Moving in to the Foxy Notebook System

Hi everyone! This is Jes. Kris mentioned last week that she and I have joined theFoxy Fix design team.  I'm over on their blog showing how I use the Foxy Notebook system. We have received several comments on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube asking about our setups, and I wanted to share with you all as well.

Be sure to check out the Foxy website as well! http://foxy-fix.myshopify.com/

I'll first do a quick walk through, showing how I set up my Foxy Notebook and inserts. I'll also show you how I've incorporated the new Bujo Foundation and Elements stamp sets into my bullet journal system. My notebook of choice is the new Rowena 2.0, in the Grand 8 (A5) size. (I actually changed my cords out to the gorgeous mint straps, but I forgot to take a photograph before sitting down to write this up, so you'll have to wait to see those next time!)

 My Foxy Notebook currently holds two Notebook Inserts, two other previously purchased journals that contain information I need on hand, and a dashboard insert. I love the dashboard because it lets me change out the covers as the mood strikes. I decorated this one with the lovely Floral stamps (design 1).

The first page in my first insert is my bujo key, and following that is my June monthly spread.

I used several stamp sets in this layout.  For the large boxes at the top, I used one of the columns from Column Set 1. The squares are stamped with the Square Set.  A trick to lining them up (which I actually thought of AFTER I finished this entire page!) is to use a t-square ruler and lightly trace a frame work in pencil.  I ended up just eyeballing it. 

The days of the week and June header all come from the Bujo Basics Part 1 set, while the banner around June and the numbers are all from Bujo Basics Part 2. Finally, I used Bujo Dividers and Borders Set 2 to separate my days from my notes section.  To stamp the borders, I used my long block from Fiskars, but it was hard to hold, and the bottom part of the border was difficult to align. I recommend getting a block with a good grip like this one from My Sentiments Exactly. 

After my monthly calendar, the next few pages are my weekly spreads for June. Many people plan day by day in their bujo's, but that doesn't work for me.  I stamp out a basic weekly layout, and if I end up needing more room for to-do items, I create a master to-do list on the next available page.  For June, I chose to make several weekly spread layouts to give you an idea of all the different things you can do with the Foxy Fix stamp sets. I haven't listed every individual set, but you can find all the sets I used here: http://www.foxyfix.com/collections/clear-stamp.   

This tracker was created using the mini calendar stamp found in the Tracker Set. You can only track seven things at a time, but that's perfect for me.

Here is a close up of my weekly spread. The boxes are not all lined up perfectly, so this is where that t-square I mentioned would be helpful again.

Kristine Bryant, one of the other two designers, challenged me to do a layout using only the new elements sets. Challenge accepted!  Can you believe this entire spread is made with only three stamp sets? All the framework is done with the Floral Page Layout Design 1 set, and the days, dates, and banners are all from Bujo Basics Part 1 and 2. 

To get the florals in the right place, I drew a line down the center of the page and stamped out all the corners on either side of that line, then lined up the other half of my box with the first set of corners. So much easier than how I did my monthly spread! 

If your area is too small to allow you to have four corners, you can cheat a corner using one of the straight vines, like I did here.

Finally we have my favorite spread so far!  This layout features the Hexagon Set and the Bujo Dividers and Borders Set 2. (It's a bit difficult to see the left side well in this shot, because I used yellow, but you'll see it up close in a moment.) 

This week is extremely busy, so I knew I was going to need a lot of room for my to do list. But for such a busy week, there weren't very many things that needed a specific day.

The boxes at the top will be perfect for things that have a deadline, while the checklist below will help me keep my to do list straight. 

The weekend days share a box so that I could fit all 7 days on one page and because there is very little happening those days.  The four large hexagons on the lower part of the page will hold my notes for the following week, menu plan, daily activities with my daughter, and any bills that need to be paid. 

Some of you might be experienced stampers, and many of you probably aren't - regardless, you're probably all wondering how various ink brands work in the Foxy inserts. (Yes, you see Memento dye ink in these photos!)  I'll post a video in a week or two showing the different kinds of ink and how they work on Foxy's paper.  

