Prepare yourselves for the heaviest photo-filled post to date. I just couldn’t help myself. The Plum Paper Planner* is all that I can think about since unboxing it a week or so ago. It has me strongly considering saying goodbye to my Erin Condren to give it a whirl come January. That’s a bold statement, I know.
What’s so great about Plum Paper is just how customizable their planners are. Erin Condren has a ton of options, but Plum Paper has more. From 11 different layouts to choose from to add-ons galore, there really is a planner for everyone. I got the Vertical 3 Layoutbecause I love the style of an hourly without the hours. Now let’s get into the absurd amount of detail photos.
The planner starts out with your standard yearly overview and has a spread for important dates. It has another page for ideas, plans and goals that would work great for my accomplishment tracking I like to do. I love that there are two separate pages so I don’t have to choose between important dates or memory keeping. I can do both!
The note pages before the monthly view remind me a LOT of the Erin Condren ones. The circles are on both and I like that the Plum Paper planner gives you prompts for the extra spots. If you don’t want to use them for those categories they can easily be covered up with a sticker and used for something else. I already checked if my beloved habit tracker sticker can fit in the bottom section of this page and it most definitely does.
The monthly view is pretty standard, but it fits Erin Condren sized stickers. Another reason I’m considering cheating on EC. It’s so awesome to find so many planners that can fit our stickers that I’m really starting to be question my current planner setup.
The weekly view is filled with easy to write on lines with a handy three-priority checklist at the bottom that can be used for meals, main to do list items, or online content scheduling. Plus the columns are just the tiniest bit bigger than standard sticker sizing. I’m not that picky though so I’ll definitely be using stickers like crazy on these pages.
I opted to add some to do list pages dispersed throughout the planner because these could be really helpful to plan out monthly projects. Just write the project on the pink box and list all the tasks below it. I love the idea of seeing all the projects for the month on one page to. It’s like a master monthly to do list.
The add-on feature is probably my most favorite thing about Plum Paper planners. There are so many different options to choose from and they come with their own tab at the back of the planner. I opted for the blog one to see what it had to offer.
The blog add-on doesn’t mess around and includes things I didn’t even consider tracking. It’s in-depth, easy to use, and makes keeping track of all the nitty-gritty details a whole lot more enjoyable.
Overall I’m mad at myself for not checking out Plum Paper sooner. You can start the planner on any month you want, get it without a coil to put it into any planner system you choose, and it’s cheaper than Erin Condren planners even with a few add-ons (my planner was around $38 before shipping). My biggest complaint is that they don’t have interchangeable covers. I’m sure I could cut slits in the current cover and switch it out with Erin Condren ones, but it would have been the cherry on top of this planner if that option was available.
I’ve already got my eye on a few more add-ons and am planning out how to use this planner in 2018. If you haven’t checked out Plum Paper you definitely should. Don’t be like me and wait ages to figure out how awesome it is!
Of all the glorious planners I had my sights on for this year’s ultimate planner mashup (more commonly known as the “Which Planner to Choose in 2018” video), the Get to Work Book was at the top of the list. This gorgeous calligraphy filled beauty oozed productivity in all the Instagram posts. In person it doesn’t disappoint. It feels like a back-to-your-roots kind of planner focused on no-fuss, goal-oriented planning. On to the nitty-gritty.
The cover is a high-quality matte black cardboard-like material and opens up to a 2018 at a glance spread. Great for project planning, event planning, or tracking monthly accomplishments. I’ve grown accustomed to this page in planners and look for it while scouting out new layouts. It’s such a handy addition.
Before each month there is a reflection and goal setting page. As someone who has a hard time making and tracking goals, I find this really helpful. It helps to work through goals to figure out whats most important to focus on.
The page right before the monthly view is what sent my heart a flutter over this planner in the first place. The typography and quotes are swoon worthy. Plus the “this month is all about” section at the bottom helps to set a focus to the month ahead. It’s so thought out it’s insane.
