We need to talk about something that lives in the back of almost every planner's drawer: The Sticker Graveyard. You know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s that pile of sticker sheets with only three hearts, a full box quote and a tiny appointment label left. Or what about those washi tape rolls that have maybe four inches of tape remaining—too small to do a full spread, but "too pretty" to throw away.
We hoard these tiny scraps because we’re waiting for the perfect moment to use them. But at Lights Planner Action, I’m all about organizing the chaos, and that includes clearing out the clutter in our supplies!
Your supplies were meant to be used, not preserved in a drawer. Here are five of my favorite ways to rescue those scraps and give them a starring role in your planner.
1. Create Custom "Task Flags"
If you have a tiny strip of washi left, don't toss it. Snip the end into a "V" shape to create a little banner or flag. I love using these in my weekly layouts to highlight a top-priority task. It draws your eye right to the most important thing on the page. You can do this with quarter boxes, checklists and habit tracking stickers too!
2. The "Oops" Cover-Up
Let's be real: life is messy and so is planning. Sometimes I write an appointment on the wrong day, or my favorite fountain pen feathers a bit too much on a certain line. Instead of reaching for the white-out (which never looks quite right), I grab a leftover scrap of washi or a decorative floral sticker. It turns a mistake into a "happy accident" and keeps your Daily Planner looking intentional.
3. Confetti Mood Spreads
This is one of my favorite art journal activities. If you have a bunch of random, mismatched sticker bits, try a "confetti" spread in your journal. Just scatter the sticker pieces across the page like they’ve been thrown from a parade float, or arrange them in a way that tells a story! It’s a great way to add color to a brain dump or a gratitude list when you don't have a specific theme in mind.
4. DIY Edge Tabs
I’m a big fan of being able to flip to my current weekly page instantly. You can take a 2-inch scrap of washi, fold it over the edge of your Ring Inserts, and stick it to itself. Now you have a custom, low-profile tab! It’s functional, it uses up that last bit of tape, and it makes your planner feel completely customized to you.
5. Color-Code Your Health & Symptom Logs
If you use our Health & Symptom Logs, those tiny leftover functional stickers (the dots, the icons, the tiny stars) are gold. Use different colors to track different habits—blue for water intake, green for mood, or red for symptoms. It’s a high-visibility way to see patterns in your health without having to buy a whole new sticker book. My mom also does this with her financial planner to mark off bills being paid!
Stop Saving Them for "Someday"
The most beautiful planner is one that is actually used. When we use our scraps, we give ourselves permission to be imperfect, to play, and to make progress.
So, here is my challenge to you: Go dig through your Sticker Graveyard today. Find three scraps and put them on a page—any page! Whether it’s in your Rage Journal or your work planner, just get them out of the drawer and into your life.
Show me your scrap rescues! Tag us on Instagram @lightsplanneraction so I can see how you're clearing the chaos and making it pretty.
