Six months in my Van der Spek organiser - the love story continues

So I have been using my Van der Spek custom organiser for the past six months now and I am still completely smitten with it!  I love the 30mm rings and how much they hold, I love the colour combination I chose and I love seeing how the leather slowly changes as it ages and with use.  

Six months old

Can you believe that I haven't wanted to change my binder at all the last six months?  I used to swap between my Filofaxes all the time but I haven't had the urge to since I moved into this beauty.  I haven't brought any new planners (apart from the three I am giving away for my blogiversary but they don't count as they aren't for me!) or even been tempted to so I guess splashing out on my dream planner has saved me money. 

  

Developing a shine

You can see here that the outside leather has started to develop a shine, it is hard to capture properly as it is still gloomy here but it is definitely shinier than when I first got it.

Top view

When I was designing my planner I ummed and ahhed over adding the big back pocket but I am really happy I did.  I use it for keeping all sorts of letters and papers in before I file them away properly or transfer the info onto my pages.  This photo also shows just how much the 30mm rings can hold!

The back view

I wanted my VDS to be my workhorse and it is.  I haven't tried to keep it perfect, I have just used it and that has been quite refreshing!  It has been caught in the rain with me but those spots dried away to nothing and the only mark on it at the moment is a darker patch on the right had side (just below the middle) on the back of the binder which happened when it came into contact with an unidentified liquid.  

Perfect stitching

The stitching inside and out is still perfect, the turchese thread has kept it's colour and pops against the ciocolatto leather.  I love the contrast of the two together.

Inside

Inside is still the same as the day it arrived apart from the indents on the leather from the rings and they don't bother me at all.  There is no wear and tear on any of the pockets or card slots, this thing was made to last and it shows!  

When I brought this organiser I was planning on doing a monthly or quarterly update on how it was ageing but it is made with such quality leather that six months of constant use have gone by and it still looks pretty much as it did the day it arrived.  Any changes it has gone through have been subtle and I doubt I would have been able to capture them in a photo before now anyway.  At the moment I can't imagine ever wanting to move out of this binder, I don't even want to order another one from Van der Spek because I got everything I wanted to in this organiser and I found the perfect colour and leathers for me so nothing else takes my fancy.  I have found planner peace!

I have ordered something else from VDS though with my Christmas money but it is not a planner or an organiser!  That is all I am saying for now but I am hoping it will be with me soon so I can show you!

Thanks for stopping by!

My week #3

This week's theme is a bit muddled.  I used a pretty pastel rain cloud washi tape on the pages but then the weather here was getting me down so I threw in some flamingos to cheer me up!  It all looks a bit random but it got me through a busy week.

My week #3

I went to a concert on Friday night with my husband, my eldest daughter was performing with her choir at a really big venue (I am talking arena sized!) and it was great to be there and experience the buzz of a live performance.  I had a fantastic evening!  

I also launched my Facebook giveaway  so pop over and enter that if you haven't already! 

Close up

Close up

Products used:

Annie's Paper Boutique School Days Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique At Home Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique Get It Done Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique How's The Weather Planner Stamp Set

Trendy Page Dots - circle reinforcements

Annie's Paper Boutique Flamingo Mini Note Cards

Lorabailora Flamingo Stamp

Lava Lamp Designs Pastel Clouds Washi Tape

Thanks for stopping by!

Planner Friday - January

My first Planner Friday post of the year is now up on the Twine it up with Trendy Twine blog.

Hello!  Happy new year!  Welcome to the first Planner Friday of 2016,  I am Amanda from She's Eclectic and I'm the planner gal here on the Trendy Twine blog.  I have been using planner stamps and lots of other goodies from Annie's Paper Boutique for nearly two years now and they have really helped me stay organised and be a little creative too.  I know that I would get myself into a muddle if I didn't use a diary of some kind and as I check mine regularly I like to have some fun decorating my pages and inject some colour into my days!

