The Planner Society – January

February 2, 2016 hansjonesLeave a comment

I have been receiving The Planner Society Box for the past three months, and each month has not disappointed.

I thought I would share an unboxing/review of the contents for all of you who are still a little unsure.

It costs $37 a month which includes shipping to the UK. So, based on the current exchange rate, it would work out to be £25 a month. I have also been fortunate to avoid custom charges every month so, in total, I honestly believe the contents outweighs the cost.

Each box is carefully designed and pulled together to ensure you can use every last item in all your planning creations.

Carefully opening the brown paper bag, you are greeted with a desirable collection of planning goodies that anyone #plannergirl would swoon at.

20160202_100930579_iOS

The double sided paper is always a favourite part of the box – the creator, Christy Tomlinson, beautifully creates these by hand and it is that touch of the unique which makes this box feel special. I only wish the paper cam in double quantities so you don’t have to choose just one design!

20160202_101011283_iOS

20160202_101042085_iOS

With complimenting washi tape, you have a great base to embellish your planner without much hard work!

20160202_101200611_iOS

The box always contains a mixture of die cuts, embellishments, stickers and planning stamps which continue the theme of the paper. This month, the mustard yellow, pink, blue and grey are just magic and certainly add a warmth to these dull winter days.

20160202_101128105_iOS

A selection of planning stickers are adorable and versatile. I particularly love the floral additions but this month…..typewriters……need I say more!

20160202_101232245_iOS

The addition of 4 journal cards and small notepad, again unique to Planner Society girls always add a flourish to any planner pocket.

20160202_101256905_iOS

20160202_101324949_iOS

Some added extras this month is this gorgeous journaling notebook which is a great size for any fauxdori and a beautiful gem pen which would complete any Planner Society planner! 20160202_101351961_iOS I highly recommend that anyone looking to embrace their creative planning side invests in subscribing to this box – it is truly the only planner box I need on a monthly basis to enhance my planner addiction!

You can subscribe following the link below:

http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/2015/03/new-planner-society-kit-sign-up-debut.html

x PB x

How I am planning in 2016

January 21, 2016 hansjonesLeave a comment

With the addition of a beautiful ice-blue Kikki-K to my planner collection, 2016 had to be the year for planning, planning and more planning.

20160116_152347162_iOS

From all the inspirational Facebook groups and Instagram accounts I follow, I finally have achieved planner peace – it is only right I give back to this amazing community of people and share!

As you will know from previous posts, I was using an Erin Condren for my day to day planning.

However, I was beginning to get frustrated with the spiral bound system – the spiral was starting to wear and it didn’t have the professional feel that I am aim for when using the planner for work. Furthermore, I love adding my creative flair to planning and I felt the EC was quite restrictive for this purpose.

So, the only possible solution was adding the EC to the Kikki-K. Many hours of YouTube watching were conducted to ensure I didn’t end up with a ruined EC and an empty planner. I would highly recommend watching Paper & Glam’s YouTube tutorial as research before you attempt it!

I decided to not include the monthly tabs in the EC as I prefer a cleaner line when closing the planner and the tabs do bend and get in the way if you don’t punch into the boxes. I use a page marker so I can easily go to the current week.

I should make it clear that this planner is used for my Monday-Friday planning. I don’t use this planner for my weekend plans as I am still a fan of diary sharing with Mr PB on our iPhones, therefore, I don’t tend to do a lot of forward planning in the months ahead making the lack of tabs easier to justify!

Taking you through each section of the planner:

Front pockets – I love the layout of Kikki-K pockets. As well as being practical, they allow a beautiful creative set up. My front pockets store spare washi on a hand-made laminated washi card as well as plenty of goodies from The Planner Society – page flags, a to-do list and paperclips – a mixture of hand made and sent in the kit. I intend to do an unboxing of The Planner Society kit but, for anyone interested, it is worth every penny!

20160116_152251187_iOS

I added this adorable picture frame from selection of scrapbook embellishments and using a portable polaroid printer, I change up the picture depending on the week or month. A fun way to update your planner and add a personal touch!

