Stationery Storage

Hi everyone!

My storage system has changed significantly vs. previous years and I thought it warranted a new post. 

I've been hesitant to write this post because some of the items I use might not be available where you live. I myself find it frustrating when I want something I can't find locally. I decided to write it anyway to maybe just give you some ideas on how you can improvise with your storage. 

I have corralled all the items I use for my planner and Midori so that I didn't need to run to my craft studio when I needed something, or when inspiration strikes in the middle of the night. I keep these in my room (I know!) either at the foot of my bed when I'm working on something, or under the bed at night. I can also carry them around the house if needed. 

First off, this is where I keep planner inserts and stickers. I've had these for quite a while now and they work perfectly for me!  The hot pink zippered Beabi case was used as pen storage until I downsized my pens and used them for stickers instead. Personal size inserts fit perfectly in the Martha Stewart accordion files. 

My most used items are kept in this Beabi case that I think is actually makeup or cosmetic storage. It's perfect for my daily and most-used items and will be at my bedside at night. It's a look-alike for the Kate Spade Tuxedo Court case at a fraction of the price!

I will switch out the items here so that I know I'm using what I have. This is what it contains at the moment. It holds a ton, and there's plenty of room for more. 

My main storage is this craft tote that I also found locally for about $8!  It's structured enough to hold it's shape but soft enough to fold if not needed. It has a Velcro attachment inside for compartmentalizing your stuff if needed, but as you'll see, I didn't use it. 

Instead, I got some B5 sized plastic containers from a Japanese store. They're a perfect fit! Each container has items by category: sticky notes, note pads, bookmarks and clips, etc.

It has pockets on all sides and this is what's in them. 

Here's another way of storing those B5 containers. 

I feel very efficient, organized, and contained in this storage system. I know where everything is and I can find them quickly. 

And this is where I keep my planners and Midori supplies. I keep my planners in boxes because it's dusty in the city and this preserves them well, as well as their leather smell, when not in use. 

That's it, my current stationery storage system. I hope that helped you somehow in finding the system that works for you. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me in the comments. 

Thanks for visiting!

Top Ten Fun Things You Can Do With Your Planner

Hi everyone!

We all start out wanting to use a planner to get our lives organized. I've realized though that it also helps that your planner is running smoothly, you can find things easily, and that it's also pretty to look at. That last thing is obviously not the most important aspect of paper planning, but it sure is the most fun!

Over the years, I have had several permutations of how I've used my planner/s. The two constants have been that I can still manage my days with it and that I want to continue to use it. 

Here are the top ten things you can do to enjoy using your planner. Enabler Alert!

And if you see me on Instagram, some of these may be familiar to you. 

DIY'ing It

1. Personalizing your dashboard/flyleaf to reflect your personality and/or add color.

This is the one thing I do to switch it up a bit and keep my planner from being just a boring calendar. I change it quite frequently depending on my mood, and I enjoy making them myself. There are many printables you can download, or paper you can buy, to create your own. I have quite a stash of these but I still continue to make more. 

2.  Coordinating your tabs and/or dividers that divide your sections. 

I've had some success lately (I know, late to the game) making laminated dividers, and I've been making a set for each of my planners. I've also made some cute, quirky ones that I never thought I would ever like. Monsters! In my planner! Yeah!

There's lots of pretty paper to choose from, or simply print ones you like. I print quotes too and love having them as dividers. 

You could also use repositionable tabs like these from Martha Stewart, my personal favorite. But there are tons of other brands to choose from like Post-It and Avery. 

Using stationery supplies. 

3. Sticky notes are super functional and there are tons of cute ones to choose from. I have a few I love because they're either cute, stick really well, or both. I stick them everywhere for quick notes, and always have a stash in my planner. They add color to your pages if you prefer not to decorate them, which I don't, and which brings me to my next point,

4. Decorating your pages. 

I personally don't do this on my weeklies although I would for a special occasion like Christmas or my birthday. I do decorate my monthlies which I use as a mini journal.

There's a plethora of supplies to choose from - washi tape, stickers, stamps, sticky notes, etc., etc. The only limits are your imagination, and the possibilities are endless. This is also one of the things I've seen that make some want to actually use their planner and if it helps you to be organized and efficient, I say go for it! 

5. Using cute bookmarks. 

I personally use bookmarks everywhere to (1) clip pages together or (2) mark important pages. There are several kinds: shaped paper clips, binder clips, magnetic bookmarks, etc. I'm sure you'll find the one that works for you, or have a selection at hand to choose from. I love them all!

6. Making/printing your own inserts. 

Another thing I don't do because I'm rubbish at printing and cutting so I'll just buy my inserts. But if you need something specific to your needs, or want to personalize your own, you may want to try this. 

Here are weekly inserts I asked someone to make for me. She prints, cuts, and punches them herself so all I need to do is stick them in my planner. 

7. Adding charms. 

Again, something I don't do because I tried it once and it got in my way. But it makes for a very girly planner I think. 

