aside from an insurance *bump* to see that this thread sticks around.. Im real curious about writing software for the Palm. I have a Palm but would use it more if the stuff it did suited me better.... how hard is it andwhat sort of utility do you need?

hey =) does anyone know of any tenplates for not the half sized ones (too big) but the size down from that (15 x 9.5cm ish)? its usually got 6 holes.
any type of free program or word doc. =) thanx!

I made my own Word Template (use the Help function to find out where to save a document in your version of Word to make it a template). My planner pages are 3.75" x 6.75"

I just changed to margins to this:

Top = .25"
Left = .5"
Right = 4.8"
Bottom = 4.0"

Then I changed the font size to something that fit the page well that I could still read easily. After you get a blank page the way you want it, save it as a template.

Then, according to my notes (I don't know if this is necessary or just added insurance that it comes out right), before you print, click on printer properties and make sure the "Fit to Page" box is checked. I think that's only useful if you cut and paste a picture or something that's larger than the new page size.

If you print on both sides of an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper, you can cut out two one-sided pages, and have a piece left over to make a completely blank page. This leaves about .5" on the left side of the page for hole-punching.

BTW, does anyone have a source for a hole punch for this size paper?

-S

kthnx =)
i got an in-planner punch for about 7$ for my planner (6 holes). pricey, cus it only does one sheet at a time. HAHAHA

It's December 30 and I'm just now taking the time to take a gander at this post. And now, well, the fancy dancy italian journal I use each year looks sleek and manufactured. And really, I could have one binder instead of a journal, notebooks, et cetera.

Does anyone use a specific Mac application for theirs? I'm thinking iCal, which I haven't really explored yet, since I use a PC at work and they don't mesh very well with the Palm I use at work. Any other Mac programs that might work particularly well? It's a designing tool, for goodness sake-- I should be able to make something fairly lovely with it.

Thanks-- and I look forward to seeing some photos of these finished products!
-O.

Maybe Franklin and Covey? I know that's where a lot of people have gotten their smaller sized stuff.

I finally bought my binder, paper, and hole punch, and have started making some of my own templates for it. I think it will look elegant but edgy.

Thing is, I have to get it finished (mostly) by Saturday, because that's when I'm going back to school, and I don't want to waste my roommate's ink.

I bought a full sized hole punch, but I can move the punchers around, meaning I can use it for full sized paper or half-sized. It only does three holes, though, so if you're using one of the fancier 7 hole punches, it won't work.

I have the paper punch Franklin Covey sells, and while it's nice for one page at a time, your hand will whither and fall off if you punch more than a handfull of pages.

Well, yeah. But I'm FAR too cheap to buy a movable one...what did you pay for it?

Hi, everyone!

Just popping in to say that I've added a helpful list of links to page two of the day planner article:
>http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/r/drv1913/0311_2.html

Hope those help!

:o)

My full sized one was a Swingline for $12. The Franklin Covey was $7. I strongly suggest spending the extra five bucks to get the moveable one. You can punch more pages at once, it has the tray to catch your dots, is far more ergonomic than the little one (the little one makes your arm ache if you punch more than 10 pages in a session), and it'll do full sized pages if you need to. The little one wasn't worth the money.

If you want a little one, I'd be willing to trade you for mine. My email's tarr @ bust. com

I have a small (quarter size/ quarter A4 size) agenda which I want to add things to, perhaps black paper and other customised things... BUT, I'd have to make 6 little holes and a hole puncher like that costs $30 where I live! Also, I'm not sure how to make the paper look okay - I'm in Sweden so there's no Kinko's (sounds like a great place). Maybe I could go to a printer's... place and ask nicely?

Okay, I posted earlier about wanting to find a 6-hole punch, but this is what I've been doing so far:

After a bit of searching in craft and hobby stores to find a single-hole punch that made slightly smaller holes (not entirely necessary, I guess); I simply took a pre-made page that I wasn't going to use from the agenda, and held it over the page(s) I made, using it as a template to punch the holes myself, one by one.

Kinko's is basically a printers, except they have a section where you can do simple things like make copies, use paper-cutters, etc. on your own. I'm pretty sure you can go to any printer and ask them to cut some paper to your specifications. In fact, they may even punch the holes for a small fee. It doesn't hurt to ask!

-S

Amelia-thanks for the info!

good idea. i didnt know they cut paper to size for you! =D

AND OHOHOH!!!! my january new year's resolution was to make my planner. and i finally did..!
although... my approach was somewhat different
as i went more towards designing the cover rather than the insides.? hah
i just took pieces from the other planner i had and some random pages from older planners. but im happy with how it looks.
HUZZAH!!

jes bumpin, heh!

antigone,

I've been using my own A4 (quarter sheet) binder that I made myself since the summertime. It was really easy to print calendar sheets for 4 weeks per 8.5" x 11" sheet. I just cut the printed sheets into fourths, then punch two holes into the sides. I made the covers out of heavy cardstock and keep it together with 2 notecard rings.

