This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hobby Lobby. All opinions are 100% mine.
Did you know that Hobby Lobby carries their own brand of planners? They sure do! Hobby Lobby’s planner line is called Agenda 52 and it is awesome.
My teenage daughter and I have been using the Paper Studio planners for three years now. We love them because they are trendy, well-designed, affordable and have lots of options for cute accessories. If you’re considering a new planner for the new year, it’s definitely worth stopping by your local store to look or check them out online here:
Here are a few things you need to know about Agenda 52 planners:
- There are three different planner types to choose from.
- Standard: The faux leather binder measures 7″x9.5″ and the insert pages measure 5.75″x8.25″.
- Personal: The covers measure 5.75″x7.75″ and the insert pages measure 4″x6.75″.
- Spiral-Bound: The laminated cover measures 7.75″x9.5″ and the pages inside measure 7″x9.25 inches.
- The planner cover and the page inserts are sold separately for both the standard and personal sizes. This means that you can keep the cover for several years and just buy new insert pages. The spiral-bound planner is only meant to be used for one year, so it comes all together.
- The insert pages come in about a dozen different designs so you will probably be able to find a style you love. They even have one that is completely bare bones black and white with no artwork for all you minimalists out there. I chose the bright and colorful floral folk art set and my daughter chose the boho muted set.
- Accessories turn what could be considered a chore into something fun and creative, so buy the dang extras! There are a whole slew of stickers, pens, sticky notes, tabs, pom pom dangley things, notebooks, etc. and they are cuuuuuute. It will bring you back to your Lisa Frank sticker book childhood and if planning out your week can actually be fun, why not!?
I thought it would be helpful to see what the planner pages look like, so here are what the main daily pages look like:
Each planner type has a different format for the days, but all of them feature a month-at-a-glance page, divider tabs and special pages at the start and end of each month. Which type is right for you? Gosh, that really depends on what matters to you, how busy your life is and which artwork speaks to you. Did I pick the personal sized planner this year just because I fell in love with the cover? Yes, yes I did.
Now that you know more about Hobby Lobby planners, let’s get to the fun stuff… some of my favorite planner tips and tricks! These ideas work best with the Project 52 planners, but you can adjust the sizing, etc. to work with any planner brand really.
Planner Hacks You Need to Try
1. Make Custom Appointment Stickers
A few years ago I decided to make custom stickers for all of my frequent appointments and I have really enjoyed using them ever since. It’s really nice to have those important appointments stand out and honestly, it’s just more fun to put stickers on the page than it is to write the same old events every week! Since I love it so much, I created a few different files for you to print out and use too.
DOWNLOAD THE APPOINTMENT STICKERS HERE
Just download the files, then open them in a photo editing program like Photoshop, Canva or PicMonkey and add your own custom words to each square. Or write the labels by hand with a permanent marker. You could also upload this file into an electronic cutting machine’s software and let it cut out the stickers for you. I just used my paper trimmer and a pair of scissors. It’s totally up to you!
There’s a smaller, colorful version. It’s made to fit the personal sized Agenda 52 planner perfectly with two stickers next to each other, like this:
The second, larger version fits in the standard sized Agenda 52 planner. I matched the colors to this particular page insert set and it is so good.
I also included The Craft Patch signature rainbow colored version in the larger size because… hello?! Rainbow!
2. Use the Monthly Calendar as a Gratitude Journal
If you don’t really use the month-at-a-glance page, it makes a fantastic mini gratitude journal. Write down one thing you’re grateful for each day or something happy that happened that day. It’s an easy exercise to help you focus on the good in your life.
3. Laminate Pages
This is a fun little tip that really comes in handy. The first page of both sizes of planners includes a blank “notes” page on the back. This is the perfect spot to make weekly lists… for groceries, meal planning, or any other type of to-do list. Just remove the page and laminate it. Then you can write your lists on the back side every week and just use a wet wipe or tissue to wipe it clean again! That front page usually gets pretty chewed up by the end of the year, so making it a little sturdier is an added bonus.
4. Color Code With Markers
I like to color code different activities by writing them down with different colored pens. It really helps me keep track of the different parts of my life. This big pack of Fineline Markers has a great variety of colors, two tips that are different thicknesses (both good sizes for planners) and it’s a good value, especially when The Paper Studio goes on sale for 50% off. My daughter and I both made little color keys. I taped mine inside my planner, but the standard sized planner has the perfect little clear window inside to slide the color code into.
Having a color code written down is super important, especially when you first start planning. Otherwise you just forget which color goes with which label and the whole system falls apart.
5. Hidden Sticker Packs
There is an entire section of stickers at Hobby Lobby that are perfect for using with your planner, but they’re not with the planning stickers. They’re in the main sticker aisle. Just look how cute these are and how great they are for planners!
Definitely take a stroll down the sticker aisle to find these cutie pies. We bought the “Seasons of the Year” pack because we both love to add holiday-themed stickers throughout the year.
6. Buy Everything on Sale
Hobby Lobby no longer has a coupon, but they put everything on sale every few weeks or so. Wait until The Paper Studio stuff goes on sale for 50% off and you can snag all the planning goodies your heart desires for a sweet deal.
So there you have it, way more than you probably ever wanted to know about planners. LOL. When I get excited, I definitely geek out. It’s who I am. If you have a favorite planner tip or something fun to share, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you. Now go forth and plan the BEST. YEAR. EVER.
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