Kellie Winnell

the planner i settled on, while still using three review/s

 

Let me start by saying that when I used to see people that had more than just one planner, I thought they were nuts!  WHY would you need more than one?  To be honest even known I have 3 I still think this, even about myself, haha.  But I'd have to say I really just use one.  When I shared a photo on instagram a few months back now, I was asked to share what I use them all for and how.  Back then I was still trying to figure it all out.  I've had this post in drafts since APRIL people!  With 2016 planners now starting to come out, I wanted to share what's working for me.  So here goes. 

PLANNERS I USE :

DAY DESIGNER by WHITNEY ENGLISH: Everyday use

GET TO WORK BOOK : DIY and Blog

MIDORI TRAVELERS NOTEBOOK : Notes/Events/Family

OTHER PLANNERS I USE :

SENTENCE A DAY by KIKKI.K

ON MY PHONE :

Do!

MORE INFO ON EACH PLANNER :

I decided to give a quick review on my feelings and how I find the planners useful.  What I do and don't like about them. These are all my own personal views, you may not agree and that is ok.  I've also not been sponsored by any of the mentioned companies.  All my very own thoughts and point of views.

DAY DESIGNER by WHITNEY ENGLISH: This would have to be my favourite of all the planners I've had.  Yes it's rather large, but it's extremely sturdy and has handled being shoved around really well.  I use this planner every day.  To me it's more of a to do list. If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know I'm a huge fan of 'to do lists' I love ticking things off, heck I'll admit I often write things down I'm about to do or just done, just so I get that satisfaction of ticking it off.  I'm not even lying, haha.  Can I just add, that while I have a to do lists basically daily, and yet I'm probably one of the most un-organised people you'' ever meet!

WHAT I LIKE : 

• The rings are strong.
• The covers are even stronger. 
• The black and white design is so me.
• The day to day has everything I need to list, schedule, appointments, dinner plan, goals, what's due and notes.

WHAT I DON'T :

• The gold pages that have tabs with notes have rubbed off on the opposite page [personal peeve].
• The cost to ship to Australia.  Of course this can't be helped being the weight, etc.  The exchange just sucks down under right now.

GET TO WORK BOOK : When I bought this I wasn't absolutely sure on what I was going to use it for but had blogging and DIY in mind.  With all the hype it sounded like something I would absolutely need and use, I fell into the must have it trap that I've recently blogged about, here.  Honestly I'm struggling to use it.  On the other hand I'm rather new to all this having more than one planner.  And hey, it's not always going to work for everyone, right?  The main reason this planner isn't working for me is that it seems to be falling apart on me, which is really disappointing for the cost.

WHAT I LIKE :

• The front cover design, it's creative.
• The project sheets are a great idea.
• The tabs with the boarder around the month, I know it's a small thing, but I like it!
• I love the pull outs and they are a cool bonus.

WHAT I DON'T :

• The back cover came off within a month and I take it from my desk to another room in the same office.  So I'm not heavy handling it.  For the cost of it, this shouldn't have happened, let alone so soon.
• Tabs, while I mentioned I love the design and I actually don't mind them being extended from the cover, once again mine have started to peel.  I've heavy handled planners in the past and never had this happen.

MIDORI TRAVELERS NOTEBOOK : I've had this for a few months now.  But only had the planner insert [number 19], for about a month and only started using it about 3 weeks ago.  It's dateless so I can start and stop when ever I please.  I use it to keep family events, school events, dr appointments and added family things like, Kira and her work times, when my mum is flying out, etc.

WHAT I LIKE :

• It's compact enough to go into my bag.
• That I can put any insert I want in it.
• The feel and it's durable.

WHAT I DON'T :

To be honest I actually haven't had it long enough to not like anything about it.  For what I'm using it for it's really convenient.  I use two handbags, not at the same time, haha.  One is big and the other is small and even for my small it fits.  I get to update it on the go and it's easy to use.

WHAT I'VE USED IN THE PAST :

• Filofax
• Personal Planner 
• Erin Condren Planner

Can I just add that with the Personal Planner, I used one for all of 2014.  You can use your own photos as your cover which is awesome. 

WHAT I'LL BE USING FOR 2016 :

At this stage I'm looking to just use [and purchase soon] the Day Designer for 2016.  I'll still use the planner in my midori.  But the Day Designer will be my main GO TO planner for 2016.  I've also seen they are releasing a smaller version for 2016.  I was looking at the Agenda planner from A Beautiful Mess and while I love the spiral idea [they are a MUST for me], I much preferred the previous covers.  I know it's not all about what things look like and it's how they work, COME on though, we still have to like it right?  Also I am a line person, I need ruled lines.