Dashboard – I don’t tend to use a dashboard as it’s intended but more of an extension to my creativity and having a set-up that brings a smile to my face when I open the planner. Using cardstock, a bow and Planner girl tag from The Planner Society kit as well as some additional embellishments, I simply laminate and then hole punch.

20160116_151940143_iOS

I love the combination of front pockets and dashboard….

The first section of the planner is my notes section. Adapting dividers purchased from My Pretty Week, I store work notes under the relevant month making them easy to refer to. I use paper from Paperchase and mix it up between yellow and white lined paper.

20160116_152315100_iOS

The EC section is pretty much intact apart from the tabbed sections – I love the gold foil vellum and the layout of the EC works well for my never-ending work and home to-do lists.

20160116_151954489_iOS

The pen is a recent Kikki-K purchase and is complimented by the gold EC band that, although serves no purpose, looks stunning against the ice-blue.

I will be sharing my weekly planning in my next post, so look out for that!

Thank you for all your inspiration – I hope this inspires you too

x PB x

What’s in my planner bag….#plannergirl

December 10, 2015December 7, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

With P&B headquarters situated at the bottom of my garden, I was soon realising that my creative planning fare was slowly diminishing when it involved going outside in the wind and the rain! The solution…..a planner bag that could store all of my necessities, making planning on the go easy-peasy.

I purchased a We R Memory Keepers storage bag from Amazon. It was shipped from the US so took some time to arrive but it was oh-so worth it.

With three elasticated pockets along the front, 2 on the side and a zip pocket on the back as well as a spacious middle compartment with 4 large pockets, it really is the ideal storage unit for anyone who travel frequently or prefers to keep everything in one place.

20151207_161513265_iOS

20151207_161523039_iOS

20151207_161544602_iOS

I have found that it is best to change up the contents monthly according to the theme I have chosen, however, most pockets remain the same.

In the front three pockets and 1 side pocket, I house all my craft tools – scissors, glue, single hole punch, circular paper punch and paper corner cutter.

20151207_161655406_iOS

In the other side pocket, I store stamping inks and acrylic blocks.

In the zipped pockets is my washi collection which I change depending on the theme – given it’s December, there is plenty of glitter featuring this month!

20151207_162110823_iOS

The middle compartment houses my blog planner and Kikki-K, post it notes and individual storage bags for die cuts and stickers. Again, I change up the contents of my Raffles Hotel zip purse and vintage leather case with a mixture of die cuts, both handmade and from my ever-growing selection from Craftie Charlie!

20151207_162414947_iOS

20151207_162400424_iOS

The stickers are pre-dominantly Planner Society and The Rest Girl as well as themed checklists downloaded from Etsy.

20151207_162532605_iOS

I am in love with this planner bag and it has certainly allowed me to bring back my creativity with planning since the Winter nights have drawn in. You can find the exact one here – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Storage-We-Memory-Keepers-Tote/dp/B00IR0M328/ref=sr_1_87?ie=UTF8&qid=1449513415&sr=8-87&keywords=We+R+Memory+Keepers – but I have since spotted alternatives in Hobbycraft too.

Happy planning!

x PB x

Getting Ready for Autumn (Part 2) – Setting up an Autumnal themed notebook

September 22, 2015September 22, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

When I sourced this gorgeous patent navy planner from Paperchase for the bargain price of £3, I knew I had to find a purpose for it (even though I certainly don’t need another planner for organisation).

With a small collection of Autumnal craft paper, stickers and embellishments, I decided to pull this all together and create a seasonal on-the-go notebook.

Taking inspiration from The Planner Society, The Reset Girl and Create with Beth, I decorated the inside pockets with some adorable cut outs from cardstock. Adding a mustard yellow and Cardinal purple paperclip and creating a paperclip using cardboard stickers (purchased from a Craftie Charlie) helped to bring the decoration together. I love the fox!

I added a gold spotted burlap dashboard to the front of the planner – the texture and colours really make this feel autumnal.

Following inspiration from The Planner Society, I was keen to add layers to the inside with contrasting colours and patterns. Making two envelopes for added storage, the Shimmelle navy floral pattern is just gorgeous and compliments the deep navy of the planner. I adore the Owls which again adds a fall flare and contrasts against the bold florals.

