Better late than never….

May 4, 2016 hansjonesLeave a comment

As you will all know by now, I am an avid fan of The Planner Society Kits. My regular monthly happy mail and it has yet to disappoint.

When the February kit landed on my doorstop, I knew exactly how I intended to use it but I had to be patient…..I shall explain!

I have decided that I am a 1-planner-at-a-time girl. I’ve tried multiple planners but I just forget to use the other one or I end up getting confused in an over-organised sort of way.

I have been using my large ice-blue perforated Kikki-K as an every day planner – work and home to-do lists, appointment tracking and general notes.

However, having just stopped work to have my first baby (!!), I knew I wouldn’t need the space of a large Kikki-K for my every day use. I therefore purchased the medium ice-blue perforated in the Kikki-K sale to use for the next 9-12 months.

20160503_140639203_iOS

So…that’s the background, now onto the creative part!

I managed to hunt down a set of personal sized Kate Spade inserts from a seller in the UK. If any of you get the opportunity to purchase a set, I highly recommend it – the paper quality is fantastic and I love the addition of the polka dots!

The blue and blush pink of the papers and accessories were made for this planner! Creating 3 dividers for Calendar, To-Do and Notes using the We R Memory Keepers Tab maker, I added some of the gorgeous ephemera from the kit to decorate the dividers. Putting through my laminator ensures that they last.

20160503_140500538_iOS

20160503_140611012_iOS

20160503_140618272_iOS

The inside pockets were a challenge as I’m used to the size in my large Kikki-K. However, the size of pockets is perfect for sticker storage of the PS Kit stickers – great for on-the-go! The addition of a couple of the page flag sheets and some more ephemera and bows converted into paperclips adds some definition to the pockets.

I am a huge lover of my Polaroid Zip printer that Father Christmas bought me – it’s super handy, super cute and adds a personal flair to my planner. So, I dedicated a space in the front section to my favourite photo.

20160503_142324000_iOS

I also created a simple page marker and laminated card to hold the adorable note pad – both of these are removable so I can transfer from week to week easily.

20160503_140534919_iOS

I am so happy with the final result and pleased that my patience paid off……

Hope this inspires!

x PB x

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

Plan with me! #beforethetodolists

January 26, 2016January 25, 2016 hansjonesLeave a comment

After sharing my set up in my ice blue Kikki-K Condren, I was asked by many of you how I plan on a weekly basis.

20160125_114134915_iOS

So, here is a plan with me for this week.

I certainly love the ability to be creative with my planner, however, my inability to make decisions easily means that once I have found a method of decorating that I like, I stick with it for a while until my creative flair inspires me otherwise.

On a Sunday evening, I sit with my We R Memory Keepers storage bag, The Planner Society kit, The Reset Girl stickers and a bunch of other goodies and decorate for the coming week.

20160125_114158609_iOS

I only actively use this planner Monday-Friday for my work and home to do lists. So, the first step I take is to cover up Saturday and Sunday with some gorgeous paper. I am in love with the notepad from The Planner Society December kit and with a little bit of washi and some stickers, it makes perfect use of the weekend columns I don’t need. This notepaper is ideal for jotting down ideas for blogs, shopping list or general to-do’s. Adding a gumball sticker from The Reset Girl with some inspirational stickers completes this half of the week. If I fancy, I may had a Erin Condren box sticker depending on how busy the week is.

20160125_114252586_iOS

20160125_114300358_iOS

Moving back to the first half of the week, I repeat a similar process with the craft paper, adding a piece to the lined column and embellishing with The Planner Society to-do pad and stickers. Who doesn’t adore the girls in The Planner Society kit from December?!

20160125_120726702_iOS

With a choice sticker for the thankful thought, that is pretty much it for the week as every blank inch is full by Friday 5pm!

20160125_114325568_iOS

Finally, using these “too cute to handle” cards and wooden embellishments from The Planner Society Kit, I created an extra large page marker. It adds to the decoration as well as being practical!