The monthly view is simple, but in the best kind of way. The grey tones really make plans and writing stand out so you can quickly look to see what’s on the agenda without having the planner distract. This book is all about productivity and thought out design. I can get behind that for sure.
Another huge highlight of this planner? It fits Erin Condren standard size stickers. SCORE. The monthly view’s boxes are 1.5 inches wide so you could snazz up the planner with a bit of color if that’s more your style.
The weekly view keeps the productivity going with action items on the sidebar, three top priorities for every day, and a ton of space to write daily to do lists. It also fits standard sizes stickers perfectly. I don’t think I could be more psyched about finding new planners that still work with my love of stickers. A few functional stickers here and a dash of decorative there and this planner will reach epic levels for me.
The back section of the planner has some note pages, but also a few of these project pages to break down large tasks into more manageable objectives. Great for small business owners, students, or people who have projects for their work.
I have two complaints with this majestic beast. The tabs stick out past the cover. Their lamination is thick enough to likely stand up to wear and tear, but if you tend to throw planners into bags like I do, you may want to be a bit more careful with this one. Plus at $55 it’s more expensive than even Erin Condren planners which are on the high end for a lot of people. The price definitely makes me stop and think a little harder on this one despite loving so much about it. If it’s a planner you love and will use happily for an entire year, it’s worth the investment.
The simplicity is a serious strength while the typography is motivating and gorgeous to look at. I find myself feeling more productive just holding this meaty planner. It’s definitely one to consider if you’re looking for something without too much fluff that you can add your own flair to.
The first of the many, many planner reviews is here! I’m starting with a planner I’ve used in the past in a smaller size and loved to pieces. So let’s get into the nitty gritty of the 2018 Rifle Paper Co Lively Floral 17-Month Planner*
The layout of this planner can be found throughout all of the Rifle Paper Co planners, but what drew me to this planner in particular is the size. I love how big and in charge it looks on my desk for writing to do lists.
The cover is thick, hard, and seems like it will hold up to a year’s worth of wear and tear pretty well. I do wish the corners had metal covers as those tend to get beat up over time, but the size of this planner leans more towards desk usage rather than a planner you carry around on a regular basis.
One of the most interesting layout features on this planner is how all of the monthly views are located under one tab at the beginning of the planner rather than dispersed throughout. It’s different (in a good way) to be able to flip through the entire year quickly rather than having to jump throughout the planner, but at the same time I don’t find myself desperately needing this feature. I love it when I’m using this planner, but don’t miss it when I’m not.
Before we get into the monthly views, the front of the planner has the basic pages you want in a planner but don’t necessarily use too often. The 2019 overview is pretty standard without much fluff. I do wish there were more floral designs dispersed throughout beyond just the cover. Rifle Paper Co is known for their iconic designs so it would have been nice to get a few more.
The important dates page could be used for big events or birthdays throughout the year, but I would probably use it for memory/accomplishment keeping. It’s my favorite way to really get a lot of use out of these pages. Plus it’s always so cool to look back on after just a few months.
The most exciting thing about the standard looking monthly view is the sizing of it. This planner fits Erin Condren sized stickers! It would be incredibly easy to add a bit of sticker addiction into these pages. There’s a handy little notes sidebar for the monthly view as well.
The weekly view is why I fell in love and used a smaller version of this planner last year. This is the best agenda I’ve found to use for to do lists. Sure bullet journals and traveler’s notebooks are all the rage right now, but the simplicity and ease of using this for lists can’t be beat. I love how it limits the number of items you can have each day (you get less lines as you go down in sizes) and how it focuses more on to do’s rather than events.
You could always add a sticker or two next to the date with any events or appointments you have, making this a great work planner. It worked wonders for my work-from-home life. There’s definitely room for themes and stickers in this planner, but I would shy away from full weekly kits and coordinate some functional and decorative things instead.
There’s a incredibly roomy pocket in the back with a little ruler detailing on the side. The perfect place to stash some favorite stickers or save paperwork for a current project.