SIDE NOTE : Again in no way was I paid for this review from the companies mentioned nor was I asked by any companies mentioned above.  This is my own review and thoughts on the products I bought myself.

currently #18

TIME: 7.40am 

LOCATION : craft room/office

FEELING: tired and slightly anxious

LOVING : seeing my sister over the weekend

READING : blog and tutorials

DRINKING : water and coffee, always the same boring thing right.

ANTICIPATING : my mum leaving today for 2 weeks to Hawaii 

LISTENING TO : MUSIC : The Civil Wars  PODCAST : the paperclipping round table

WATCHING : National Lampoons Vacation, Erin Brockovich and Ghost Whisperer season 1

PLANNING : to get so much done today ready for the NEW month

LOOKING FORWARD TO : getting my new car, hopefully this week

CREATING : knitted coasters and more clay bowls

NEED TO FINISH : more coasters and granny squares

WISHING : that I was already on top of everything

MAIN GOAL : clean out hallway wardrobe, still on my list, I'll get there, soon, maybe one day.

What are you "CURRENTLY" doing?

DIY felt ball coaster

Coasters, I fricken love making coasters and I don't know why?  I just do.  Maybe it's because I love coffee?  I had seen these ages ago on pinterest, here.

I'd had the pom poms for some time and this was so easy to make, why did I put it off for so long, crazy?  I think I bought them on etsy.  Because I'm on a NO buy for August I didn't have any small coasters, but what I did have were several large squares and circles.  So I cut a circle out of one of the squares.

I hot glued all the little pom poms on.  You'd think this would make it bumpy to put your cup on right?  Nope not at all.

One of my favourite coasters I've made to date.

sharing is caring #37

  SCRIPT SOURCE  : JODIE YORK

I am in love with this WHOLE collection from Kikki.k, but I love the idea of the thankful book, here.

I love Tricia's instagram, here.

I've been looking to get a peg board soon, and this ombre one, while not in these colours for me personally is still a ROCKIN idea, here.

Love this post from Rachel about ideas with alpha's, here.

I love this layout from Yana on the Gossamer Blue design team, here.

Rhonda's photographs from her WITL aka 'week in the life', are just breathtaking, here.

Speaking of WITL, I love, love Elise's version, here.

There's a new edition in project life kits and it's amazing, here.

the cutest little tassels, here.

Have a great weekend x

fabric rope basket

After sharing the link to Chantelle's basket that I fell in love with and then seeing that Elise from Feed your Crafts had made one, I had to have a go at making my own.

SUPPLIES :

Fabric | Rope | Hot Glue | Hot Glue Gun | Scissors

HOW I MADE IT :

I cut strips of fabric to about 1 to 1 and a half inches, basically I just winged it.

Time to wrap it around the rope!  I add some hot glue to begin with and started wrapping the fabric around the rope.  I would use the hot glue gun again at the end of that section of fabric and again to add another strip.  I didn't find the need to add any glue in between wrapping the one piece.

I continue to do this before attempting the basket itself.  Once wrapped I started to make the basket. I tried to use my sewing machine, but it's old and she didn't like the rope at all.  So glue gun here I come.  NOW ask me how many times I burnt myself?  Haha, I have a sore on my finger that actually really hurt, I'm not even lying, damn you hot glue gun.  I found that I needed to use the hot glue gun more to make the basket than to just wrap the fabric. So in other words, make sure you have a lot of glue sticks!

RESULTS :

I'm really happy with how these two turned out and already got family wanting their own.  I've since made a smaller version and I still actually have more rope already fabric wrapped ready.  But I have another plan for that.  DIY are addictive!  But my fingers came off second best, haha!

Have you recently made a DIY?

project life week #24

This week in the album felt like it started early with the long weekend and we had such a hectic weekend that we took the week slowly and had a lazy weekend and so I wanted my main focus to be on the birthday girl that turned 8 on the Monday with one 9x12 photo printed at Persnickety.  Then just filler cards.  Plain yes, love it, heck yeah!

PAGE ONE :

 

PAGE TWO :

 

SUPPLIES :  Week twenty four 3x4 card from Little Lamm & Co.  Wood veneer 'loves ya' designed by myself for Color Cast Designs, Pink alpha and stars also from Color Cast Designs.  Most cards used are pretty much from A Beautiful Mess, Messy Box. 

ALBUM : Using a 9 x 12 album from A Beautiful Mess, here. 

PHOTOS : All photos printed at home using my epson picture mate.  3x4 photos made using the Collect App on iphone.

Project Life is a simple form of memory keeping created by Becky Higgins. To learn more about this click, here.  You can check out my previous years here 2013 and 2014.

gossamer blue layout summer fun

Kellie here with you today to share a layout I've made with the with a mixture of the kits from Gossamer Blue for August.  Can you believe September is almost around, say what?