I’ll probably change up my decorating routine in February – use the hashtag #beforethetodolists on Instagram to shower me with inspiration! I love looking at all your planner layouts and decorating.

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

Kikki-K Haul – Singapore

December 14, 2015December 7, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

My recent trip to Malaysia and Singapore could not have been complete without a trip to Kikki-K!

Full to the brim with crisp ice blue and warm coral and peach planners, it made making decisions very difficult. However, I did eventually leave with a small bag full and here is what I purchased.

Of course, the main star of the show had to be the ice blue perforated ring bound planner. I know there has been lots of chat in the Facebook groups I follow about the perforation and whether it is completely practical, however, having seen all the planners up close and personal, I felt that this design was the most unique and looked less like your ordinary ring bound planners. I have certainly received plenty of comments and oohs and aahs…..

I was slightly disappointed to not have the zipped pocket inside the planner but there is certainly plenty of space to either be practical or creative!

Along with the planner, I purchased 2 sticker books- one for the festive season and another original Kikki-K book full to the brim of beautiful gold foil and colourful stickers.

A set of post it notes could not be missed off the list complimenting the blue planner, an adorable mechanical pencil in the style of a tradition pencil and a cute little wooden Christmas tree completed the shopping spree!

Next stop….Kikki-K in London!

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

#Back2School4GrownUps – Weekly Planning!

September 15, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

There is one main reason why I fell in love with planning and it has nothing to do with being more organised……It’s all about the decoration.

Looking at all the inspirational posts on Facebook and Instagram made me realise the fun involved in planning your week and decorating the pages giving you some eye candy to look at every day.

So I thought I would share how I plan in both the Erin Condren and Simplified Planner to give back some inspiration!

As you will recall from my previous post, I use the Erin Condren as my go-to every day planner – work, home, blog and social. I chose the vertical layout, partly because it is iconic EC design but also to give my maximum space for my different to do lists.

I downloaded these adorable checklist stickers from Peach Paper Co on Etsy and they are perfect. I love that they are themed to the monthly colour adding some flair to the pages.

I use the top box for work to do’s. These sometimes follow into the middle box if its particularly busy but if not, the middle box is home related chores – calls, cleaning, shopping lists etc. The final box is always used for my blog post to do’s.

I found these fantastic stamps on Neat and Tangled specifically for bloggers but some of the more generic stamps are great for everyday use. Using an acrylic block and NAME OF STAMP, these create a bold print and are the perfect height for the boxes.

Once I have filled out all the boxes at the beginning of the week, I fill the blank space with plenty of paper craft, stickers, die cuts and stamps. Using a paper buffet of greys, black and white and floral, I also used The Reset Girl stickers and script stickers from Simple Stories and Craft Market. Links below!

The Simplified Planner is my blog planner. I use the monthly spread to plan what topics I will be writing about and the weekly sections to track my social media activity and visits to my blog. This has really helped to see which posts are more popular.

As I write blogs on a Tuesday and Thursday, the monthly layout gives me plenty of room to be creative. Again, using a paper buffet and stickers from The Reset Girl, Craft Market and Simple Stories, I love how this spread turned out.

For the weekly layout, I use these social media icons to write the number of likes against each one. I add my blog visits in the meal planning box and the title to keep track of the topic. Any blank space at the end of the week is of course decorated! I hope this has given you some inspiration in return for all the wonderful posts you share! Please comment and let me know what you think! Happy planning everyone

x PB x

The Reset Girl stickers – http://www.theresetgirlshop.com/

Checklist stickers – https://www.etsy.com/uk/transaction/1058311206

#Back2School4GrownUps – Lets Get Organised!

September 8, 2015September 7, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

Since launching into the world of planning, I have come to release the importance of organising my planning supplies – not only does this make the hoards of washi tape, pens, stickers and accessories look even better but it also helps me to plan in the most efficient way.