Making more paperclips using cardboard stickers brings depth and an element of fun!

To create some interest on plain notepaper, I turned to my paper buffet and used a safe green stamp of this adorable pencil from the Neat and Tangled stamp set.

I love having this notebook on-the-go and as well as being incredibly practical, it’s gorgeous to look at!

Links below!

x PB x

Craftie Charlie Autumnal Haul

– http://www.craftie-charlie.co.uk/echo-park-reflections-fall-12-x12-element-shape-stickers-rf53014.html

– http://www.craftie-charlie.co.uk/echo-park-reflections-fall-6-x6-double-sided-paper-pad-24-sheets-rf53023.html

– http://www.craftie-charlie.co.uk/simple-stories-sweater-weather-self-adhesive-chipboard-shape-stickers-5628.html

Hobbycraft – http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/shimelle-true-stories-12-x-12-inch-paper-pack-48-sheets/609160-1000

#Back2School4GrownUps – Haul Time!

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 hansjones1 Comment

I have been building up quite the small collection of recently purchased items, both planning and stationery related and both online and in-store.

So, first up – I have been to TKMaxx (surprise, surprise!) and found this gorgeous pad of craft paper. The colours are perfect moving into Autmn/Winter and will certainly be put to good use. A bargain too at £7.99.

As you will remember from my #Blogspiration post a week or so ago, I mentioned my admiration and slight obsession with The Reset Girl. When she announced that she had changed her store format to ready to ship, I knew I had to purchase something. To make the shipping (and customs!!) worthwhile, I bought a stack of stickers from her in her iconic patterns and colours. Along with some text stickers, I also purchased Craft Market and Simple Stories brand too as they were actually more reasonably priced in dollars compared to sterling. I love how Cori included some misfit stickers (which I can’t actually tell what is wrong with them) and a sweet little note! Highly recommend a visit!

So, Tesco have upped their stationery game and have this gorgeous collection of rose gold/pink metallic notebooks and pencil cases. I also spotted these 4 tabbed notebooks which I thought would be perfect inside a large Midori. Finally, this adorable peach and cream lace ribbon would go perfectly with the peach Kikki K – would make great page markers!

I recently spotted on Instagram these adorable stamps perfect for bloggers! From Neat & Tangled you place these stamps on an acrylic block and stamp away! They have been so useful when planning my blog posts and photos. I also use the To Do and Top 3 in my Erin Condren as they fit perfectly in the vertical boxes! Shipped from the US very quickly and no customs!

I made another purchase from Craftie Charlie – I love this UK based online store – they have such a wide collection, my wish list is forever growing! I spotted these absolutely amazing autumn/fall themed stickers and craft paper. Autumn is by far my favourite season – my birthday month is September, I love the going back to school feeling and the weather always seems to be beautiful. I can’t wait to decorate my planners with these beauties!

I am part of a number of groups on Facebook – Planner Dreams UK, Planner Dreams Sales UK, Paper and Glam Planning etc – I find these a great source for inspiration as well as networking with like-minded planner obsessed individuals. I recently purchased some items from Planner Dreams Sales UK. A great bunch of ladies who always seem to be having a de-stash and at very reasonable prices. These two notebooks, including postage, were less than £5 – will certainly be put to good use for my Autumn set ups. I also have some stickers on the way which I am very excited about. I highly recommend you join Facebook groups!

Finally, I found a rather significant bargain in Paperchase! Paperchase now have a loyalty card which gives you money off depending on your spending habits! Well, as you can imagine, I have made my fair share of purchases over recent months giving me £5 off my next spend. I spotted this beautiful patent navy planner. I think it is equivalent to a Filofax personal size. Reduced from £16 to £8, I used my £5 off so…..£3 in total!!

20150903_064148783_iOS

It is a perfect Autumn colour and I will be using my recent supplies to make this my #ListersGottaList journal. So, make sure you sign up to the loyalty scheme, highly recommended.

x PB x

#Back2School4GrownUps – Creating a JoulesDori

September 1, 2015September 1, 2015 hansjones1 Comment

With all the “research” I do on Instagram, I had been spotting these adorable leather bound notebook covers and thought I would investigate further.

