Inexpensive accessories for your planner

Erin Condren Planner Update

9/1/2017

I am updating how I am using my planner. I had hoped to do an update after a few months of really using the planner, but I came up with some handy inexpensive solutions using stuff from my stash and wanted to share them now.

Cricut and Washi...

I was having a problem titling my vertical columns. Every pen I was using was bleeding through the pages. When I placed a sticker down first and then wrote on the sticker, no bleeding problem. But that many stickers and I would still have to write on each one or buy a stamp set. I wanted to come up with an economical way of getting stickers onto the title sections of the daily vertical columns. Enter...Washi Sheets. Cricut sells 12"x12" Washi Sheets at 5 to a pack in a variety of colors. I purchased mine a long time ago but never came up with a reason to use them until now. Here is a link to my Cricut Design Space Washi Planner Stickers File.

Vertical Titles

I opened up Design Space and used just the basic shapes provided in Design Space. For the vertical column titles I chose a square, unlocked the aspect ratio and sized the rectangles: 1/4" height x 1 1/4" length. I also used the Cricut Pens to write the titles I wanted for each planner box. I chose three different sheets of Washi paper from the Classic Collection and three different pen colors from the Antiquity Pen Set. Make sure to use a fine point pen because the 1.0 and higher is too thick. I used the flat plastic end of the We R Memory Keepers QuickStik to pick up and lay down the Washi Titles. Now I feel organized and the titles are happy and bright.

I use each column for a different aspect of what I have to accomplish each day. Having the titles makes it clear where each item goes and organizes what needs to get done.

I used the Cricut to cut out rectangles and write the titles on the stickers.

Weekly Inspirational Stickers

On the left side of each week in the planner, there is a box to add an inspirational quote or weekly focus. I found that I wanted a quote to help keep my focus throughout that week depending on what I had coming up. I bought one Erin Condren Sticker book which contains a whole variety of stickers but there are only 12 large inspirational stickers in total. I had contemplated printing out a sheet of quotes from Pinterest but I didn't want to go through that much ink on my printer and I would still have to stick them down. Enter...Cricut and Washi Sheets. On the Washi Sheet, you can stamp (I suggest dye ink), write with Tombow markers or just leave it blank and have a pretty pattern for your week. On Cricut Design Space, I made the inspirational rectangles: 1 7/8" length x 1 7/16" width. These are slightly larger than the outline of the box but they follow the size of the stickers from the Erin Condren sticker book. A few tips: If you decide to use markers or stamp to make your quote, please make sure the ink is dry before you turn the page. When the ink dries, it will be fine. Check out Pinterest or the Tombow website for inspiration on different lettering and quotes.

For the inspirational quote boxes, I tried:

Stamping (Hero Arts Dare to Dream stamp set is great as is You Are Loved)

Lettering with Tombow Markers (this is great because you can customize color and words)

I also used the Cricut to cut out thin strips which I measured to be: 1/4" height x 6" length. I cut out To Do strips (1 5/8" length x 5/8" width) and used the Cricut Metallic Gold Pen to draw stars on them for bullet points.

Make your own tabs...

When I purchased my planner, I also purchased a package of Erin Condren Monthly Tabs. Well, the Erin Condren tabs come in a package of 12 and my planner has 18 months. I did not want to purchase another package of tabs, so I made them myself. I have Hero Arts Kelly's Scored Tabs which is a handy purchase if you have not bought it yet. I use these all the time in organizing stamps, dies, really anything that needs a tab. I like to make my own tabs because then I can personalize the colors and patterns. I cut out 6 tabs from scrap white cardstock and then stamped them in 6 different colors of Distress Ink that closely matched the Erin Condren color scheme. I used the MISTI to help stamp the tabs: I first placed the negative cutouts of my tabs, placed the stamp and closed the door to stick the stamp to the lid. I then used the negative side to place my tab and then I stamped it. By using the MISTI and the negative space, I could quickly stamp all 6 tabs. I then used myGold Uni-Ball pen to write the months in capital letters. I adhered the tabs onto my planner with 1/8" double-sided scor-tape.

Below is a list of supplies I used to complete this project. These are affiliate links which if you choose to use them, I may be paid a small commission an no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I hope this inspired you to make your own accessories for your planner. Happy planning and please let me know your favorite way to spice up your planner. Have a great day, today!