Rainy Day Reflections with the Meadow Collection
Hello, friends! A rainy day sparks a variety of emotions for people, with some delighting in a cozy day inside all the way to frustration and annoyance with the inability to go outside and feel...
Memory Planning Step By Step: Introduction
Welcome to Memory Planning Step By Step!
Click below to download the Class Printable: [wpdm_media id=831408]Quick Links to Lessons
Lesson 1: Getting Started Lesson 2: Layering Elements and Decorative Clusters Lesson 3: Stamping Lesson 4: Scrapbooking Supplies in Your Memory Planner Lesson 5: Journaling Lesson 6: Adding Inserts and Pages to Your Memory Planner We are so happy you are here! Whether you are a long-time memory planner, just starting out, or even returning to this practice, we hope you enjoy this class and learn a few techniques to help you move forward with this creative endeavor. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.cocoadaisy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_3864.mp4"][/video]In this lesson, we are going to cover the basics: What is memory planning? Why memory planning? Memory planning formats and styles. Over the next few weeks, I will be joined by some amazing creatives to share our love of memory planning and our tips and tricks for making memory planning a creative practice in your life.
What is Memory Planning?
When we think of a planner, it is usually forward-focused, with the goal of managing our upcoming schedule and tasks. In contrast, a memory planner is focused on the past. In a memory planner we have a place to capture what has actually happened, our thoughts about what happened, and other details we want to remember.
Think of memory planning as a mix between a journal, a planner/diary and a scrapbook. The planner is the foundation, like cardstock is for scrapbooking or pockets are for pocket pages. As we’ll talk about later on it this lesson, the style of planner is not important - any planner can be a memory planner. The best news of all? Memory Planning is whatever you want it to be!
No photos? That’s ok! You can capture so much with words, stickers, stamps and journaling. 
You want to memory plan monthly instead of weekly? Great!
This is an excellent way to incorporate memory planning into your everyday planning system or just keep it more manageable like Renee demonstrates here. 
You want to use your scrapbooking products in your memory planner? Go for it!
Pocket Cards, stamps, cardstock, die cuts chipboard, puffy stickers make wonderful embellishments for memory planner spreads, too. They are also pretty handy for weeks with a little less going on to help fill the page. 
You started in one planner and you are switching to another? Kudos for trying something new!
In 2021, I tried THREE different styles, to find the style that really worked for me. You could use a different style every month if you wanted to!
Remember, your memory planner is all yours and you have permission to do whatever works best for you.
Why Start a Memory Planner?
It is important to remember the big and small things, right? Looking back helps us appreciate the good, the great, and even the ugly stuff of life. Because all of it matters! It is all part of our stories.
Pop quiz! Do you remember what happened last Tuesday? What about that same Tuesday a year ago? If you are like me, you might be struggling to remember what happened yesterday! 
It is so easy to forget! Our brain needs cues that will do the heavy lifting of accessing our memories. Memory planning can’t capture everything, but it can be a helpful tool for retrieving those memories from our daily life.
Memory planning does not need to replace other memory-keeping formats. In fact, memory planning will make scrapbooking and project life projects a little easier because you have already taken the time to capture the moments in a less formal way. Just the other day, I went to work on a travel album from five years ago. I looked at the photos and remembered some things, but was frustrated by how many gaps in my memory there were. Low and behold, I unearthed my memory planner pages and the details came flooding back to me! When it comes to memory planning, my only regret is that I didn’t start sooner!
Memory Planner Formats 
Let me start by saying, once again, there is no right or wrong format for memory planning. ANY planner can be a memory planner. 
We have a few styles in the Cocoa Daisy Store that may work for you including:
Undated Coil Daisy Planner
- 6 Month Planner with Horizontal and Vertical weekly pages
- Date Stickers for Dating the Planner
- 7″ wide by 8 3/4″ tall (interior pages)/ Roughly A5 Wide Size
- 1.25” Silver Coil
- Punch for this planner: We R Memory Keepers Planner Punch Bundle
Undated Unbound Daisy Planner
- 6 Month Planner with Horizontal and Vertical weekly pages
- Date Stickers for Dating the Planner
- 7″ wide by 8 3/4″ tall (interior pages)/ Roughly A5 Wide Size
- Great options for discbound or ringbound binders
Minimalist Collection A5 Daisy Dori
When choosing a memory planner, consider the following:
- Do you currently have a planner that could work as a memory planner? Start with what you have!
- Do you want to be able to customize it?
- Would you prefer a dated planner or an undated planner?
- Do you plan to use bulky embellishments or avoid them?
- How much room do you have to store your planners?
- What are your binding preferences? (Spiral, ring bound, discbound, notebook/sewn bound)
-  What size planner would work best for you?
- Heidi Swapp Memory Planner: Sewn binding notebook with 3 or 6 months per insert. The weekly spreads have a horizontal design.
- BIG (Letter Size) Happy Planner: 8.5 x 11 Discbound planner available online and in stores. Option for several layouts including vertical, horizontal, and dashboard.
- Classic Size Happy Planner: 7X 9.25-inch Discbound planner available online and in stores. Option for several layouts including vertical, horizontal, and dashboard.
- Blank Notebooks/Bullet Journal Style
