Duck Egg Filofax Malden with Franklin Covey Compact Inserts

Wowee! The new Malden colors are yowza- I had to buy the mini also, just because I can't stand how cute it is. They still have the annoyingly small pen loop, but I did find a pretty gel pen that fits and writes well.

A6 it is..

Confession time. I've gone bananas with planner sizes recently. It's a bit embarrassing to say the least.
I've always loved pocket planners as they feel good in the hand, but are not the ultimate experience to write in. I predict I will be back in them off and on forEVER.

For my recent cross-country trek I was very happy in a Gillio Medium Slim Compagna. I was so happy that I now own four; red, purple, gold epocas, and one purple croco.

After that I went a bit nuts (like I hadn't already) with the Filofax Classic Croc pockets. I own the black, fawn, chestnut, and fuchsia. I don't even like fuchsia but then there's that. I absolutely LOVE the pocket Classic Crocs; they lay flat without training, there's no warping of the back wallet pocket, and they have 20mm ring, but most of all the Big Fat Closing Strap. Yassss.

As you may have seen previously, I custom ordered a pocket sized planner from VDS in Foresto. I then proceeded to order another custom exactly the same, but in their Papavero croc (cherry red).

Also, ALSO!, I jumped on the A6 train when Gillio did their recent restock a few weeks back. I bought the red, yellow, and purple epoca models. In my defense, I did resell the yellow. Like that'll get me into heaven..

And THEN, I custom ordered a senior from Van Der Spek. It should be here tomorrow.


Meanwhile, this is my red epoca A6 from Gillio.

Of course I have to have a planner where refills are harder to find (much like my Franklin Covey Compact size addiction).

What I didn't like when it was new has gone away. The A6's layout when new, its new stiffer leather makes the planner lay wonky when on its side and closed, where the front side lays shorter than the back. Now that the leather has broken in a bit, it lays square. I think putting in a page lifter in the back helped.







I got both side and "top" (I like using them upside down at the bottom) dividers at DividersRUS on Etsy

This page lifter helps, but it is a bit shy of the full width and the Tomoe River Paper filler paper I have at the back curls a bit by the outer edge.


 One thing I have struggled with, is when using my planner as a wallet/planner, opening a floppy planner while paying for things in a checkout line makes me nervous. Not knowing what flies out, and perhaps I feel a bit exposed as well.
So! My workaround is finding this slim credit card holder that I can take out ahead of time to use in the checkout line, and this has helped tremendously. Link below-




This link may not last forever, but here goes anyway:
slim card case with pouch for cash. It has 3 slots on front and back. Maybe since it's new, using all six made it hard to get cards in and out, so I only put four in it.

*Edited to add that your chances are better for matching the leather with Gillio's own slim credit card holder


Top view, just enough room for the small amount of cash I carry..



 Since A6 page finders are difficult to find in frosted, I made my own by buying these washi tape holders, and hole-punching them myself, and used a corner rounder for a more polished look.



I got my month on two pages inserts from CityGirlPlanners.com






I do my own week on two pages layout with my favorite paper from HandyForms on Etsy.  They are on Amazon as well, but I couldn't find a direct link for the A6 size graph pages.





I hope this article helps you in some way-
Sharon

Filofax Mini Malden set up

I am still trying to get accustomed to using this mini planner. It's so cute, the inserts I've purchased are so cute....yet....

I am having issues with actually writing in it. I usually enjoy writing my plans and ideas. Writing in this makes me not quite tense, but something close. Hmm

Here are some photos for comparison to my other Maldens:

personal, pocket, and mini

You can see the color variations in the ochre between the planners. The mini is darker which is fine for me.

I don't keep any change in the zip pocket, but it's a good place to hang a charm. I have a Fisher Space pen in the loop.

I bought these cute dividers from DannysPlannerCuties

I purchased all of my cute inserts from VanillaFolders, including this dot matrix paper

I have to have an Oli clip in it :)

I cut a checkbook sized card holder to hold some business cards and car registration in the back wallet pocket

It doesn't lie as flat as the pocket

I am still drawn to my pocket planner even after setting up this cute mini. Hope you enjoyed this comparison 

My planner collection

Feeling purple. Medium Van der Spek Touch Me in purple leather, pocket Filofax Malden and my favorite coffee mug.

