won't have a problem using it or checking it.

I want my planner to keep me on schedule and also act as a daily journal. I don't want a diary to write about my thoughts and feelings. I need to keep track of when I last had the A/C repair or what happened when I took Miss Sookie, my cat to the Vet.

I would like to get started with using a planner on June 1st. In addition to appointments, a micro journal, budget and bill tracking, I would like to use my planner for blog and video post ideas and scheduling, and project scheduling for my book cover design business.

After watching several DIY planner videos on YouTube,  I've decided to make my own planner! I'm so excited!

Do you use a planner? Is your planner digital, paper or a combination of both? Did you design your own planner or do you use one of the popular planning system?

Holiday Weekend Haul

I experienced a bit of a crafting drought in April and most of May, but finally finishing Deisha's mini album and giving it to her has sparked my crafty creativeness.

I've visited my usual crafting stomping grounds during my drought but I didn't buy anything. Nothing was speaking to me, but a commission to create a pet themed mini album, with a masculine feel, along with a spur of the moment trip to Joann's, and I could feel my mojo coming back.

I stopped at Hobby Lobby for glue and, after visiting the clearance section, I knew I had my crafty side back.

And really, since Tuesday Morning was on the way home, there was no reason to pass by without stopping, was there?

With all that has been going on in my life, it really felt good to feel that passion for crafting again.

What do you do to overcome a crafting slump?

Deisha's Divalicious Mini Album

After finishing my first two mini albums for my children, I decided to branch out a bit more and experiment on another family member.

Deisha's Divalicious is a mini album designed for my 16 year-old neice using the Black Currant paper collection by Die Cuts With a View (DCWV). Featuring 4 pocket pages, a waterfall and various pockets and photo mats, this is a step up from the previous albums I created.

I decided to create the mini album for Deisha at the beginning of March 2015.  I sent her the following message:

Hey I'm doing a little project and I need to know what things you like. For example favorite colors, things you collect, favorite animal or insect, etc... do you like girly stuff? Do you like vintage stuff? I know you like bling and sparkle right?

She replied:

My favorite color is pink, i dont really collect anything, my favorite animal is snow tiger. Girly stuff is definitely my thing but if i see some vintage thats nice then I'll definitely get it 

And yes, i like bling and sparkle lol

With her reply in hand, I went through the paper pads I had in my stash and decided to use the Black Currant collection. I think it was the perfect choice, and even before I finished it, I received a request for a TP (toilet paper roll) mini album using the Black Currant papers.

Without further ado, here is my latest Scrapcraftastic creation! 

I decided to create a handmade box to protect and store the mini album. I am somewhat hoarding the remaining paper from the pad I used for Deisha's album along with at second full pad I have, because I received several request for albums using the Black Currant paper, and as far as I know, availability of the collection is very limited.

Because I didn't want to use too much of the Black Currant papers to cover the box, I went to my local Joann store, and picked up some single sheet papers that I felt coordinated well with the Black Currant collection.

Along with a black lace trim around the edge of the box lid, I added a mini rose trim to a small pocket that will hold a folio for adding photos and journaling.

Here is a box lid closeup of the floral collage featuring a die cut double layered butterfly finished with Stickles and a flourish of bling for the butterfly trail. The flowers are a mixture of Recollections from Michael's and Prima flowers from Hobby Lobby.  I also used flat back pearls, some rhinestone bling and other sparkly accents to embellish the lid.

Deisha's mni album fits nicely in the custom box with room to store photos and other memorabilia for safe keeping or until she has time to add them to the mini album.

Because of the bold paper designs, I decided to keep the inside of the book simple and let the paper be its own embellishment, so for the cover I went all out and made it "girly" with bling and lots of sparkle. The cover features a custom Divialicious banner layered with Mod Podge, Stickled edges and Glossy Accents lettering.

The trellis on the spine is velvet punched paper... I am fascinated by velvet paper! I've used it several times and I even purchased a sheet of bright red velvet paper recently.

Custom dangles and hand died seam binding finish off the spine along with a chain with built in bling.

The scalloped edge of the textured paper covering the spine and wrapping around to the back of the mini album acts as an embellishment while keeping the back of the album simple and clutter free.

The magnetic closure flap features a Hobby Lobby brad centered in two Prima flowers. The silver flower was originally gold. I made the flower silver with Tim Holtz silver alcohol ink and inked the edges of the flowers on the flap, the papers on the cover and throughout the album with Tim Holtz black soot distress ink.

Here are the interior pocket pages, pockets, flaps, photo mats, embellishments and all the interactive goodies that make mini albums so fantastic!

I started feeling a little separation anxiety since I knew I would be presenting it to Deisha today which is why I took so many photos. I enjoyed creating and designing this album and I can't wait to share my next project!

Please let me know what you think and comment below.