Travelers Notebooks are now a regular addition in any #PlannerGirl collection and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Coming from the original Midori, the concept is quite simple – a plain piece of leather with an elastic band from top to bottom which is used to secure a notebook. An elastic band is placed over the closed notebook, keeping it in place. And depending on the brand and size, you can fit multiple notebooks making it the perfect On The Go planning tool

So, when I spotted this Joules passport cover in the sale recently (reduced from £19.95 to £9.95), I thought I would have a go. With a clear plastic sleeve that would usually house the passport and small pockets on the left hand side for anything else travel related, I thought it would make a perfect JoulesDori!

I purchased these small notebooks from Hobbycraft – they come in a pack of 3 with very pretty metallic designs. Placing the back cover into the sleeve, it secures the notebook perfectly.

I then added a series of cute embellishments to the pockets – mainly for a bit of eye candy when using it, however, the larger pocket is the perfect home for some stickers and page flags. I love the Dear Lizzy typewriter, Kate Spade paperclip and Shimmelle paper die cuts that I spotted in a photo by Christy Tomlinson, from The Planner Society.

Although the notebook is pretty on the outside, I felt it needed decoration on the inside. Using a page of the macaroon notepad from the August Cocoa Daisy kit, I added some glitter washi and tried my hand at stamping! Pretty impressed with my first attempt although I had to concentrate extremely hard – my OCD would not have allowed any black splodges!

I secured the notebook with a plain pink hair tie making it the perfect notebook to pop into your handbag and use on the go.

What do you think?

x PB x

The Pineapple & Button Co. R.O. (related objects!)

August 4, 2015August 3, 2015 hansjones1 Comment

Prior to setting up The Pineapple & Button Co. I had always be drawn to anything P & B related. I will share in time where the inspiration behind the name came from, but be reassured that for the past 5 or more years, anything Pineapple & Button shaped has come home with me! For example, you will recall from a previous post that one of mine (and Mr PB’s) favourite home accessory is our chrome Pineapple which stands proudly on our mantelpiece.

However, since writing this blog and sharing my passion for all things Stationery + Style, my attraction to P&B R.O. (Pineapple & Button Related Objects) has escalated. In part due to the sudden fascination we all have with Pineapples at the moment, it has become quite easy to add to the collection.

First up is the most adorable candle – it’s a pineapple and it’s teal – what more could this blog ask for! Another fab fact about this piece – it’s scented and smells divine. It will of course be one of those candles that is never lit but admired from afar. Purchased from Oliver Bonas, priced £12, however, I believe they are sold out. I will try and add a similar link below.

And perhaps, as is currently the case in P&B HQ, the pineapple will stand beside my next recent purchase – a white button photo frame. The finish is superb and I love the variety of buttons. Complimenting the brand colours, this photo frame will soon hold a picture of the P&B logo. Purchased from Paperchase, priced £8.

I shared on Instagram last week that the new uniform for The P&B Co. had arrived…..if only I could get away with wearing it every day…..H&M priced £12.99

Moving to the Stationery department – a very close friend of mine purchased me this brilliant Pineapple notebook as a thank you gift. The pages are decent quality and the spine is very flexible so it is easy to write in. You will notice from the picture that I have added tabs – watch this space as I will share in a later blog my process to upping this notebooks game!

My love of crafting and scrapbooking took me to the aisles of Hobbycraft one Saturday afternoon and I “stumbled” across this adorable button embossing punch. Not only does it cut out a button shape piece but also embosses the surround making adorable button like confetti. This will certainly go far with my decoration of planner pages.

As I am sure most of you that follow this blog will have come to learn, I have become a bona fide planner addict. So, what does every Planner Girl need….washi tape of course. And what washi tape should The P&B Co. own……pineapple washi tape. Having seen this washi tape in so many Instagram posts, I knew it would be hard to come by. I pre-ordered via the Little B page on Amazon and waited 4 weeks….that is planner dedication but oh so worth it.

