Franklin Covey Pocket

I've been using this size planner since the start of the year, or close to it. 

Franklin Covey Pocket size is like a smaller "personal" size page, with A6 hole spacing for pages. 

The page size is 3.5" X 6". I'm using Franklin Covey's tabbed month on two pages, and I keep switching daily pages.. between FC's day on two pages, to some printables I bought on Etsy. I print personal size printables at 85%, on pre-cut and pre-punched blank FC pocket paper. Easy peasy, if you can get the printer to cooperate doing duplex. The trick on mine is to keep the paper stack tall and it will duplex fine. 

This first post is the planner I purches from Amazon.jp - I had to create another account with Amazon to use their Japan site. You have to be extra careful when shopping on their Japan site, it lists Franklin Covey dated planners that are years old, so be careful . Amazon.jp lists Franklin Covey products that are not sold in the US. You also need to figure out your browser to have it automatically translate Japanese to English. 

making booklets from old planner pages

During the pandemic lockdown, I finally addressed all of my old planner pages that were too pretty to just toss.

I used waxed string to tie knots through the ring holes

glued the spine to this cloth I got from a cheap book binding kit from Amazon

clamped until dry

using repair tape (for repairing hard-bound books), I attached chip board for the cover, taped outside

 after trimming the string, I also taped the inside

not perfect, but the pages won't fall out

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.

Finally, colorful printed A6 inserts..!

Yaaaaaass!!






Run, don't walk, to this Etsy shop to get your beautiful A6 inserts!

The photo is one example of the day on a page inserts, they change patterns quarterly? (I'll have you check me on that)

They are as gorgeous as you might think. I also ordered month on two pages, and lined blank pages for journaling.

Yes, this means I am BACK IN A6 fer chrissake. These planners are my most beautiful, and now that I found my pretty color printed inserts, I can enjoy them again. 

Back in Franklin Covey Compact

What the ever-loving-eff?! Here's my explanation in a nutshell: I miss pre-decorated pages and beautifully colored tabs... That's it! I couldn't hold out any longer. If there were an option for A6 size, I'd buy a room full of the pages. Franklin Covey makes a "pocket" size which has the same A6 hole punch, but the pages are too narrow to match any other pages available out there. I'm NOT going to hand make all other pages- not happenin'.


I've resurrected my custom-made planner and have adopted Franklin Covey's daily pages. The best feature is the "daily notes" page on the right hand side. Perfect for a right-hander, and more perfect to journal in daily. I have a journal in my first planner from the same Etsy shop, which is simply filled with Franklin Covey compact lined pages. Having a separate journal meant I would only journal sporadically; sometimes months would be between entries.  Now I will have pre-dated entries, meaning if you drop your binder you won't cry as long putting it back together.

Here are both together, the further one is my previous journal:

Since the planner lacks in card holders, I love that my VDS card holder fits nicely on one side- its bulk helps in keeping the pages away from the pen loop when closed. I like taking this card holder out prior to shopping - it holds all necessary cards and small amount of cash- and I can keep my planner in my handbag.

 Franklin Covey makes a nice card-holder/pouch insert which holds other less-used cards.

I have been journaling every day now- 

Beautiful tabs for their month on two pages:

I purchased the frosted side-tab dividers from DividersRUS on Etsy, and asked that their Personal Wide size be left un-punched. I trimmed them and hole-punched them myself. I kept the fly-leaf that came with it, in its original size to keep pages from getting caught into the back pocket with my card-holder. I bought the bottom-tab dividers from a store that is no longer open on Etsy.

I still LOVE the grid paper I get from Handy Forms . I originally found them on Etsy but can't find the link there, luckily it's easy to find on Amazon.