For $34 this planner is simple, yet incredibly useful and functional for to do lists. It would be a fantastic planner for work or even for school to write down assignments and tests while using the monthly views for events. It’s also the planner that started to shake up my confidence in using Erin Condren planner exclusively. It started to really go down hill when more planners arrived a few weeks ago. There’s no fuss or expectations with it and that’s what makes it so great. You could quickly jot down things you need to get done one week and then go sticker crazy the next. It lets you be you a lot more than other, popular planners.
Prepare your eyeballs for an avalanche of planner reviews coming to you soon! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletterso you don’t miss a single one.
What do you think of this planner? Too simple or with room to personalize?
If you’re even remotely into the planning community then you’ve probably heard about die cuts. They come as either cardstock pieces or stickers (this took me way too long to figure out) to add larger decoration to your planner, bullet journal, or traveler’s notebook. They’re incredibly popular, but I often get asked what you use them for since we sell quite a few in our shop. I’ve got you covered.
1. Stick them throughout your planner. I have them scattered throughout on title pages, monthly quote pages, and on the pockets in the back. It’s a fun way to add a pop of creativity without much effort.
2. Laminate them so they stand up against wear and tear. You’ll be able to clip them onto a pocket in your traveler’s notebook, use it as a bookmark or washi them on to a dashboard while being able to use it again and again.
3. Put them on your laptop to add personalization to your belongings. I also like to put mine on notebook covers.
4. Laminate them and turn them into paperclips. Use some hot glue to attach your laminated die cut to a paperclip!
5. Give them as little gifts in snail mail. Die cut stickers aren’t just for planner addicts. A lot of my non-planner friends love these larger stickers. It’s like a throwback to the machines at the front of the supermarket. Add one into your next letter to a friend and they’ll definitely write back a thank you.
At the end of the day die cut stickers are just larger versions of your favorite designs so return to your kid roots and start slapping them everywhere.
Although I’m still traversing the confusing world of traveler’s notebooks, I have found a few favorite shops for supplies that make things a whole lot easier to get started and to settle in. Here’s all my favorite places.
For the notebook itself
Chic Sparrow is my top choice. Right now they don’t have a lot to choose from on their website as they’re releasing new leathers soon, but I find the quality and the variety the best. I have spent my fair share of time on the Foxy Fix website, but theirs seem a lot more expensive than Chic Sparrow and I much prefer the more natural colors that Sparrow has to offer. It’s all personal opinion though so shop around and choose a company you like best.
For inserts
I have to do a bit of self-promotion here. If you happen to have A6 sized notebooks (B6 is coming soon) then Oh, Hello Stationery has some seriously awesome dot grid notebooks. All of our patterns are hand-drawn so they’re unique and gorgeous to look at. If you want actual calendars and such, Sew Much Craftingand The 1407 Plannersare the places I go to,
I ramble on about all my favorites in today’s video and a few other things not mentioned in this post. If you have any recommendations of favorite shops for supplies, leave them in the comments!
For as long as I’ve used an Erin Condren Life Planner, I’ve had the hardest time figuring out how to use the twelve boxes at the front of the planner. Honestly I basically ignored it completely until this past July when an idea struck me. It’s the perfect spot to track monthly accomplishments.
I’m using my boxes to track things that have happened with Oh, Hello Stationery Co. every month, but of course you could use yours for other accomplishments. They’re great for work accomplishments, family highlights, baby’s firsts, and so on. Plus if you do a yearly holiday card, scrapbook, or photo album, you won’t have to try and figure out what happened in the last year. It’ll already be written down in a handy location.
Plus nothing feels better than seeing all of your accomplishments in one place. It’s so easy to get wrapped up from day to day that you don’t realize all that you’re getting done. Oh, Hello changes so quickly that I rarely stop to notice exactly how much we do. This page is a great reminder. A brag board of sorts.
If you don’t happen to have an Erin Condren, find a spare notes page and draw up a few boxes. Whenever something exciting happens in a month, jot it down. You’ll be surprised at how much you accomplish after just a few months.
