Seriously – this summer is just flying by! It’s already the third Thursday of the month and that means it’s time to link up all things memory related with Alexandra and me: planners, Project Life, scrapbooking, anything goes! Today, I’m going to talk about planner decorating and how I go about doing mine. Please share your own tips and tricks in the comments!
Why I Decorate My Planner After the Fact
Last year I decorated a lot of my planner months in advance. I went a little washi tape and sticker happy. While I like the look of it, for the most part, I’m doing something a bit different this year. I go and write down the things I’m doing/need to do as I think of them, but I don’t really decorate my planner until after the fact.
For example, the above photo is last weekend. I went to a movie in the park with my oldest niece and nephew and my mom, and it was the movie ELF for Christmas in July, so I added a snowflake. The next day I saw Ant-Man and the Wasp with my mom and sister, and I added a line of ant stickers! I didn’t do this until after the events though.
Why I Decorate My Planner After the Fact #ontheblog (+ blog hop!) #planning #planners Click To TweetI think it looks a bit better this way. Granted, it can be tough to fit stickers around what I’ve written, but I like the idea of going back and decorating the planner for the things that I’ve done.
This above photo is the past three Wednesdays. I added some fun patriotic washi tape for July 4th. On July 11th, my mom and I went to a paint and sip type of place and we did a mason jar full of lemonade so I put a lemonade sticker in honor of that! Yesterday, July 18, I had training at work and we all brought in items to have a bit of an indoor picnic. I put the Girl Boss At Work sticker just for fun!
When Do I Decorate Ahead of Time?
Now, just because I decorate things post-event doesn’t mean I don’t also decorate upcoming events here and there. I try and stick to the things that I know will happen as I don’t want to be decorating things that will ultimately get canceled.
Next Wednesday, July 25, I’m seeing Niall Horan and Maren Morris in concert with a friend. Unless something weird happens like sickness, this will be happening as we have tickets. I put a This Moment Rocks sticker as a bit of a play on words – rocks because the music is a bit “rock” (pop-rock, country-rock, if you will) and because I imagine it will rock seeing both of these people live since I love their music!
How Do You Decorate Your Planner?
If you have a planner, do you decorate it? When do you do it – ahead of time, or after the fact? Or maybe a mix of both? Let me know in the comments!
Did you like this post? Check out how I save possible events in my planner!
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This is awesome! I think I would probably end up decorating as I went. I need to get better with my planner, it’s so boring!
I haven’t added any stickers lately, but I just got some new pens that I hope to use in my planner!
I used to rely solely upon a digital calendar until mine was suddenly just gone one day! I realized how important a backup calendar is. Now I use a paper planner each year and find that I really like having that physical reminder of the things I need to do.
I like to use a hang up calendar, but I never really thought about decorating it! Seems like that would be fun. Thanks for the post!
This is so cute! I’ve tried keeping a planner and it just next works out well. But it’s hard to go wrong with cute washi tape.
I usually decorate mine ahead of time, but it is hit or miss. Some months I get busy and I just write in it and I don’t decorate it. I really enjoy the months more when I have time to spruce it up! Yours looks way better than mine! Ha!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I love this! I don’t have a planner. I try to keep track of stuff in a diary but when I work so much anything can get forgotten. I don’t plan much because of work too. I’d love to have a diary like a sentence a day but I don’t know if I’d stick with it. I’m not very creative to do a planner like yours but I live it
I used to love paper planners but I am all digital now. I love yours though!
That is a great idea! I always keep my planners, so I really need to start doing that!
I am not really into decorating my planner (despite having several supplies to do so), but more into the planning portion. I use washi tape to plan out what posts I’ll have up and move them about accordingly. I do lots of check lists in advance, but am definitely guilty of falling behind. Sometimes it can feel like having a planner is work in itself.
Decorating before or after, who cares. Do what makes you happy. Besides you have a nice memory when you look back.
I started out the year using stickers and highlighters in my planner but lately I haven’t been using either quite as much. I also do it after the fact, and I also try to write down things I want to remember from certain days or events. I don’t have a lot of space to do that though–next year I think I’ll get a planner that has more day-to-day space.
I have a hard time decorating my planner! Usually, it’s all just scribbles of things I have to get done, blog post ideas, and random writing inspiration! Since I don’t have time to decorate it myself, I always try to get a planner that is pretty and has a design I really like!
What a great idea! I’ve never thought about going back afterwards but that makes a lot of sense if you’re too busy to get to it ahead of time and still want a pretty planner to look at later. I just bought a bunch of washi tape too lol
I have a planner and all the stickers with the best of intention of decorating it and then I never do. You’ve inspired me to get mine decorated!
