21 October, 2015

A Quick & Easy Christmas Planner with Folders

Hi Bloggers

The Christmas Shop on the website is now OPEN & it reminded me that the Season is just around the corner.  Instead of having a pad with notes etc, I decided that a planning book would be ideal. 

     Somewhere to list: 

  • the menus, shopping list & recipes,
  • ideas for quick snacks & the supplies needed for the pantry; also some new recipes
  • gifts to also include Kris Kringles
  • ideas for 'Thank You' gifts for invitations
  • and more
This book uses the NEW Vintage Christmas Papercraft kit - the papers are 5.4"sq so they make it easy for a 6" book.  I decided to do black cardstock since it is a planner & will be used a lot.  Highlight mats for the front & back cover were done in dark green cardstock.  I used lots of hinge clips. 



Front cover is kept simple & has no embellishing except for the green mat & a stamp.


A side view of the book shows the 3 folders with copy paper inserts.


Inside cover shows one of the patterned paper squares with its matching strip.  The strip is actually on the cover of the first working folder. All the strips were attached with foam tape so that notes, ideas, recipes etc. could be stuck in.  
Make sure that you make the spine large enough to hold all - better to be larger than smaller.  This one is 2.25" & has plenty of room for expansion.  
The cover & pages have been kept simple with little embellishments since it is a 'quick & easy' & also a working planner.
Page 2 has some paper in the hinge clip for quick notes - this paper is 3.4" & is part of the cutoffs of the paper inserts.  If you wanted to have lines on the paper, you could get a couple of the cheap exercise books at the newsagents.



There are 3 folders of paper - I chose 3 but you could easily add more.  The black cardstock is cut into 6x12", marked with a pencil at centre & then scored 0.5" from centre on each side - result is a 0.5" gutter which, when the book is finished, is then glued to the inside of the spine. The white copy papers are folded in half & then cut 5.5"sq.  I cut the outer edge last so that the papers aligned. This pic shows the inside of the first folder & its paper sheets along with a magnet to mark a place to come back to or where an idea needs to be finished.


The folded magnet



Another magnet holds some cheesy snacks pics & menu


Another magnetised clip hold more menus & the opposite strip holds tags.


On the left is the back of the first folder with space for pics, ideas, pages from a catalog or recipes.  On the right is the front of the second  black folder.  The folders hold the note paper - I used rubber bands but you could use crystal stretchy cord for jewelry or a very thin elastic cord.  You can see the rubber band down the middle.


Inside the second folder - the left side is a clip holding paper for quick notes, a 'to do' list or a shopping list.  The right side shows the inserts of the 2nd folder.


The inside back of the second folder has a large pocket with a clip



On the left is the back of the 2nd folder with a strip for a pocket.
The right shows the front of the 3rd folder


Inside the 3rd folder - note clip & papers  & paper insert.  A little bit of fussy cutting of one of the ephemera & some tags.


The inside back of this folder with another pocket & more note papers in the clip


The back of the 3rd folder with another pocket.  Inside the back cover is kept simple


The back cover & spine with some deco on the spine.

You could add a closure to this book or a band to keep everything inside.

The idea for this planner came from a YouTube video of one of my favourite paper artists - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3BJAd9Dak
Hers was full of fussy cutting & very fancy & not simple but a great idea - she made file folders with tabs.

You could easily make a mini planner using any kind of paper.  It would also lend itself to being full of notes from guests at a special party with pics from the party, a menu, guest list...  a baby shower, wedding shower, 21st birthday - lots of occasions.

Please visit the Christmas shop for lots of ideas, papers, embellishments etc at:

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