I absolutely loved putting these layouts together, and I hope you enjoyed this walk through of the first month in my Foxy Notebook.  If you have any questions or comments, please be sure to comment below!  I'd love to know what you think. 

Make sure you subscribe to the Foxy Fix blog so you don't miss a post!

Find us on Facebook, and follow The Foxy Fix and the design team members on Instagram for more inspiration:

The official Foxy Fix account: @thefoxyfix

Jes Brandon (that's me!): @jes_planning

Cheryl Reiter: @cherylreiter

Kristine Bryant: @teachplancraft

Fast and Easy Corner Bookmark

Hey, everyone!  It's Kristine with you again today, and I've got a quick craft for all the book lovers out there.  I'm sure you've probably seen that video going around Facebook of the bookmark made from the corner of an envelope and washi tape?  Well, I wanted to make one that was a little more sturdy and a little more "me" than that.  So armed with a few tools and an unlined 4x6 index card, I came up with this!  What do you think?

The whole thing came together in about 20 minutes.  Now that's my kind of craft!

First up, turn your 4x6 unlined index card (or piece of cardstock, whichever you prefer) on its corner and draw a 45 degree angle so that the diagonal part is about 3 inches long.

Next, draw horizontal and vertical lines to create a square.  Extend them to the edges of the card. (The pencil lines are pretty light in this photo, but you should be able to see them if you click and expand.)

Now, cut off the diagonal part and the large rectangle to the upper right. 

Score very lightly along the two sides of the square that still have pencil marks.  Then fold the two rectangles backward away from the triangle.

Once all the pieces are folded up flat, carefully trim off everything hanging below the bottom of the triangle.  I used my craft knife and a metal ruler, but you could use scissors, too.

Turn the triangle over so that the flaps are facing up.  Fold one flap down and put adhesive on it (I used a roller adhesive and went all around the edges.  Then stick the top flap down on top of it. 

You should have a 3-layer triangle now that has an opening between the front and the first flap.

All that's left to do now is decorate it and start using it!  I stamped the Book Club set from Sweet Stamp Shop with Memento ink and colored the images with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  And boom, that's it!  20 minutes, start to finish, and I have a really cute bookmark.  These would be super easy to make as gifts or party favors!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Please feel free to leave a comment or question down below and I'll be sure to get back to you!  Happy reading!

15 Minute Summer Activity Sticks

Hi everyone, it's Jes again. I'm back with another 15 minute (ish) craft. Have you ever heard "I'm bored! There's nothing to do around here!" from your kids over the summers? I remember annoying my mom with it constantly. My daughter is getting to that age, and I decided to head off the boredom with some pre-determined activities we can do together. I considered just writing it in my planner and choosing something for each day, but that wouldn't be much fun for her.  Then, at a recent wedding, the couple put popsicle sticks out on the tables and asked people to write down date ideas.  It was perfect for what I needed, and I stopped by the craft store on the way home to grab some sticks for myself.

What you'll need:

     Popsicle sticks (tip: get the colored ones, they're more fun)
     Markers (tip: sharpies bleed really bad, so test your makers before using them)

     VersaCraft Ink 

     Stamps that go with what you want to write. 

          I used - Just Icons, Plan Craft, Little Cooler, Plan Summer, Game Night, Bacon Break, Plan To Eat, Plan Television, and Plan Everyday

The next part is super simple.  Write your activity on the stick, choose a coordinating stamp, and stamp it on the top of your stick. You will want to let the ink from your stamping dry for a few minutes before coloring or it will smear.  I had the most success with the ones that sat about five minutes.  

As always, at the end of the project, there are a few things I wish I would have done differently.  I think it would have looked really pretty to write a bit bigger, and fill the stick, maybe even add a bit of fancy lettering. I definitely wish I would have found a marker that didn't bleed.  I also wish I would have tried my spectrum noir markers out on it for the coloring. Using the colored sticks instead of the plain ones would be more fun, but then coloring might not look right.

I've included a short how-to video below.  If you like it, be sure to hit like and subscribe.  If you do this craft, be sure to tag me on Instagram @jes_planning and let me know. :)