In about a month I'll be receiving my custom VDS and will post photos of it here and on Instagram. Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying this beast :) 

YACP (Yet Another Custom Planner)

Maybe you've noticed that I like the color red 😍. Here's more evidence of my affliction:






My latest custom VDS Un-widened Senior (A6) in burgundy Janet Leather. It has the same configuration that I have been using for the previous customs..A4 closure strap, full back pocket, ring protectors, and both sides have secretarial pockets. This and the previous senior I bought in red Italian are 25mm rings - and again UN-WIDENED. (VDS automatically widens the planner for the bigger rings, without any special request- see the dimensions on their website )

This time I asked for extra foam instead of stiffener. BEST IDEA EVAR


The burgundy is on the right prior to moving in. The left planner is my Italian red VDS that I skipped posting about -maybe because I am a little mad at myself for not ordering completely correctly- I mistakenly clicked "yes" for stiffener 😥 (The red Italian is otherwise perfect and since being used, has actually become molded exactly to the shape I want)

I'm grateful that I stalked photos in the Facebook VDS fan group to see burgundy JL in other photos. It's NOT burgundy, it's a dark, cooler red. I actually do not like burgundy at all! And luckily, this color doesn't have the brown or purple undertones that I find icky in a true burgundy.

Here's a group shot of the red leathers I have purchased at VDS in the Senior model:

From left to right, top to bottom: 1) JL red 20mm rings with A4 widened strap, 2) Papavero Croco 20mm rings with A5 widened strap,  3)JL burgundy 25mm rings with A4 widened strap,  4)red Italian 25mm rings with A4 widened strap. The JL red (1)is quite orangy and bright- the "burgundy" (3)is darker and has a blueness but not so much as to make it purple. The croco and Italian reds are the truest reds. The croco and the Italian leathers have a shiny finish and therefore come already with a patina. The JL leathers are very squishy and the pieces I have, have a sheen that I love.

Hopefully this answers some questions you might have for some of the different red leathers available at VDS.

-----edited to add more photos of the JL "burgundy" :

Red Janet Leather VDS Un-Widened Senior

O
ops, I did it again..another VDS un-widened senior (A6) - this time in Janet Leather RED yeahhhh.

I asked for extra pebbly, and foam "stiffener". It really should be called "squishy-ner". It gave it the squishiness I love so much that my Gillio Amica has.

you're gonna want to enlarge these photos..

gold!

texture

time to switch from my trusty brown...

all moved in 

squish squish squish

nice and tidy back wallet pocket

Janet Leather Brown (JL104) Custom Un-widened A6

Van Der Spek!   My latest order arrived today- let me tell you the shipping delays only added to the excitement. (yet I'd never choose it on purpose). Here's my fractured order info - I had forgotten the left secretarial pocket, and two other items I had to request via email since not on the website menu: 

Added to this order was the forgotten left side secretarial pocket, a big fat A4 sized strap, and a custom credit card holder. 

I wanted a more substantial but not bulky, credit card holder with space to put paper currency in. This request is due to my unease of opening my planner in public to make purchases. Not only is it awkward, it makes me feel exposed as I write personal items in my planner. Instead, I can grab this and leave my planner in my bag. This size credit card holder makes me less worried I might lose it.

It has three slots on each side, on opposite ends so it may lie flatter in its pocket:

The rest of these photos show the same features as my last A6 un-widened custom order from Van Der Spek, but added even more width to the strap:

This strap!!

 

Custom Senior (UN-widened)! A6 from Van Der Spek

Absolute perfection!

The pictures below will show how to arrange side tabs towards the top of the rings so they don't interfere with the pen loop.

I AM SO GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE IT WIDENED !!

Sorry for the shouty caps, I am simply Over. The. Moon. (imagine much breathy-drama-filled voice)






This is what I ordered from Van Der Spek:




What doesn't show on the order is the request I made for the fatter closing strap (eeeee!), which is done by requesting it in the comments of the custom order. VDS then invoices you 25 euros for the feature, in my case- via PayPal.





The back wallet pocket is very tidy without warping



Some shots showing how the side tabs are working wonderfully in this un-widened senior



Just move the side tabs to the top of the rings yasssss



So much beauty:




With the left sides aligned, this shot shows the width difference between the Gillio A6 and this VDS un-widened senior

I think this perfect and beautiful planner will at least pause the crazy train I've been on. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful this size feels in the hand. I love its rounded corners, the not-too-shiny finish, the color, and the exact amount of extra strap length to have the strap not look stretched when closed.

 I have it a bit overstuffed at the moment as I hurriedly moved all in from my Gillio A6. I have more blank paper in there than I need - and will fine tune the contents. 

Already I am thinking of my next color in this same configuration. Stop it Sharon!