Pinch me! I truly cannot believe that I am writing this post but if you recognize that signature rainbow of beautiful color above then you may have guessed where this story is headed…
Last Friday I was sitting at my desk at work on a conference call when my computer screen blinked and I saw Nichole’s name pop up in my inbox. My eyes bugged out of my head! I clicked on the email and just couldn’t believe my eyes - an invitation to join the Moments Inked Team. Then my mouth gaped open - I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs but I couldn’t because I was on the phone, in work! Instead I sat there shaking - my whole body was shaking - I was in shock pretty much all.day.long. Utter SHOCK. “ME? I do love my planners…but ME?! WHOA.” Fast forward to the next day when I entered The Crying Stage. I had tears dripping down my face as I walked through Staples, Home Depot, and the curtain store. It wasn’t so much a sob as it was a steady, gentle trickle of tears. Yes, even in Home Depot!
As some of you know, I started stamping with a group of Tuesday Night Stampers when I was living in Maryland nearly ten years ago. After I moved back to Boston, I longed to find some local friends to stamp with in my new neighborhood. When that didn’t work out, I took to the internet where I discovered the online world of PTI. I still remember the very first night I stayed up until midnight for a release party - that’s how I met so many awesome crafty peeps, many of whom I am still friends with today, after all these years. Together we’ve shared lots of fun times (and even sad times), but we always gather online at PTI release time to share in the fun together. And this is a DREAM that I never would have imagined actually happening.
Simply, I am blessed to be joining this incredibly talented team and so excited to share my Moments Inked projects with you today for the first time!
The Moments Inked Memory Planner System takes the best of all worlds: planning, scheduling, memory keeping, and journaling, and combines them into a compact powerhouse of a book adorned in the classically beautiful Papertrey look. I think it’s a planner nerd’s dream come true!
Since this post is longer than usual, my post is split into two sections for you. The first few photos are pictures that I took before using the planner. I wanted to give you an idea of some of my favorite features. Those pics are followed by a video where you can see me unwrap my planner for the first time. It was filmed about a half an hour after my mailman delivered the box! Beneath the video are some images of the initial setup I am using for my planner - the projects there feature many of the Moments Inked companion products (stamp sets and dies). Lots of fun for you here today!
I chose to use the plaid cover because the message on the front really resonated with me. I just adore the laminated rainbow tabs, and the gorgeous thick pages in this book. You can hear more of my thoughts here:
As I mentioned in my video, I started off my customizing my planner with a personalized sticker for the first page. I printed my name out on an 8.5×11″ adhesive sheet, trimmed it to fit the page, and adhered it in place. No messy handwriting!
The next step was for me to carry over my to-do list from my old planner. It’s mostly a list of work projects - I wrote them out on a lined piece of note paper (as seen in the top left of the photo below), and then used a die from the Moments Inked: Basic Pages die collection to die cut the spiral binding on the left side of the note page to create a custom insert for my planner. This long list is what I will use to generate my top 3 to-dos every day on the post-it notes:
I used the smallest die from the Basic Pages collection to create my own bookmark; the orange panel also serves as a dashboard for my post-it notes. This was created by first trimming a vinyl page divider, meant to separate 8.5×11 pages, into a long strip, centering the tab at the top of the strip. (If you own the Half and Half dies, you could achieve a similar look.) Next I die cut two of the small page shapes and adhered the longer strip to them with Scor-Tape - to do this I needed a metal shim to cut through the material all the way.
I stamped and diecut Planner Banners to create a huge supply to keep on my desk, and am storing them in a small glass mason jar. The Planner Banner die lines up PERFECTLY with the stamped images and lets you cut multiple flags at once. I think I filled this jar in less than 15 minutes. The banners were also stamped on adhesive sheets to create stickers to use in my planner.
I made my own sticker for the lid of the jar. Planners gonna plan! (In case you’re wondering, this jar came from a Paddywax candle.)
Here’s a closer look at my bookmark and post it notes. I decided that the top post-it note would house my list of to-do’s for work (carried over from the longer list of the custom page that I created above) and the bottom post-it note highlights non-work related stuff. With the Moments Inked: Posted set, this is SO EASY. And cute!! The 1, 2, 3 stamp, ALSO CUTE, is from the Moments Inked: Remembered set.
Because the planner is printed in gorgeous color, I’ve decided to use a simple black pen throughout. For next week, I used some banners stamped in Simply Chartreuse to highlight the vacation day on Monday, as well as a road trip to Santa Monica on Tuesday. I’ve also stamped “party,” “errands,” and “dinner” in there as well - there is a huge variety of words and occasions in all of the fabulous sets that Nichole and Laurie have designed as part of this series:
Here’s a peek at a daily page. Since I need to track the hours that I spend on different projects, I think I am going to do that here, in addition to highlighting other things that need to be done (like my oil change). To be honest, I really need to be better about meal planning, especially dinner. I hope this book helps me do that! I should create some custom shopping list inserts - I tend to find recipes sitting in front of the computer, and this would allow me to jot down the ingredients easily.
I would definitely say that the memorable moment of this particular day was the arrival of the package containing these goodies! Notice how my photos don’t show you my fitness goals section of this page? It’s hard to run outside when there are 6-7 feet of snow on the ground. I am sad about being so lazy, but it makes me appreciate sunny days more and more!