You might want to consider taking everything out of your agenda book and create your own covers that only require 2 hole punches. You could most certainly punch them yourself this way, and also add as many pages as you want.

I've already shown you the planner I made out of clay (http://www.geocities.com/theresedesign/agenda) - now I've attached a spine, or actually a shoemaker did it! Came out really nice, gold studs on the back of the spine.

I also caved in and bought one of those rather expensive hole punches (6 holes, filofax pocket size) so I can add my own stuff like black pages.

I need some advice though... I've made my own dividers as well out of black cardboard and they actually look decent. What do you think would be the best way to reinforce them? The cardboard itself is pretty stiff but it will get bent and stuff.

I'm thinking... coat them with water based varnish? put sticky film on them (though the corners are rounded so I might feel the edges of the plastic, ya know?) put glue on them? I dunno. I'd hate having to make new dividers after a few weeks and I doubt I'd be as lucky cutting them.

antigone:

I can tell you what won't work - tape. I used cardstock dividers last year and tried to reinforce the tab parts with packing tape. By the end of the year, those tabs were looking pretty ratty. I think cardstock or any kind of paper tab is just go to get bent, wrinkled anyway - especially if you actually use your planner a lot. This year, I bought some nice, translucent tabs by Avery and cut them to the size I needed. You print your sections onto to clear labels and then stick those labels onto the tabs. Sooo, much sturdier than cardstock. The tabs come in colors, too.

:o)

Thanks -- I did have a bad feeling about tape!
I ended up coating the tabs with varnish. All the tabs I found in shops were so flimsy and thin and in too much colour... If mine don't last I'll cut them off and try to find better ones to buy :)

I'm actually thinking of adding a "things I forgot to tell" section. I often find myself on the phone with someone or meeting a person and having the distinct feeling there was something I needed to say or ask but can't remember it - until later, and then I forget it again. I don't know if anyone else has this problem... Pretty sure I'm not senile yet but I've started referring to my planner as my "paper brain" (as seen on this thread). So, sorry if I seem weird but I'm adding a two column page with 1) name and 2) thing I was going to say (and now WILL say)

:) antigone

just wanted to share this link >http://www.donnayoung.org/frm/planner5x8.htm

it's a homeschooling site, but she has 1/2 size (and full size) planner sheets to print in Adobe format.


has anyone successfully decoupaged their 1/2 size binder? this is what i'm hoping to do ~ any tips would be appreciated!


~ amy

Bump, bump, bump

as someone who loves the idea of planners but never actually uses them, i ignored this thread throughout its long life, until today.

i've just been promoted to supervisor at work, (yea me!) and now have a *ton* of stuff to keep up with (paperwork, schedules, forms, etc) and so need to create a "work planner"...after reading this thread and following all the links, i'm inspired to get busy on it.

i have a 3-ring binder w/ a clear vinyl sleeve on the cover, as well as tons of colored cardstock & paper, divider tabs, page sleeves, and other "fillers." i'm pretty handy with the computer, so i should be able to create the forms i need, then take them & my colored paper to work & use the copier & electric hole punch there to make copies.

i'm excited! making the thing will be more fun than using it, but at least i'll be guaranteed to have exactly what i need/want when i DO have to use it! i'll have the best planner there! :)

in fact, i'm going to get started right now. thanks for keeping this thread alive, it came in quite handy, and just when i needed it!

~pixie

oh yeah: i love making calendar pages with the hallmark greetings software; they have tons of wonderful clipart you can use to personalize the pages. i'll probably start with that, since it's so much fun!

pixielily,

You will definitely have fun making your planner. My planners have evolved so much, I use mine for everything! I dunno, I'm in a giddy mood, so I'm happy that you're making a planner. :) The thread with pictures for my planner is here:
>http://discuss.gromco.com/mwforum/topic_show.pl?id=38392

i signed off as soon as i repiled to this thread the other night & got busy on my work planner, then went to work & finished it. damn, i feel organized!!! :)

there are still a few things i need to do to tweak it: i need a bigger binder (no surprise there!) AND i'd like to figure out a way to make a strap/handle/something for it so i could just throw it over my shoulder like a tote. i already haul a ton of shit back & forth daily, and there's no room in the tote i carry; it's a bit of a hassle to have to lug the binder in my arms, but i can't think of how to make it more portable. any ideas?

~pixie

p.s. sprung, your thread was actually the one that made me look up this one. your planner is wonderful! so are all the others folks have shared here. if only i were as organized in my personal life as i am in my professional life! (HA! NOT gonna happen!)