One Binder To Bind Them All {Plan With Me}

I've received so many questions recently (via the blog and social media) about my new Color Crush Planner and how I intend to use it. So, I'm starting a new 'Plan With Me' series this morning - and each week, I'll be sharing ideas and tutorials for customising (and more importantly, utilising) your planner.

Whilst I am new to the 'Planning Community' I have never, ever been without a hard-copy diary (or, more recently, my little Filofax) and a stack of lists, usually scattered around my work space and on the backs of envelopes; in small notebooks and written into the corners of magazines!

Although I, usually, like to think that I'm organised I know that hunting down a list that's been lost in a stack of paperwork is counterproductive - as is procrastinating by writing another one! I am hopeful that, having 'one binder to bind them all 'will help me to remain focused on the task at hand!

I have a feeling that working out what to have where will be an ever-evolving process, but that's exactly why I love working in a binder system. It's changeable and that's absolutely wonderful for someone who becomes bored very easily.

In the meantime, I thought I would start with an overview of my set-up and then, over time, show the sections in a little more detail.

Inside Cover/Front Dashboard - 

For the moment, the left-hand side of the inside cover is housing the sticker sheet that came with the Color Crush, a couple of cute journalling cards from Sodalicious (sadly, the store has now closed) and some of the little Planner Clips that made with this month's Counterfeit Kit 'Planning For Perfection'. (I've been using the kit - almost exclusively - to set up this month.)

 

On the right-hand side, there's a customised dashboard (see my Stamped Planner Dashboard Tutorial) over-laying the first of the Color Crush sections 'Write It Down'. I've added a cute calendar card using the Amy Tan 'Stitched Felted Paper' that I had in my kit.

Isn't it beautiful? I love the fact that each little calendar is customisable. That's going to bring me a lot of happiness throughout 2016!

I'm keeping all of my lists in the 'Lists To Love' section. So far, I have a mix of inserts in there - Websters Pages 'Lists To Love', Filofax 'Coloured Note Paper' and some customised lists from the Dear Lizzy Serendipity Collection.

This is the section that I am currently using the most often (in fact, I haven't really been using the other standard sections) so I'll definitely be back to show this one off in more depth and will be mulling over options for each of the other sections 'Write It Down' 'Memory Keeping' and 'Staying Inspired'.

Calendar -

Having transferred from my trusted (but old and battered Filofax) I'm currently using my 'Academic Diary - Week On Two Pages' rather than the inserts which came with the Color Crush. This is the 'Calendar Overview' and I've added a small Stick On Gem for the birthday of each member of my family. I love the way it sparkles in the sunshine!

Having been adamant that I wouldn't start decorating the calendar section, I must confess that I've had a complete change of heart. It's so much fun - and it makes checking off exercise sessions and chores that much more cheerful!

I'm slowly, but surely, starting to work out how to customise my planner to suit my own needs so I hope you'll come back to visit as I share the progress! x