So, I made my own planner this year. Above is a picture of the scrap paper dummy version that I made, while thinking up how I wanted my planner to work. Calculating the amount of sheets I needed was fun, as well as sketching out the spreads and planning the content, but what I was most excited about was making the cover.
Here’s a few pictures. I decided I wanted to cut out the digits for 2013 on the front cover board:
Once I had made the cut-outs, and let the cover boards dry, I decided I’d like to have a pattern or an illustration behind them. I ended up using a print-out of a collage that I made a few years ago. Before I glued it on I added adhesive plastic film on top of the print-out in an attempt to make it last longer. (I don’t really know what kind of challenges I need my book to be prepared for. Maybe this will prove to be a good move, maybe not.)
For the pages themselves I used regular 90 g paper. I made 10 signatures consisting of 3 sheets each. The binding technique is basic codex (the same I use to make all of my journals) with copper-colored end papers.
Every spread is hand drawn and I’m actually not finished making all of them yet. 53 weeks takes a bit of time. I’m pretty pleased with the lay-out of the weeks though, I like having a bit of space to write things down that has to do with week and not a particular day. (Or draw.)
I made a few more spreads than what was needed for the 53 weeks of this year. I plan on making room for a list of great reads during the year (not every book, just really significant ones) and I’ve already made a menstrual chart.
This is what the current week looks like. (I watched a documentary film about the Great Barrier Reef the other day and feel excited about colorful fish.)
I’m curious to see what it will be like to use this planner. Will it hold up okay? Maybe it’s better to make the spine longer rather than having a wide book like this? Perhaps a plastic cover will hold up better than this fabric one? Will I love the layout of the spreads and the hand-made feel? Maybe I’ll never want a store-bought planner again. :)