So what do you think? Are you excited? I am just getting started and have lots of other ideas for ways to fit this grand planner into my life. How do you think you’ll use it? Be sure to head on over to Nichole’s blog for all of the details!
Thanks for visiting today and HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY, too! xoxo
Moriah
February 14, 2025 at 8:33 AM (3 months ago)OMG! Congratulations! I just saw your face on the PTI site and was so excited for you! They are so lucky to have you (I totally would have been shaking, crying, & probably would have given myself a migraine from all the emotions!).
Sherrie M.
February 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM (3 months ago)Congrats Suzanne! Thanks for sharing!
Kristie G.
February 14, 2025 at 8:37 AM (3 months ago)WOOHOO!!! So excited for you, Suzanne! I have not gotten on the planner “trend” as of yet, but this one just may change my mind.
Brandi Hall
February 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM (3 months ago)Great news for you! I’m so happy for you!!!
~amy~
February 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM (3 months ago)Congrats!!!
Kelly Schirmer
February 14, 2025 at 10:17 AM (3 months ago)Yay Suzanne!! So excited for you!!! Can’t wait to see your posts this year…Lord knows, I can use any planning ideas I can get! :)
Gina Eggebrecht
February 14, 2025 at 10:38 AM (3 months ago)Suzanne, I love hearing the excitement in your voice as you opened the planner. Congratulations!!!! can’t wait to see more from you as you use the planner.
Leigh Penner
February 14, 2025 at 11:29 AM (3 months ago)Oh, this is so fabulous, Suzanne! Your video was so fun and I’m so excited for you to be doing the PTI team in this way! Congratulations, my friend!
Virginia Lu
February 14, 2025 at 11:35 AM (3 months ago)I am THRILLED for your happy news, Susanne! Things like this happened for a reason-that is, because you are uber talented! I knew that when I first time saw your beautiful work a few years ago and have been a fan ever since. I am glad that PTI team recognized that and now you are part of it! Congratulations! Doing the happy dance for you. Your planner looks amazing!
Virginia Lu
February 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM (3 months ago)My bad… SuZanne!
Kim Heggins
February 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM (3 months ago)Suzanne…I am so happy for you! A big congrats to you and I can’t wait to see all your fabulous creations. I love planners too and this will be so much fun and so inspiring too. Congrats again!
Kathy Mc
February 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM (3 months ago)Congratulations, Suzanne, well deserved. Looking forward to seeing more PTI from you.
Sandy M
February 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM (3 months ago)Welcome aboard. I know that your excitement will show in your future additions to the team. Congratulations!
Jocelyn Olson
February 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM (3 months ago)I was so happy to see your name on the list! Congrats!! I’m a lurker (that sounds kind of psycho-sorry), and a few weeks ago I read your post about the PL app. I remember feeling bad because I’ve always thought you are incredibly talented, and you have great style! I’m so glad your talents are being recognized by PTI!
Alyssa S
February 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM (3 months ago)OMG!! I’m so stinkin’ excited for you and your nerdy planner!!! Planners gonna plan! Ha!! Love it! Congratulations!! Can’t wait to see more of what you do :)
Megan
February 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM (3 months ago)Suzanne!! So excited to see you designing for PTI!! Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing your posts!!
Joyce M.
February 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM (3 months ago)EEK!!! So excited for you and this amazing news. This is sure to energize you, right? Will be very interested to see how you are using this planner over time. So fun for me too, that I know someone famous now!
Peggy Fitzmaurice
February 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM (3 months ago)It was nice of you remembering the Maryland friends from Tuesday night stampers. We still miss you, and we now stamp once a month on Saturdays and the group is now 12 strong. You are so talented and I am very proud of you.
Bev W
February 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM (3 months ago)I am so happy to see you here!! Congratulations and big hugs!
Sara Mac
February 15, 2025 at 5:43 PM (3 months ago)Suzanne, I am thrilled for you!!! I haven’t made much time for stamping or blogging this past year but I do check in on your blog once in a while. I am so happy to see you be part of PTI in this way. You go girl!
Jeanne J
February 16, 2025 at 11:55 AM (3 months ago)Freaking out here! So happy for you Suzanne! Loved seeing your video at PTI where you explored the new journal - hearing your voice was so fun! You’re going to rock this!
Shay
February 16, 2025 at 1:08 PM (3 months ago)Suzanne, I was over-the-moon happy to see you are one of the Moments Inked design team member! I am so excited for you and all of us as you know I am *huge* fan of yours. :-) I took the plunge and bought the planner because if Laurie helped to develop it + PTI + you and Stephanie are on the design team = I am SOLD! :-) I can not wait to be inspired by you!!! Congratulations…it is so well-deserved.
Brittany
February 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM (3 months ago)Congratulations, Suzanne! This is so well deserved…you are so talented!
Tracey McNeely
February 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM (3 months ago)Suzanne you don’t know how incredibly excited I am for you my friend!! I could feel your excitement in your video. I will be watching and learning from you while you inspire us with your tips and ideas for this. xoxo
Sarah Thieke
February 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM (3 months ago)Where did you get the little yellow flower paper clip? So cute and would love to have it for my planner. Thanks!
Jeanne J
March 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM (3 months ago)Congratulations! I’m so excited for you. Youve worked hard and long for this and it’s so well deserved. Happy to tease you and say “I knew you when” Cant wait to see all the beautiful things you’ll make !!!