WOYWW – Altered Calendar Tutorial

Altered Planner
Happy WOYWW to you, dear friends! How often do you review your WOYWW posts and look for patterns and connections in what you’re creating? It’s not often that I do, but this year, I see a thread as January unfolds. My first WOYWW of the year, New Year, Blank Slate, was about my huge new desk calendar and all that would unfold as the year progressed. Last week, I gave you a peek at a project I was working on as I wrote about Fiskars Paper Trimmers. Today, I’d like to share my first creation of 2012. I altered and personalized my daily calendar/planner – and I thought I’d share some tips for those of you who would like to do the same!

Franklin Covey Planner - Botanika Cover

The planner that I altered for this project was Franklin Covey’s Botanika planner – isn’t it lovely? I received this planner from my friend Melanie Moore at Only A Breath. I love its soft beautiful colors and the look of hand-stamped images on its interior pages. Here’s a peek inside:

Franklin Covey Planner - Botanika Interior

Because the color scheme is so prevalent throughout this book – it’s on the tabs and it’s on the each page – selecting papers and embellishments that coordinated with the book were an essential part of this project. So, my first step was to take a stroll through my stash and select the perfect paper – Basic Grey’s Sultry – for the cover.

Basic Grey Sultry Paper From The Uptown Collection

While you’re digging through your stash, pull out a few essentials: a good paper trimmer – a hole punch sized for your book – and your favorite adhesive!

Fiskars Paper Trimmer & Hole Punch

To achieve a professional look for your book, you need to carefully remove the covers and any pages you want to alter. To do this, flip your book over, gently pry the wire rings apart, and remove the covers you need to work with.

Remove The Covers

Once you have removed the covers, line your covers up on the paper to see where you want to make your cuts. This also gives you one final chance to make sure you have picked the perfect colors for your project before you begin to cut your paper!

Match Your Colors - Align Your Paper

Next you are going to cut your paper to size and then adhere the paper to the covers. If you have a large Xyron, this is the perfect project to use it on – but feel free to use the adhesive of your choice!

Apply Adhesion - A Xyron Makes This Easy

After you have adhered your paper to the cover, the back of your project should look similar to Photo 9. Punch holes in the proper spaces.

Punch Your Holes

After you have punched the holes, flip your papers over – decorate and embellish your covers to your heart’s content – then carefully slide the covers back into place and tightly close the wire, testing your book to make sure that it opens and closing properly. Here is what my planner looked like before I re-assembled the book:

Altered Planner - Front & Back Covers

I really enjoyed personalizing this planner and look forward to sharing more special projects in the upcoming year!

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72 Responses to “WOYWW – Altered Calendar Tutorial”

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  1. Voodoo Vixen says:

    I love that BG range of papers the colours were stunning and you have really made your planner your own with the use of them!!

  2. Inkypinkycraft says:

    Some fab papers here, great way to alter a book!happy woyww hugs trace x no9

  3. Looks like you’ve found a trend! I saw a little peek of a desk there…LOL. Sounds like a wonderful project. Happy WOYWW #23 ~Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

  4. may says:

    A beautiful planner, thanks for sharing, I could do with one of them, Hugs May x x x

  5. Tuire says:

    The calendar was beautiful before, but now it’s even better!

  6. A great planner…I think I could use one for 2012!

  7. Jennie says:

    Great planner 🙂
    Have a very happy woyww day
    Jennie #5

  8. Okienurse says:

    awesome transformation of an old blah calendar into a work of beauty! I love to case the internet to see what people are making but rarely every use what I see. I think I might file this to use for Christmas gifts next year! Hope you have a wonderful week and thanks for sharing. Vickie #33

  9. sandra says:

    Ohhh I do love the BG papers you can never go wrong, they are gorgeous. Great tute and reoccuring themes is spot on. I am again working on a butterfly canvas. I made 7 for friends last year and the requests keep coming in!!