Finally, last but by no means least. Whilst I am in love with my very own Pineapple & Button Co. Planner, I spotted the pineapple Emily Ley Simplified Planner whilst conducting “research”. Disappointed to see that it had sold out on her online store, I headed to Ebay where I was fortunate to find a lady in the UK selling one…..fate had arrived at my door. I purchased it not really knowing what purpose it would have but after watching plenty of inspirationals videos on YouTube, I decided to make this my blog planner – it only seemed right given the cover. I will share in a later post what my setup is and how I plan and decorate on a monthly & weekly basis.

So, I guess having stood back and adored my purchases, I really need to improve upon my hunt for Button goods. Has anyone found a B.R.O that you think would go perfectly with the collection?

Links below. Happy shopping!

x PB x

White Button Photo Frame – Paperchase – http://www.paperchase.co.uk/button-frame-white-4×6.html

Pineapple T-Shirt – H&M – http://www.hm.com/gb/product/11753?article=11753-E

Button Embossing Punch – Hobbycraft – http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/hobbycraft-button-emboss-punch/595786-1000

Pineapple Washi Tape – Little B via Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Foil-Pineapple-Tape-Gold/dp/B00VRKBJZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438632504&sr=8-1&keywords=little+b+pineapple

Emily Ley Simplified Planner – http://www.emilyley.com/

Adding inserts to The Pineapple & Button Co. Planner

July 28, 2015July 27, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

With my choice of binder and the inside covers decorated, the next stop was finding inserts!

I was pretty certain that I had got to grips with the purpose of my planner and was therefore quite focused on what I was looking for:

Monthly on 2 pages
Week on 2 pages
Notes
To Do

However, my perfectionist side meant that I had to do lots (and lots) of research to find the just the right ones – hands up all those that waste more time than they need to because the font is just “not quite right”!

Etsy was full of varying options – size, colour, layout – I actually started to feel a little overwhelmed with the choice even though I knew exactly what I was looking for. There is a lot of distraction when purchasing from Etsy – be warned.

The main problem I encountered was that most inserts were made to fit 6 rings and not 2. I wasn’t keen on having inserts that didn’t look like they had been made to measure the binder. So, I chose to head down the custom made option.

I contacted a few sellers directly and the first one to return my plea for help was Megan from Hurry Up & Plan. The range of fonts, layouts, colours and styles is very impressive. I shared what I was looking for. Megan made the process so easy, sending me links to the various options in her shop. She originally shared a dual Notes & To Do page – when I asked if it was possible to just have To Do and a page of bullet points, she was so accommodating and happy to help adjust to my preference.

The willingness to help just continued – as my binder was a slightly different size to the standard A5 Filofax or KiKKi K, Megan was more than happy to alter the print size so they fitted. She also sent them without hole punches so that I could do this myself to ensure they were in the right place.

The shipping was relatively quick given they were coming from overseas and Megan kept me up to date with my order along the way.

The end result is great and exactly what I was looking for. I have been using them for a few months now and there is very little I would change. I highly recommend you visit her shop!

In addition to the paper inserts, I also decided I wanted tab dividers. Had I known that I would venture towards this option, I would have requested from Hurry Up & Plan that the monthly and weekly inserts were printed as single months rather than a continuous year but they are still perfectly usable and I know Megan would have been happy to help!

I approached a UK based Etsy shop called My Pretty Week. Lisa designs tabbed dividers of all sizes and has a wide range of gorgeous patterns to choose from. There is a pre-made as well as a custom option to choose from. I opted for custom made as, again, my perfectionist streak wanted The Pineapple & Button Co. colours!

Just like Megan from Hurry Up & Plan, Lisa was so helpful and patient with my order. She provided an extensive range of colours and patterns to choose from and fitted round my unusual choice of binder. I chose the non laminated version with printed months and a Notes & To Do section as top tabs. Even though I have been using the planner for a few months, they are so durable and I am hopeful they will last a long time to come.

Shipping was quick and painless too! It was certainly a Pretty Week for me when these landed on my doorstep.

Thank you to you both for helping to bring this planner to life! Links to their shops are below.

What are your favourite Etsy shops? I still have a lot to learn about planners and would love to see what you guys have created or had custom made.

x PB x

Hurry Up & Plan – https://www.etsy.com/shop/Hurryupandplan?ref=hdr_shop_menu

My Pretty Week – https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyPrettyWeek

The Pineapple & Button Co. Planner starts to take shape!

July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 hansjones4 Comments

As you will know from my first planner blog a couple of weeks ago, I shared that my stationery addiction had taken me to another level, another world, another dimension!

You will also recall that whilst I am very keen to grab this obsession with both hands and embrace it, I don’t want to get too passionate too quickly. So I decided to use my love of scrapbooking and inspiration from the amazing planner community to create my own on a budget.

The process was fairly easy once I had racked up hours and hours of ” research” on YouTube, Pinterest, Etsy and fellow bloggers. Dashboards, dividers, paperclips, page markers, inserts…..I had a lot to achieve with this new planner but I was pretty certain how I wanted it to look and the purpose it would fulfil.

First stop – Staples. I picked up a Martha Stewart A5 2-ring binder. It was quite the bargain (of course!) reduced to £5. It would be the perfect way to house my planner until I had decided that this passion was long term.

As there was a lack of pockets on the inside of the planner, I needed (actually, wanted) to create a layout that was both practical and creative.

I scoured the shelves at TK Maxx and found some great pads of craft paper for around £5. Gold paperclips from Rymans (although I now know you can buy cheaper online) and my piece de la resistance – the Pineapple notepad from Paperchase!

Having watched some of you share your amazing setups, I was pretty certain on what the finished product would look like. I placed the Pineapple notepad on the inside cover for easy access. And to make sure it stood out, I placed some craft paper behind it – all of this was secured using double sided sticky tape.

The pocket was created by simply folding the double sided card and securing again with double sided tape and the paperclips were made following tutorials on YouTube. I also created some paperclip page flags using complimenting craft paper. The bow is from my superb stationery swap pal!

The back inside cover also needed some attention and I thought it would be the best place for a dashboard. Using the same techniques as the front inside cover, I created a wide vertical pocket to house Project Life cards and secured an array of sticky notes. In order to make sure they didn’t move, I had to use double sided sticky tape which means that I will probably need to replace the whole pocket once I’ve used them all. The pen loop was added and made extra wide to fit multiple pens.

I loved the process of deciding on the colour scheme and being able to add my own slice of creativity to an already creative world. It took me time and I will certainly admit that my perfectionist side didn’t cope well when lines were wonky or not symmetrical. But what I have learnt along the way is to embrace some of those imperfections.

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring!” – Marilyn Monroe

This planner may not be to everyones taste but I have fallen head over heels – my planner was taking shape and I couldn’t wait to use it. Next stop inserts…..

What are your favourite planner YouTube channels? Where do you get your inspiration from?

x PB x

Let’s style it up!

June 25, 2015June 22, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you will know that in one of my first posts, I shared that as well as Stationery, I am also very keen on interior. Let’s not pretend that this is verging on interior design. I did sign up to complete an interior design course… I just haven’t quite got round to finishing the programme.

However, I find other ways of researching interior fashions. That is usually a visit to T K Maxx!

I did this recently. In fact, I browse regularly. You never know what you will find. They regularly change their stock so I try to visit once every couple of weeks. I also love that there isn’t 15 of the same thing so hopefully you are adding a little bit of uniqueness into your home.

And guess what?! The unique found me and I found a pineapple! How convenient.

That came home with my right away. It would look perfect on my shelving around the fireplace.

When I positioned it, it looked a little lonely. I haven’t yet tracked down a large silver button, but if you spot one, let me know! So, it needed something extra.

I wanted to create an easy style to the shelving. A selection of items that look like they belonged. Therefore, I added some Posh Graffiti. Every household should have (one or more) of their products. Such a simple concept but with great results and can be used in a variety of surroundings. The addition of the initials was perfect. I haven’t fixed them to the wall, they just lean in which can be precarious when cleaning but it adds to that relaxed “oh, I just chucked that up there” look.

Finally, I spotted these seriously gorgeous rose gold, dusky pink tea light holders. Along with a lovely pair of inexpensive clear peach candlesticks, these tea light holders add a blast of colour but with softness. When lit, the colour is really ornate and, like, most of my purchases, they were cheap! Around £5 each which I think is a great price for something that draws the eye.