My old calendar planner, lasted 4 years!!

I like to make my own, the right size for my
purse, and room in the daily blocks to write appointments. The inside has 2 generous pockets in both the front and back.  The picture I put on the first page is one I painted, I put it there to give me the inspiration to continue painting!!  I insert 2 year monthly calendars, so I only go through making the pages and refilling the organizer every 2 years and it all fits perfectly in my purse!! Lots of my friends use their iPhone calendars, but I like to see a whole month at once, so I’ve made this one to fit my life perfectly!!

But now it’s time for a new organizer!!  I will take you through the steps for making it!!  It could be made any size you want, but I thought it easiest to work with 11X8″ computer paper.  These are the tools and materials needed.  I use reusable bags you can get at the checkout counter at TJMaxx or Joann’s.   I also use parchment paper for the pages, both the bags and paper are durable and last for a long time.  I use a sewing machine to put the cover together or I’ve sewn it by hand in the past.  These are the bags, the first one I use the sides of the bag for the inside cover, the bag behind I used for the outside of the planner cover because, I liked the big bright flowers.For the pages, I use a template that I made several years ago using my calligraphy skills and just copy as many pages as I want on the parchment paper!!  For a 2 year calendar, I copied 12 pages front and back and one page just one side for the first page, all done on my home printer.  To begin making the cover I place a calendar page over the pattern I want for the cover and cut about an inch more all the way around…

Then for the inside of the cover, I use the coordinating pattern of the other bag, I cut 2 strips large enough to overlap the cover by 3 inches and sew them together as the second picture shows.

After both sides are sewn together, turn 1-inch hem down on one side and sew.

Next, with the print facing inside sew the pieces together at the sides, so when you’re done it will look like an inside-out pillow sham with an open seam at the middle.

The next step is to turn it all right side out…now it really looks like a pillow sham!! The first picture is the outside of the cover and the second picture is the inside, just fold it in half and you have the 2 pockets. After the cover was ready for the pages, I wrote the months and year, enough for 2 years, on all the pages using my calligraphy pen, then put the numbers on all the days using a black pen.  A helpful hint, make sure ahead of time that your pens won’t bleed through to the other side of the page, I’ve made that mistake a few times!!  I use my iPhone calendar to make sure I have the correct days per month.   Also, it’s a tedious task but I did it while watching Hallmark movies😉

Then it’s time to sew it all together, by hand!!  This takes a lot of patience…the first picture shows the needle and thread I use, about 16 inches of 4 lines of thread with a knot at the end.  I start at the top sewing through the layers of paper attaching them to the cover, working down the page every inch and a half,  going front to back of the cover and then sewing back up reinforcing the seam, making a knot when you reach the top!!  I use a thimble to get the needle through the layers, wiggling the needle back and forth to get the holes in the paper!!

For my inspiration picture, on the first page I made a woman sitting in a lotus pose, to give me inspiration to be calm and exercise all through the year🙌 💪  I used my computer to get a graphic silhouette, then copied it on scrapbook paper and cut it out and glued it on the page!!

And the finished planner…

with the first page filled out!!IIt fits perfectly in my smallest purse!!!

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Nothing like a new hairdo and color to give you a lift going forth in the new year…my hairdresser Michelle is a master at coloring and can create magic!!

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Wishing you all a 2019 that fills your hearts with love, inspiration, beauty and magic!!

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