Vintage Letter Rack

I converted this letter rack into the most perfect planning storage. A gorgeous dark wood passed down to me by a family member, it stands with pride on the corner of my desk. I had thought about painting it but I love the vintage feel.

The width of the slots make for a great washi holder (with plenty more room for more which is always important!). The pens and the stickers fit perfectly at the back of the unit with journal cards and accessories in the front for easy access. I always have this by my side when planning for the week.

Websters Color Crush Planning Case
I purchased this Webster Color Crush planning case from eBay. Complimenting the Pineapple and Button Co colours, it’s great to have in your handbag along with your planner of choice.

With 3 pockets of varying sizes, it holds a substantial amount of on-the-go planning accessories – washi tape, pens, sticky notes, stickers, paperclips. A must for any stylish #GirlBoss.

This divine wrap pencil case was a gift from Mr PB for our wedding anniversary. A beautiful soft tan leather, it smells incredible. Coming into Autumn, it makes for an adorable accessory.

It’s a great size too, holding washi tape, paperclips, pens and a few stickers. I have started using this along with my navy patent Paperchase planner as this seasons staples.

Being such a fan of The Reset Girl, I have learnt many a new technique for upping my planning game! The one significant tip is creating a paper buffet.

Selecting paper stock in complimenting colours for my chosen theme – whether it be my EC, Simplified Planner or an autumn notebook – and then cutting them into circles, squares and page flags, really makes creating a layout easy peasy lemon squeezy as well as being super fun! I store the paper buffet in these simple dishes and change the contents up each month.

Look out for layout designs soon!

What do you like to store your planning supplies in?

x PB x

#blogspiration

August 20, 2015August 20, 2015 hansjones1 Comment

Some people have asked me how I continue to write blogs twice a week. How do I find content and something to talk about? Well, most of my inspiration comes from those around me – my family, my friends, my travels. But possibly most importantly, I am inspired by those that I follow on social media and the magazines and blogs that I read consistently.

It may seem a small milestone but we have recently achieved 100+ followers on Instagram and I have come to realise the power behind a loyal following. So, to share my gratitude and appreciation, I thought I would share my top blogs & favourite magazines as well as the ever growing YouTube & Instagram accounts.

Stationery & Planning

BLOGS

StudioCalico, StudioL2E and My Marvelous Life – the wonderful individuals behind all these blogs inspire me in a variety of ways. The photos, the content and just the ability to motivate me to want to improve on my life skills!

http://www.studiocalico.com/blog

http://www.studiol2eblog.com/

http://www.mymarvelouslife.com/

YOUTUBE

TheResetGirl – where do I start to express how much of a considerable impact Cori has had on my planning style. By far, the one and only planning and scrap booking YouTuber you should watch. She consistently shares inspiring stories and creations that want me to try and try again to make it perfect. But it goes beyond Planning and is more about women being strong leaders and making a name for themselves in a hobby they love – true inspiration.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrX05bknKFXthMyadIthwQ

INSTAGRAM

theplannersociety

theinkroad

createwithbeth

theresetgirl

GeraldineJayne

If a picture could speak a thousand words! Well, these ladies Instagram feeds will make you drool and want, want want in Stationery and Planning! Warning – enabler alert if you follow them!

Style

MAGAZINES

I regularly purchase;

25 Beautiful Homes

Country Living

House and Garden

Elle Decor.

Spending my Sunday evenings surrounded by magazines and adding inspiration to my interior scrapbook is the most satisfying feeling. Added to that is the excitement of scouring the stores during the week to find as close to equivalents of my interior wish list!

INSTAGRAM

Talk about #stylegoals, SophiePatersonInteriors is beyond inspiring. Her ability to decorate and dress a room is simply sensational! Follow, follow, follow!

I also regularly seek inspiration from CulinaryConcepts – I have shared my candle collection which features their products and there are plenty of style related blogs to come!

Find my Instagram account – pineapplebuttonco – and you will see these ladies on my following list.

I hope that have given you all some inspiration – please share your favourites below!

x PB x

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.