My first step each week is to decorate the colorful week-on-one page.  Here I tried a mixed media approach, to go with the theme of the kit.  I used a gluestick to add some tissue paper, and the kit’s silver inkpad with a stencil for a background pattern.

In January Michelle LaPoint joined us as our guest designer and shared her takes on using the Cocoa Daisy Planner kits. It couldn’t have been a better month as our Paper and Ink kit was made for Shelley who is an avid art journaler:

I also keep a spiral-bound Yellow Paperhouse planner, where I keep track of the signs and symbols of my week for personal insight.  The sticker kit works great for this!

“My name is Shelley and I live in Minnesota with my husband Michael and our two cats Willie and Johnny. I worked for Hennepin County for 35 years, but am now retired. I spend most of my time creating in my art studio, with my two cats – Willie and Johnny by my side. I’ve been married to my husband Michael for 11 years and I have three awesome stepkids- Tony 30, Becca 28 and Steve 26.

Here’s another example, where I stamped some weather stamps onto sticker paper; colored them with tombow markers, and cut them out before sticking them down.  The cute Simon was cut from an “oopsy daisy” journal card.

I’ve been a documenter of life in various forms for as long as I can remember. My very first scrapbook was in the early 70’s. I remember the first page was an article about David Cassidy from Tiger Beat magazine. Anyone remember Tiger Beat?

The patterned cardstock and adorable washi works great for adding tip-ins

Anyhoo, my creative practice has evolved over the years – from card making, to Scrapbooking to Project Life, and finally to my two current loves: Art Journaling and Creative Planning.

I keep track of my to-dos, but I mostly use my Cocoa Daisy pages more like a journal than a planner.  Here’s a typical daily entry. I love how the pre-decorated pages give me a starting point for the design of the page.

The thing I love about Cocoa Daisy’s planner kits is how they combine gorgeous art with functionality and flexibility! The artwork is so inspirational every single month without fail; and there are so many choices for planner kits! I am currently planning in an A5 ring binder, and binding my pages into monthly journal keepsakes when the month is over. I am loving this system and looking forward to sharing my process with all of you this month!”

We absolutely loved Shelley joining us this month and enjoy all of her fresh and different takes on the kits. Here are some places you can find her online: