‘Take time to smell the roses’

Welcome to Shabby Art Boutique,

The New Year is off to a flying start. . . I’ve spent hours organising my appointments and putting important dates in my diaries and already I can see there are months with lots on.

Are we getting busier with each year. . .or is this just an age thing?

I’m not sure what to think. . . but I do know one thing for sure. . . I’ll have to make a conscious effort this year to make sure I stop and smell the roses every once in a while.

I’m astounded by how many times the free Blog Planner has been downloaded.

Obviously I am not the only one who likes to get everything organised. . . that is actually kind of reassuring. . . otherwise I look really uptight and neurotic . . . so thank you.

Monday’s post was meant to be all about the free blog planner. . . however, it also created a lot of interest in the folder I made for my planner.

There’s been emails asking if the folder can be purchased and requesting instructions and dimensions to make it.

So here goes. . .

I cut my folder from 3mm MDF using a jigsaw. It measures 24 cm wide by 31 cm high. I cut two boards and drilled 4 holes down the left side. The holes correspond with the holes in the clear plastic sleeves I used to store my planner pages. Four rings hold it all together.

Alternatively, I know that Kaisercraft have a Recipe File in their Beyond The Page Collection that has similar dimensions.

I painted my wood pieces front and back.

The panel on the front is a piece of scrapbook paper cut to A4 size. I inked the edges with brown ink and then sewed around the perimeter with my sewing machine. After I sewed on a few buttons, this panel was glued in place with All Purpose Glue.

I glued a long length of twill tape, centrally to both the front and back pieces to use as ties.

The central decorative piece is another square piece of scrapbook paper, which has been inked and sewn around. A cotton doily was adhered to the square and then a print out of my logo was glued to the centre of the doily. Once completed, this decorative panel was glued over the top of the twill tape.

To finish it all off with a shabby distressed look, I inked all the wood edges and tied some pretty scraps of ribbon and lace to the binder rings. It’s perfect for ME.

I like the things that surround me in my studio to be pretty and inspiring, however, if that’s not your thing you can store your planner in a normal 3 ring binder or on a clipboard. . . it doesn’t matter, as long as you keep it all together.

Just in case you missed my last post about the free Blog Planner. . .

And you have no clue what I’m waffling on about today. . .

You can read all about the 2013 Blog Planner HERE and download the actual Planner HERE.

I’m sharing my downloadable 2013 Blog Planner at this week’s link parties and with these friends: French Country Cottage, The Vintage Farmhouse, 36th Avenue, Clean and Scentsible, Live Laugh Rowe, The DIY Dreamer, Transformation Thursday, At The Picket Fence, Nifty Thrifty Sunday, and Tutorials & Tips Link party.

For the next few days Shabby Art Boutique and Woodberry Designs will be closed, while I enjoy some holiday family time. The Boutique will still be open, but orders placed will not be processed until Monday 7th January.