  10. Becky T says:

    great tutorial cant wait to give it a try thanks for sharing x
    Becky #45

  11. Julia dunnit says:

    Oh that works a treat Ramona. Double whammy of pleasure every time you use it now…one because it’s such a good and useful gift, and then because it looks gorgeous, cover through cover!

  12. judie says:

    Oh i oftened wondered how people did the front cover – now i know, thank you

    Thanks for the peek

    Hugs
    Judie xx

  13. Jane says:

    Fab tutorial! Thanks for sharing.
    Jane
    x

  14. Karen says:

    That is really gorgeous, such pretty PP’s and colours 🙂

    Have a great WOYWW, Karen #86

  15. Fabulous colours and perfect for Spring! Thanks for sharing with WOYWW? today! Sarah at 4.

  16. Quanda says:

    Visiting from the blog hop. I’m now following blog via GFC – Naddez. Please follow my blog @ http://naddezsgoodycorner.blogspot.com

    Thanks! 🙂

  17. Lou says:

    A lovely altered book, i love basic grey paper pads, i always have to buy the new ones they realease even though i tell myself No.

  18. Pat Langley says:

    I love the colors you used, and especially that” Sultry” paper!
    Those are my colors. You have encouraged me to make a new
    address book. I can decorate it as well as a journal.

  19. Stefanie says:

    Wow! That looks amazing! Way to put in some great effort to turn out a beautiful projects. I’m new to your blog, so I can’t wait to keep checking back for more crafty ideas!

  20. Susan says:

    Lovely diary I love how you have altered it, thanks for sharing this week x

  21. Susan says:

    Lovely diary, I love how you have altered it. Thanks for sharing on WOYWW this week x

  22. Laura says:

    Beautiful job on your altered planner! I have a favorite BG paper from that line, too, I think — I’m hoarding one last sheet. 🙂

  23. Enfys says:

    Beautiful project. Love the colours you chose
    hugs
    Enfys

  24. dianneo says:

    I used to own that paper…it’s very pretty! -dianneo #123

  25. Jessica says:

    Great idea! I’d love to have you link up (http://scrapbookingez.blogspot.com/2012/01/anything-goes-linky-party_12.html). Thanks for sharing!

  26. Alipeeps says:

    That’s so pretty – and I have those papers too (I *love* BG! :D).

    Thanks for sharing.

    Ali #89

  27. Looks Great! I love the way you altered the calendar. Stopping by from welcome wednesday.

    -Nedra

    http://adventuremomblog.com

  28. Elizabeth says:

    The planner was beautiful before but even lovelier once you’d altered the cover. The BG paper you chose is absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing. Elizabeth x #99

  29. Mary Anne says:

    Looking lovely. Always a bonus on WOYWW when you get a tutorial!
    Happy late WOYWW!

    Mary Anne

  30. vicky says:

    this is a gorgeous creation x

  31. Johnnie says:

    I love it! Thanks for linking up at Thrifty Thursday.

  32. Wow — this looks amazing. What a great transformation!!! Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Happy WOYWW
    Kay
    #117

    • Hi Ramona,

      Thanks for inviting me to participate in “Inspire Me Monday.” I definitely will join in. Is it like the linky thing that Julia does for WOYWW?

      Hugs,
      Kay

      • Create With Joy
        Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
        says:

        I am so glad you’ll be joining us for Inspire Me Monday Kay! I sent you email but for anyone who is reading, Inspire Me Monday IS a blog hop (although you can just read along and be inspired!) but the focus is different thant Julia’s. You are invited to either link up something creative you’ve made OR to share whatever is currently inspiring you – so you will find a wonderful eclectic collection of art, crafts, recipes, books, quotes, essays, and anything else my creative community chose to share that week.

        It’s a glorious hop that I’m sure anyone in WOYWW would love to be a part of! 🙂

  33. Love the nature theme and the colors of your planner. I never thought about gently prying the wire binding apart to cover bits of it, but truly that was needs to be done to do it right. Have you used planners before? I never could get the hang of using one and just fly by the seat of my pants. I rely on the hubby to keep me on track… lol, I’m doomed. Actually we write things on this very small calendar that is near the front door. We often have to abbreviate and then later you sit around wondering what LBS is.