Pocket-sized planner flatability

Here's a post just for pocket planners, and when I find my Van der Spek, I'll add it. It's hiding somewhere. (*found the VDS, added to the end ) All of my pocket planners have the full back wallet pocket. 

From left to right, here are my pocket sized planners: Gillio in purple epoca, Filofax Malden in ochre, Filofax Malden in crimson, Filofax Malden in purple, Filofax Amazona in red croco.

The crimson Malden leather is stiffer than the other Maldens, but I bought it brand new in box, so I expect it to soften up more. 

The purple Malden lies the flattest of all of the Maldens, loving the ring size 19mm

The Gillio has excellent flatability, the best card layout , but the rings are smaller at only 15X12mm

The ochre Malden has good flatability

The Amazona has bad flatability, but not enough for me to not use it. It's so pretty I forgive it.

And here is my elusive Van der Spek. Excellent flatability

Here's the Van der Spek compared to my pocket Malden

Van der Spek on top, Malden on bottom

Franklin Covey compact size inserts in Filofax personal size Malden

I see this question so often so I decided to show my Filofax that I'm now using for my work planner. There's a slight amount of overhang but I actually like seeing the tabs.

Franklin Covey Blooms month on two pages have colorful tabs

They barely touch the strap

I prefer the wider writing area

Quick Pocket Filofax Malden flip through

page finders from https://www.etsy.com/shop/filoaddict
flyleafs (flyleaves?) from https://www.etsy.com/shop/Shopmichaelnicole
graph and dot grid paper from Handy Forms
Frixion refillable pen (I replaced the 5mm with 7mm)

Filofax Mini Flatability Comparison

My Filofax Mini collection has grown; all but two were pre-loved. I finally found a brand new Malden mini on the UK eBay site. Out of all of them, only two had any flatability whatsoever. They're wonderful as wallets, and as you can see, I only collect those that have the full wallet pocket in the back.

Cross, Chameleon, Amazona in bone, black, red, Topaz, Malden

Only two in the whole bunch will stay open at all and perhaps this is because of the wallet pocket.

Malden and Topaz

The rest of them close right back even after pressing open

My goal in the next two years is to simplify my life that I'll only need a mini planner to use as both a wallet and planner. The only two I can see out of this collection to use for this are the Malden and Topaz.

In case you missed it, here's my credit card holder hack.

The Amazonas are so glamorous I will make them work no matter what!

Pocket Filofax fun

Really love what I got from Filoaddict on Etsy

Maybe it's me, but I had a hard time finding page finders that are clear for pocket sized Filofaxes. This pocket Amazona is soooo pretty I only have been using it sparingly. It's shiny, it's red, and that's basically all I need to love something.

Finally a Frixion pen that fits the Filofax penloop

Finally! A Frixion pen that fits the non-elastic pen loop in my Filofax pocket Malden. It is refillable, and as I prefer the .7mm size, the .5mm size that came with it got thrown right out and replaced.

The Frixion Ball Biz has a light metal barrel and I do not miss the rubber grip at all, as that rubber grip prevented the pen from sliding into any pen loops of all of my planners. 


This is the Frixion Ball Biz in Gold (LFB-150EF-GD) found on Amazon.

fits easily in the Filofax non-elastic pen loop

compared to the clicker  retractable 

takes the same refills as the clicker retractable and original ball eraser pens

Planner "flat-ability"

It is one of my deal breakers with a planner if it doesn't open flat. It shouldn't be a contortion act to write in your planner, nor should you require 8 arms to grab all of your pages when you pop the rings open. Here are a few of my planners to show the levels of "flatability" :

Gillio Compagna in purple epoca, excellent flatability

Van der Spek Standaard Touch Me in purple leather.  Great flatability.

Day Timer Rose gold Mailbu personal size. Great flatability. 

Gillio medium Amica in aqua. Very good flatability.

Filofax The Original in patent nude, personal size. Fantastic flatability, the best I've experienced. 

New Classic Croc - amazing flatability, even with a full wallet pocket in the back

Filofax Cross in red aniline, personal size. Terrible flatability. 

Filofax Kingisher Blue Malden, personal size. Excellent flatability

My Filofax Mini Obsession

Why oh why did Filofax discontinue the mini size? They're perfect for a wallet. I'm now up to three, this latest is this light blue cross.