This layout started with choosing the pattern paper I wanted to work with.  The Simple Stories 12 x 12 Summer Vibes, Just Beachy already had elements that really I could had just added my photo and the page could had looked done.  But......  of course I couldn't just stop there.  I had a plan and the plan was to over embellish, load them up and GO for it.

This Matters is from a project life card in the kit.   I loved the quote so much and the colours seemed perfect for the layout and so I cut around the circle.

Those washi tape stickers are npow my all time favourite, I love them.  I used to be huge on washi tape but in recent years my stash has sat in a bowl.

Any advice?  Challenge yourself to one bit of pattern paper, and go for it.  You'd be surprised what you can do.  Before I go another up close and personal, haha, photo.

currently #17

 

TIME: 2.50pm Sunday

LOCATION : lounge room

FEELING: tired and content

LOVING : my time with my girls while Luke was off camping/fishing on the weekend.  

READING : blog and tutorials

DRINKING : water and coffee

ANTICIPATING : the week ahead, so much to do, where's that to do list!

LISTENING TO : MUSIC : Poison and wine by The Civil Wars  PODCAST : the round table

WATCHING : Here comes the boom, National Lampoons Vacation, Harry Potter prisoner of azkaban and gypsy sisters season 4

PLANNING : to get caught up before the new month.

LOOKING FORWARD TO : car searching

CREATING : knitted coasters, fabric rope place mat, rock cactus and MORE clay bowls

NEED TO FINISH : more coasters and granny squares

WISHING : that I could sleep for a week, or I'll take just a full day

MAIN GOAL : clean out hallway wardrobe, still on my list, I'll get there, soon

What are you "CURRENTLY" doing?

blog-tember challenge, count me in!

When I seen this on instagram from the talented Bailey, knew it was for me.  What about you?  Sounds like fun and a great way to get into a routine of blogging.  Click here, to check out the list, make scheduling your friend, haha!

clay marble effect small dish

I have a new addiction people.  So guess what the females in my family and friends will be getting for Christmas this year from me?  To be honest I'm not even sure if I'm kidding or not just yet, haha.  I've already got more than I need and I want to make more.

I need to find more things I can make with clay, pinterest come on down!

For now let me show you what I've made. I followed the tutorial from A Beautiful Mess, here, and with the tutorial I went and made these.

The above was my first, well technically second, after mucking one up.  I was spewing because it looked awesome and had a great marble effect, but I realised I'd rolled it too thin and when I balled it all back together to re-roll it didn't have the same effect, almost looking like the same colour.  Thankfully Chloe's favourite colour is pink and she claimed it.  I wasn't a huge fan of the colour combination, but Kira liked it and now it's hers.

This was my second attempt after screwing the first one up.  I really like it.

This one is my favourite right now, but then I do plan to make a black and white one and you all know how much I love me some black and white, right?

Here they all are together.

sharing is caring #36

  SCRIPT SOURCE  : JODIE YORK

I wasn't overly keen on the new ABM messy box, but seeing the way Rachel has used it, has me excited to get it in my hands, here. 

Tempted by this arm knitting book, I mean a arm knitted beanie, here?!

I love this album by Emma, here.  

No water and awesome looking cactus?  For kids?  More like for me, haha, here.

Elise makes me want to crank out one of my 4x4 albums and just get crafty this weekend, here.  

Kelsey has a new site, I is grown up, here.  Excited to see more about it.

Cheers to the freakin' weekend, I'll buy to that, haha, new products from Color Cast Designs, here.

I have always admired Monica's grateful album, here.  Imagine having a bad day and reading over this.

Maybe it's the name, haha, but I love Kelly's house that was shared on ABM, here.

Spring clean with help?  Sign me up, here.

Donut door mat/rug, UH yes please, here.

If you love the script I have been sharing then check out Jodie's online store, here.

Have a great weekend.

coffee cup + nail polish = water colour effect

Months back this technique was the in thing.  Not just in the DIY world, in the craft world as well.  People were doing it on papers, tags and so on.  I've wanted to try it forever.  Over the weekend just gone I wanted to see how many DIY I could get done with all the un-finished and supplies I had for projects that I never started or half attempted at starting.  This was one on my list.

It doesn't always go to plans right?  4 mugs later, I kid you not, 4, which was equaling to a lot of this :

Luke came home that afternoon after seeing a mate to a bunch of mugs on the sink and a frustrated red head, haha.  But all was well in the DIY world again once I had it figured out.  I also had to clean the other 4 mugs.  I'd just seen images on pinterest, but I needed more info.  I found and watched the clip on this blog post, here.  UH ok, I think I've got it, quick, you've got to be quick.  It's not perfect, but hey it's a start with more to come.

Who doesn't have nail polish of some sort at home and a white mug?  Why not try it this weekend?