    (library book sale) 😉

    • Create With Joy
      Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
      says:

      Hi Judy,

      I think the trick is figuring out how to use your planner in a way that suits you. I’m using this year’s planner, in part, as a journal to keep track of something important I want to remember from each day (like a quote, something special that happened, etc) – and things I just need to remember. I tend to be a “jot things all over the place” type of person, even though I collect notebooks and journals, so I’m trying to be a little more focused and organized this year! 🙂

      I’m using that big desk calendar to keep track of events and things I’m planning – since I need lots of room to write and I need to see stuff as I “think on paper” – I don’t do well with abbreviations either!

  34. Katie says:

    Thank you for sharing that wonderful tutorial! Your planner looks great!

    Happy WOYWW (on Thursday!)
    Katie #16

  35. Katie says:

    Beautiful calender! Thank you for sharing!

    Katie (112)

  36. Penni says:

    Love the diary.

    Hugs
    Penni
    X

  37. Jenn says:

    Goodness, lot’s of wow’s. But I’m also wondering what WOYWW means? I couldn’t locate it on my first stroll over the face of your blog. Great redo on the planner. Love your header and background. Neat double columns. Beautiful cats! And cool that they are side-by-side! Anyway, came by way of Time Travel Thursday with Liz. Enjoyed my visit. Wow. Jenn

    • Create With Joy
      Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
      says:

      Welcome Jenn! WOYWW stands for What’s On Your Workspace Wednesday and is a weekly meme that my friend Julia at Stamping Ground hosts. Participants take a photo of their desks or other workspaces and share what’s going on – their latest projects – why their desks look so messy or organized – whatever. I used to always identify the acronynm but, to be honest, I’ve just gotten a little lazy about it in the past several weeks. Thanks for the reminder that I need to do a better job of explaining this to first time visitors of this meme!

      The link to visit Julia is at the bottom of my post so I invite you to visit – you will meet the most amazing people on WOYWW! 🙂

  38. Jenn says:

    Oh yes, also wanted to say that if you follow the details on your header (be original . . . creative . . . I can’t see it right now) the final statement sums it up Be Yourself. Don’t know if that’s what you intended, but it sure is true, isn’t it? And, on your notes (sidebar) on creativity? I had been pondering something very close to that recently. Got myself an affirmation or confirmation on those thoughts by reading your sidebar. Thanks, Jenn

  39. lovely colours and the journal looks great.
    happy woyww
    janet

  40. Charlene says:

    What a beautiful transition! Great tutorial too! #144

  41. Yona says:

    Oooo – what a lovely planner – really nice personalized touch.

    Happy Favorite Things Thursday!

  42. Shaz in oz.x says:

    Hi there , what a really great tutorial great work!, thanks so much for sharing. Happy WOYWW! love, Shaz in Oz. x #67

  43. Tara says:

    You have such a great blog! I’m now following from Welcome Wednesday! Feel free to follow back at http://www.dandygiveaway.com 🙂

  44. Katherines Corner
    Twitter: goaskkatie
    says:

    Sooo pretty! Thank you for linking to the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop at Katherines Corner. Hugs and smooches and wishes for a wonderful weekend

  45. Beth says:

    I love the personalization of this calendar. When I see projects like this, I almost think I could switch to using a printed calendar. Still, this is a great activity for other books, too. Thanks so much for sharing.

  46. Sharon says:

    I really love the covering that you used……very pretty.. I have one that I need to cover and I was going to use fabric but the paper looks really lovely….Thank you for sharing

  47. Anna-Marie says:

    Great job thanks for linking up to the NOBH

  48. Julie says:

    What a great project for the New Year! Stephen Covey and Basic Grey are favs of mine. I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to step out and buy a new planner! Very pretty!

  49. Angela says:

    I just bought a planner and this is a great idea to make it look pretty! This is my first time to your blog and I will have to come back now to see what you make next. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I stumbled this post… when you have time please take a look at my post Tasty Eggplant Appetizers .

    Angela

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