I am not a bullet planner or decorator, but I love looking at what other people do.
I am all digital and boring, but I love that this is sort of like s diary journal.
This is a really fun idea! I’m pretty minimal when it comes to my own planner, but I admire people who enjoy spending time decorating theirs. It’s a great way to be creative!
Everyone does their planner so differently! I USUALLY decorate beforehand – but I don’t get too crazy. I wish I could make mine look as pretty!
I like the idea of decorating after you’ve done something! I think it keeps the moment alive a little longer, and it means you can pick a sticker or decoration that really fits with what you did. I’ve never had a planner or bullet journal because I’m afraid it would be ugly and I’d end up hating it, haha. But I hope one day I might get over that fear and do one just for fun. I think I would go silly with getting decorations for it, though. All the stickers and motifs and washi type calls to me!!
I used to do this alot with my diaries in the past. Plan ahead but decorate as I go or after the event. Your stickers are great – how cool are the ants!
This makes me want to buy a planner so I can start decorating 🙂
I like the way you mix pre-decorating and post-decorating. Makes perfect sense. Some things you can totally plan ahead, others you can fine tune after the fact.
In think I would decorate much the same way. Some events early in anticipation and others after the fact to remember something special
Such a cool idea! Slap a few photos from your events in there, and it becomes the most simple scrapbook ever too!
That’s really awesome! That way your decorations relate to things that actually happened, and it turns your planner from a pretty planning tool into a scrapbook of memories! <3 I love it!
I think it makes sense to decorate after the fact. I’m glad you’re having fun with it!!
Wow, that’s impressive! I have a diary that I use from day to day for my work but it’s not pretty at all – it’s just lines of work, work, work. I wish it looked nicer! I love yours!
I love the idea of all these elaborate planners! I am a huge scheduler. I just never find the time to decorate and make these awesome planners
Your pages look so good! I tend to have a pretty boring planner – no decorations at all beyond what were already there when I bought it, lol.
How pretty and what an exciting concert to look forward to! I really should get a pen and paper planner, because I do quite enjoy doodling. Everything is on my phone now and those beeps and whistles aren’t always fun 🙁
Decorating after everything makes so much sense! If I ever started using planners again, I’d probably decorate SURE events beforehand, but the others as they happen. 🙂 It’s be more fun and I won’t forget anything that way.
Such a fun topic and one I can relate to as well. I went crazy with my first planner decorating in advance, and I really screwed it up.(lol) Eventually, I had a little more patience and took my time with what I wanted. There a few things I decorate after the fact, but mostly I stick to doing it at least a month early. Hope you’re having a great weekend! Hugs…RO
This is a really good idea! That way if something is rescheduled, you don’t have to try to meticulously remove the sticker. LOL
I don’t have a planner. I try to stay away from hobbies where I could spend a lot of money, and I have looked at planner stuff. I so could go wild with that!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I like that you’ve started decorating your planner after you’ve done things! It makes the images and stickers more relevant to what you’ve been doing. I love the little line of ants that you added after watching Ant-Man and the Wasp! <3
? Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?
I admit, I am not one to decorate my planner. I simply use a bit of washi tape and that’s all. Although, I love the idea of decorating it after. That’s something I’ll need to try! x
-Leta | The Nerdy Me
I always enjoy looking at everyone’s planners. I just recently started using one again but I don’t add any kind of decoration. I am boring like that 🙂 It does make sense to decorate after the event though.
I try to decorate in advance but sometimes life catches up to me and I end up keeping my bujo pretty minimal.
I love this idea to decorate after. It’s kinda like scrapbooking! And it makes it really cute to include stickers that are relevant to the things that happened!
I think stickers are a super fun way to document in your planner and to motivate yourself! I love how you are using them for events, etc. After the fact is ok too! 🙂 I’ve been that way for months now! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I really should have more fun with my planners! I am always envious of those who make theirs so fun and beautiful. I like your idea of decorating afterwards. Maybe I should give it a try. 🙂
I do mine the start of every week but I also bujo so there’s complete pages otherwise. lol
The only decoration on my planner is stickers that I put on the covers when I get cool ones. The inside of mine is such a mess! Love that you do this though.
Such a great idea, I decorate as I add things in to suit what we’re doing!
I don’t tend to decorate mine! Yours looks fab though and makes it nicer to go through afterwards. Thanks for sharing with #bloggersbest x
I am a self confessed planner addict. I love decorating my planners too #bloggersbest
oh I have to smile at this question because I don;t think I have found what works for my BuJo yet! I tried decorating before, during and after and.. huummm… I still don;t think I found my Mojo 🙂
I do think it is better post-event but i never find the time! I love the “This Moment Rocks” sticker! I does say it all! 🙂
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