Almost all my blog posts that share my DIY wont contain a tutorial, unless I change something to make it my own or they are self explanatory.  Instead I'll be giving credit where credit is due and that's to the person I learnt the DIY from.  So look for the links.

falling into the must have 'it' trap, how do you stop?

Let's grab a cuppa and have a chat.  You know what I mean by trap right?  It's when you see a bunch of crafters [I'm giving this as an example, given I'm a crafter], often the big wigs, use something and then you just have to have it, you get it and then never use it.  You wonder, why the heck you bought it in the first place?

I'm guilty, I've done this.  Recently I've started to change, and so far it's working for me. 

Why I decided I needed to change?  Apart from wasting money, being the obvious answer.  It actually makes me frustrated with myself.  I then feel guilty for it.

Recently I made a purchase of a planner that I actually didn't need.  Why did I buy it?   I fell into the excitement from others and the hype with people sharing they made the purchase. I wanted inn, I wanted that excitement.  I went and ordered my own.  After all I didn't want to miss out.  I fell into the trap, the trap of thinking I needed something when I didn't.  Can I just add that I love seeing people share, I share.  That's not the issue, the issue is the thinking you need it too.  Since getting said planner, I've struggled to use it.

I was cleaning out my craft room the other day and came across more supplies, more than I care to share.  That I'd bought and never used and didn't see myself using any of it anytime soon.

How do you stop?   You shut all your internet accounts down and never go online again or read another magazine...  Why not just stay home while your at it?  Kidding, but hey that would work, haha!  

I've recently started asking myself these 3 things :

• What would I use it for?
• Would I use it the week it arrived?  
• If it's something that has many uses, what are they and would I use it often enough? 

If I can't answer any of the above or if even one is no, then I don't need it.  It seems to be really working.  Not just for crafts, I've started doing it for general shopping, clothes etc.

I've put myself on a spend freeze for August.  I'm only aloud to purchase things that are related to my store or oils.  With the weekly shop I'm only allowing myself to get what's on the list, which if you've been to Aldi can be hard.  That being said, a grocery shopping list really helps.  Try it if you don't usually use one.  I find I buy less 'extra' items that we don't really need, when I have a list.

I still have my subscriptions, but other than that I'm not spending $$$ on myself for clothes, crafts, beauty products, it's all included.  Typing this on the 17th and so far I haven't struggled.  I've seen a few things I really really want and I asked myself the 3 questions and they were all yes.  If I still want after August, they were worth the wait.

One last thing, give it 24 hours.  See something you want, give it 24 hours.  Still want it after 24 hours?  Then it's a keeper.  I've had an online cart full of things recently [before my freeze], cotton on, it's addictive, gave it 24 hours and then didn't even want one of the things in my cart.  To me that was going to be an impulse buy and I avoided it!  HIGH FIVES.

So am I alone?  Are you falling into the trap like I do?  

Have you ever put yourself on a spending freeze?  If so how did you go?

• Mel from One Crafty Mumma, had a spend freeze last year, read here.
• 5 Tips for impulse buying, here.

large DIY donut coaster

I have a real thing for donuts lately. My cousin pointed out that was obvious given that he follows my instagram.  But when your eating healthy all week and you have your cheat day, you feel the need to share.  I'll take any donut, but my favourite are the strawberry iced donuts with no sprinkles.  I'm making myself hungry now, haha.

After blogging my sharing is caring post last week I realised I'd shared a bunch of crafts I could make in a day and I had been hoarding most of the supplies for ages.  So I did just that, making 4, this happened to be one of them

 

I've had two of these cork circles for so long.  They are bigger than a coaster, but not big enough to be a place mat.  I really LOVE how this one turned out and have plans for the other one already.

 

 

I cut out the middle with a craft knife and then painted the pink icing.  To get the sprinkles I used my pale mint gel pen that worked really well.  Then I painted on the yellow and white sprinkles.

It's now being used on my desk for my pencil holders.  But I can see a plant on it soon.

currently #16

TIME: 10.27pm [Saturday]

LOCATION : lounge room

FEELING: relaxed

LOVING : that I feel accomplished

READING : blogs

DRINKING : water

ANTICIPATING : the week ahead

LISTENING TO : MUSIC : Top 100 90's again.  We love it, play it in the background all weekend.  PODCAST : death sex and money

WATCHING : strange magic, jack the giant slayer, madagascar and gypsy sisters season 1 & 2

PLANNING : more DIY projects

LOOKING FORWARD TO : seeing what the week brings

CREATING : knitted coasters, more, more knitted coasters

NEED TO FINISH : granny square

WISHING : that it was summer holidays already

MAIN GOAL : clean out hallway wardrobe

What are you "CURRENTLY" doing?