Jolien and her husband Joachim run a small card business, Studio Flash from their home, alongside their three children. Crafting, paper, and ink are in their family DNA.
For over eleven years, a Redopapers Monthly Planner has hung on their wall, and Jolien hasn’t stopped using it since.
Structure without stress
When other parents ask how they manage everything with a busy household, Jolien always has the same answer: “I tell them about the Redopapers Monthly Planner.” What she loves most is what the planner doesn’t do: it doesn’t fill everything in for you.
“You get an overview and structure, but you can still be flexible with the months and days.”
The fact that the planners are made from leftover paper from print shops adds to the charm. Each month, the paper is slightly different, thick or thin, white or colored, sometimes with a fun print on the back. “It makes something as mundane as planning enjoyable.
The kids join in
The broad overview also delights the kids. They count down the days to holidays, birthdays, and everything they’re looking forward to. “Sometimes they secretly add pizza day to the planner, and that stays too.”
A small work of art each month
No two of Jolien’s planners look the same. And that’s exactly why she still enjoys them after eleven years. Some months are clean and minimal when things are busy. Other months get extra drawings when there’s more space. Hearts in February. Christmas trees in December. Painted holiday blocks.
And birthdays? “Those are big, with stars around them or arrows pointing to the day.” Planning becomes something to look forward to.
Symbols instead of words
For Jolien, the planner isn’t a place for long texts. “If there’s too much text on the page, it doesn’t work for me anymore.”
That’s why she uses symbols and small drawings for recurring activities, swimming lessons, for example, become two little blue waves. 🌊 The practical details live in her digital calendar.
The monthly planner is her visual overview. School holidays get a soft watercolor line across the days, it’s not a list of appointments, it’s a visual landscape of the month.
The cut trick
When a new month begins, Jolien cuts off part of the previous sheet and hangs it above the new planner. This keeps the overview clear and saves paper. “Not ideal for your sales numbers,” she laughs. But it works.
Paper with a second life
Used planners never end up in the trash. Sturdy sheets go straight to the kids’ craft supplies. ”I don’t want to limit their creativity.” Recovered paper feels different from a new paper sheet, and that’s exactly the point. The paper has already served its first purpose. Everything that comes after is a bonus.
Curious about Jolien and Joachim’s work? Discover Studio Flash!
Want to do some creative planning yourself?