Products used: School Days Planner Stamp Set

Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

At Home Planner Stamp Set

Need Coffee! Planner Stamp Set

Stamp Block with Finger Grooves

Trendy Page Dots - circle reinforcements

Memento Inks

Washi Tape

I find January quite a hard month to get through, I get so excited for Christmas in December and then wet, grey January rears it's head and spoils everything!  I have been using a lot of pink in my planner to cheer myself up and to be honest I am still drinking festive coffees to keep a little Christmas happiness alive inside me... gingerbread latte anyone?  Peppermint hot chocolate?  So inspired by my caffeine addiction I decided to use the Need Coffee! Planner Stamp Set to decorate my pages this week.

You can read the rest of my post here.

My week #2

So it's still January and I kind of just want to hibernate until mid February, it's too cold and dull outside and I feel sluggish and uninspired.  I thought some pink, sparkly unicorns would cheer me up so I went with a completely over the top theme for the second week of the year and it worked, I did feel much brighter every time I opened my planner.... though today I'm feeling a bit more meh about things. 

My week #2

I am enjoying using my Just So Stationery inserts, I used pink ink for my stamps this week and I am glad to say none of it bled through to the other side of the paper or shows through at all.  Last year I was alternating weeks between my Filofax inserts and the Webster's Pages diary so the ink wouldn't be a problem.  It's nice being able to use one set of inserts now and they take up less room on my rings.

Close up

Close up

Van der Spek custom made organizers - 30mm standard size (personal)
Just So Stationery Whimsical Pink diary inserts
Lorabailora pink ombre washi tape

Annie's Paper Boutique Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique At Home Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique School Days Planner Stamp Set
The stickers are old ones from Paperchase

I have launched my second blogiversary giveaway, this one is on my Facebook page and is for a caramel Webster's Pages planner.  There is also still time to enter the blog giveaway here if you haven't done it yet.  I will be launching my third and final giveaway on Instagram over the next few days so keep an eye out for that one too!

Thanks for stopping by!

My week #1

The first week of 2016 and I finally got to use my Just So Stationery inserts, I absolutely love the quality of the paper and the pretty pink accents!

My week #1

January is usually when people start their health kicks but to be honest I was still in Christmas mode and that influenced my cookie and cake theme.  I didn't have much on as we were all still on holiday from work and school, in fact apart from the start of the new year the most important thing in my planner was my reminder to watch the latest episode of Sherlock!  It was brilliant by the way!

Close up

Close up

Products used: 

Van der Spek custom made organizers - 30mm standard size (personal)
Just So Stationery Whimsical Pink diary inserts - shop reopens on the 15th January
Lava Lamp Designs sprinkles washi tape

Annie's Paper Boutique Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique At Home Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique Foodies Planner Stamp Set
Annie's Paper Boutique Drinks More Planner Stamp Set
Milk and cookies sticker set - shop not yet open

Have you entered my blogiversary giveaway yet?  You could win a pretty pink Webster's Pages planner.

Thanks for stopping by!

She's Eclectic 3rd blogiversary giveaway - win a Webster's Pages planner! *Now Closed*

Hello!  Somehow three years have passed since I started this blog and I wanted to do something big to celebrate.  I have three lovely planners to giveaway, one for the blog, one for Instagram and one for my Facebook page.  The first giveaway starts today and it is for this Webster's Pages planner.

Webster's Pages planner

Hello!

Value friendships planner charm

Pretty dashboard

Planner and pens 

Inserts, dividers and page marker

The planner comes with a selection of Webster's Pages inserts, a page marker, dividers, a notebook and a couple of pens.  There is no 2016 diary in it. 

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is:

• follow She's Eclectic on Bloglovin 
• comment on this post to let me know your name on Bloglovin so I can confirm your entry 

The rules and terms & conditions:

• You must complete both steps above to enter the giveaway.
• You must be over eighteen years of age or have parental / guardian permission to enter.
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 8th February 2016, any comments after this time will not be entered into the draw.  
• The comments will be numbered and a winner selected using random.org.  
• The winner will be announced here on the 9th February 2016 and will have 72 hours to contact me via email to claim their prize.  
• If the winner does not contact me within 72 hours I will draw a new winner.
• Open internationally
• The prize stated above is the only prize for this giveaway - no cash alternative.

