Clearly iStamp: Getting organized with a Planner/Calendar

Hi friends, its Katie here to welcome you to another Tuesday at Clearly iStamp. If you recall, last week I tried to help you organize your card stash or create a system for all those cards you are about to make this year... right? In keeping with the beginning of the year theme which is synonymous with organization, I wanted to share a Calender or Planner that I created last year and loved using throughout the year.

These are the dimensions and the numbers that you will need to create this planner.

2 Chipboard pieces - 5 1/4 x 7 3/4
Front and Back designer paper (in this case the same designer paper- blue strip) - 6 1/4 x 8 3/4
Front and Back secondary designer paper (same designer paper - floral) - 6 1/4 x 6 1/2
Mat for inside front cover (larger and blue) 4 1/2 x 7
Mat for inside front cover (smaller and cream) 4 3/8 x 6 7/8
11 Calendar Pages (cream cardstock) - 5 x 7 1/2
7 Designer Pages (floral) - 5 x 7 1/2
6 Designer Pages (green stripe) - 5 x 7 1/2
6 Cardstock mats (for the actual numbered days - wine color) 4 1/2 x 6 1/2
6 Cardstock mats (for the actual numbered days - blue color) 4 1/2 x 6 1/2
12 calender days

Click here ----> Download Blank Calendar

After everything is cut, its just a matter of putting it all together. I start with the designer paper that is going to be my front and back over. Just adhere the two pieces together.

Then, flip them over and center the chipboard and tape down.

Go ahead and just fold the edges over to get those creases going.

Then apply adhesive to the chipboard along the edges. I get as close to the edge as possible and even if it goes over... no big deal at all.

Then I fold the corners down - all four sides.

Then continue to fold over the rest of the edges.

Then its time to get your pages ready. The 11 pieces of cardstock are your pages and the designer paper is only placed on one side. In the picture below, I wanted to show you how I try my best to keep things even. I gently fold over my paper and it is easier for me to handle and align my edge.

Don't worry though, if it looks like this after you are done adhering... just take a straight edge ruler and exacto knife or a pair of scissors and trim away any excess.

Now its time for decorating your pages. This is of course the fun part and where you can make it special to you or to someone else.

I used these 3 stamp sets to add labels and designs to this planner - Bee-lieve (just released), Elegant Flourishes, and Coaster Calendar.

I used this great flourish to decorate the tops of my pages.

But don't forget to make sure your direction and alignment of your pages are correct before you stamp!!! I always go through the motion of how I'll be turning my pages just to make sure. Same goes with the pattern of your designer paper if it has one.

Since I couldn't figure out how to create a document with the months already on there I opted to create blank pages and used the months from the set Coaster Calendar and they worked perfectly.

Also, in hind sight I would have changed my numbers accordingly, but when I created the document, I took all the lines to 31 to make it easy and even. If you do use the document, if it bothers you, you could just cut if off or add another piece of cardstock to cover it up.

After I stamped the months and added some extra stamped flourish to my corners, I adhered the months to their prospective months and calendar pages. I opted to just alternate patterns and colors.

After all the pages are completed, gather them together.

Then its just a matter of using the Bind it All to bind the journal together. I also opted to just use 6 rings to make things easy. (Clear Dollar Stamps does carry Bind it All accessories... Click HERE to go see)

Click HERE and HERE to go to a past tutorials on the Bind it All.

Oops, I forgot to add a stamped image.

Do remember to punch your holes before doing some of your stamping just so you know where to place your images. You wouldn't want them all punched out... which happened on my first page... I'm just not showing :)

Here is the finished planner. I love this planner because its so general. I plan on using this one as I did last year's for mostly crafty information. Another aspect I love is the size... not too big, but not too small. And one final component that I enjoy about it are those blank pages for any type of notes, directions, pictures, whatever.... lots of room.

And check out that quote. I actually peeled that off last year's planner and added it to this one. I just think its plain cute. I found that on the internet and printed off.

Thanks for joining me here today. There is plenty of time to make one of these for yourself or a friend. Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

This is Katie signing off for Clearly iStamp.

PS... cardstock and paper from Close to my Heart products.

Comments

What a great idea. I've been making books lately too with my Rubicoil binder. Such fun!!

Posted by: Rebecca Ednie | January 16, 2010 at 03:07 PM

the calendar ist so beautiful!
thank you for the workshop.

greetz doreen

Posted by: doreen | January 14, 2010 at 03:27 AM

Oh my goodness!!! I so have to make one of these!!! thank-you so much for the download ... I really wish I had a Bind-it-all ... but, I am gonna find another way to do it!!!

Posted by: Kelly Haberstroh | January 13, 2010 at 04:47 PM