8. Using cute pens. 

I think if you're reading this blog it's safe to say you love stationery and have an army of pens at your beck and call. Finding the right pen is very important to me. And finding one that looks good with my planner is heaven. You may have to check around to find one that works best for you. Multi-pens are my personal favorite. 

9. Color Coding. 

I wrote about color coding in an earlier post. Please just search through this blog. 

Some need to color code, some not at all. I'm in between - I color code for certain important things like money or appointments. And I do it in my monthlies. Other than that I just use a black or blue pen. 

10. Decorating/Designing your pockets

This has to be my favorite part. I find doing this both beautiful and functional at the same time. I love having a lot of supplies at hand and pockets provide easy access. I may actually carry around more than I need but I don't care. Ha!

There it is, the Top Ten of Fun Filofaxing! If you think I missed anything, do leave me a comment. 

And I'd be happy to hear how you use your planner!

Thanks for visiting!

Personal Pink Domino Detailed Set-Up

(Please watch out for Credits at the end of this post.)

Hi everyone!

I left you last time with some photos of the Domino.  In this post, I'll show you the set-up in detail. I decided to split the post into two since it had gotten to be quite long.

I've since added the sticker on the front and another bottom tab.

And added a bookmark, or two.

Onto the insides.

Card slots on the left has some flags, DiY'ed bookmarks, and business cards.  The flyleaf is washi taped front and back with my name on it using rub-ons.

DiY sticker storage on the right

Behind the flyleaf, "Words I think sound cool."

More storage for transparent stickers

Diary tab with photo of my
husband and I at a water ride.

There are a few things I'm doing differently this year, including using transparent stickers (left).

January

February

Another thing I'm doing differently is using a monthly diary.  I never got on with one before but I'm determined to make it work this time.  Washi tape was used just to mark the beginning and end of each month.

Also behind the Diary tab are the weeklies.

I made a double-flyleaf with a bottom tab to mark the week and for post-its.  It's the pink striped washi at the bottom of the first few pictures.  Here's a shot of it on a clean weekly spread.

The clear plastic throws me off a little bit so I washi-taped the edges so I can 'see' that it's there. (Does that make sense?)

I used a 'calendar' washi to make tabbed months without adding bulk.

I also used it to do the following:

(1) Mark off the beginning of each month (right);

(2) add color to the monthlies.

For tabs, I used these K&Company Smash tabs which I didn't think much of until I saw them in the store and fell in love with them.  I 'laminated' them with packaging tape and labeled them so I can reuse them.  They're just attached with washi tape.  I love these tabs!

Another flyleaf with sticky notes

DIY envelope (a la Dayrunner) used as 'Notes' tab

The Notes section has lots of loose paper and blank pages.

The next section is the 'Blog' tab with Raine's (and my!) pink Domino as cover.  (:

This is where I write Blog ideas and notes.  I tick off whether I have (1) taken photos, (2) written the post, and (3) published the post.

'Index' tab

Color-Coding key

The last tab is an 'Index'.  I used the Filofax label tabs and color-coded with cardstock. I didn't bother to label them as I know my color-coding by heart, but I wrote down a key anyway.  Just in case.

This replaced the GTD system I was previously using.






I also 'laminated' them with clear contact paper just to make them more durable.


Each sub-tab in the Index section has a Table of Contents.

Behind the 'Home' tab

The 2 bookmarks at the top mark a Notes page (pink) and phone numbers (blue).

Most of the contents are lists (you know how those go) as well as some tracking I need to do like my dog's vet schedule, bills due and if/when paid, etc.

Kobe's vet visits in the 'Family' tab

Bills schedule in the 'Financial' section

I use either colored paper that corresponds to the sub-tab, or grid paper.

'Crafting' tab. How I planned out my DiY bookmark on grid paper

Full Adhesive Post-Its.  I love these.

More Post-Its and flags.

And lastly, at the very back is the sticky note storage.  I put a lot of them here so I don't have to dig them out when I need then, AND, to use them up so I can buy more, LOL.

Muji zipped envelope holds
smaller items.

Top opening envelope
with flags and a ruler

And even more sticky notes and flags, and a ruler.

I love the business card holders and envelopes for storing things!





At the very back, a flyleaf with another pen/loop and a Midori pocket sticker to hold Muji stickies.

I usually don't store things in the bigger pockets because I sometimes forget they're there.

The pens I use here are a 5- and 3-barrel Coleto and a blue ballpoint.  I'd really like to wean myself from color-coding, but that's an entire post in itself.

Now, a parting shot of the back of 'Charlotte'.  (I'm naming her for the very kind lady who helped me get her.)

Such a pretty color!

If you have any questions about anything I didn't touch on, just leave a comment below.

Goodbye for now, thanks for visiting!

Credits (a.k.a. Enablers):

Adamsfilo:  I realized from his video how how useful the multi-purpose card holder can be.  I got 2.  I was also able to find the Midori transparent stickers he uses and I love them.
Mits2:  Her pink Domino was so cute, I knew I had to get one.
Kent from Oz:  I copied the idea of the flyleaf from him.
Charlotte (from the UK):  Where I live is a Sahara for Filofaxes.  Thanks again for helping me get the Domino, and some other goodies!