My giveaways on Instagram and Facebook will go live during January so keep an eye on both to enter those too!  Oh and if pink is not your colour don't worry, a nice caramel planner will be up for grabs on Facebook.

Good luck!

My favourites - 2015

A few days ago I read a post by Janet from This Bug's Life about some of her favourite products from 2015 and I felt inspired to create my own list to share with you.

Favourite pen

I have been using my Sheaffer VFM since 2014 but it is still my favourite ballpoint pen.  I tend to use lots of different coloured pens on my diary pages but the VFM is the one I keep in my pen loop and I use it all the time.  I love that it matches the interior of my planner perfectly but it also writes so smoothly and is very comfortable to hold.

My favourite pen for 2015 - Sheaffer VFM in ultra mint

Favourite planner/binder

At the start of 2015 my favourite planner was my fluoro pink Original Filofax, I stayed in it for about 5 or 6 months which is the longest I have used one binder since I started this blog.  However since I received my custom Van der Spek planner it has stolen my heart!  Getting to design my own binder and deciding on the colours and leathers meant I now own the perfect planner for me and I have not been interested in any others since I moved into it.  Plus having large 30mm rings is amazing, I can fit everything I need to in here!

My favourite planner for 2015 - Van der Spek 30mm custom
organiser

2nd place

2nd place - fluoro pink Original Filofax

My favourite planner stamps

Before I started using stamps in my planner I hated trying to draw the check boxes for my to do lists.  They were always a bit wonky and never matched each other which would drive me mad!  Thankfully I was given these Check It Off stamps which have a whole range of different check boxes and shapes to choose from and now I have lovely, uniform boxes for my lists! 

Favourite planner stamps - Annie's Paper Boutique Check
It Off stamp set

My favourite notebook

I have a weakness for notebooks but my favourite for 2015 was this pink Nu Notebook.  I love the colour and the matching elastic closure and page marker ribbon.  The paper inside is also great quality, it's nice and smooth and handles all my pens well.

My favourite notebook - Nu Era Pop

Do you have a stand out favourite product from 2015?  I'd love to know!

Thanks for stopping by!

2015 - My Weeks #51 & #52

Hello!  Happy new year!  I've blinked and suddenly it's 2016 and I have gone a couple of weeks without posting anything, yikes!  Christmas flew by so quickly and now I find myself with a touch of the January blues, but they won't be around for long because the 8th January is my blogiversary and She's Eclectic will be three years old!  As I mentioned before I will be running some giveaways to celebrate so I am really looking forward to showing you what the prizes are, I hope you like them.  Make sure you check back here tomorrow for details of the first giveaway!

On to today's business, I want to share my final two weeks of 2015 with you!

Week #51

This week was really busy, I didn't even have a chance to use my regular planner stamps.  I ended up hand writing my to do lists and reminders and it all looks a bit messy but it kept me on track so I'm not complaining! 

My week #51

As usual the school packed everything into the last week of term so I was up there for two concerts, two Christmas discos and a couple of special assemblies as well.  I was so relieved when they broke up for the holiday and I could finally relax a little!

Close up

Close up

Products used:
Van der Spek custom made organizers - 30mm standard size (personal)
Cloudy Cow green glitter washi tape

Annie's Paper Boutique Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique Trendy Page Dots circle reinforcements
Mrs Brimbles Eggnog Christmas stickers

Kawaii Studios planner charm

Week #52

Christmas week was much calmer, most of my reminders were to do with Christmas lunch and when to prep and prepare things for it.  I only have a small oven with one shelf so cooking a big meal for five of us needs to be planned properly ahead of time or it could be a disaster!

My week #52

I have a separate timetable in my Dodo Book Of Christmas where I have broken down all the things I need to do in advance for Christmas lunch so I followed that and just popped a few reminders on my diary pages so I wouldn't forget them.

Close up

Close up

Products used:
Van der Spek custom made organizers - 30mm standard size (personal)
Mrs Brimbles gold foil dots washi tape

Annie's Paper Boutique Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique At Home Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique Trendy Page Dots circle reinforcements
Mrs Brimbles Eggnog Christmas stickers

Kawaii Studios planner charm

I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and have a fantastic 2016!