Last year, in an attempt to get myself more organized, I started using a posting calendar for my blogs. It really helped a lot, being able to plan things out each week. This year, I wanted to take that a step further, by creating a loose editorial calender with subject ideas, laid out for each month for the entire year.
Typically, I will be posting away each week, and all of sudden I realize that Valentine’s Day is next week, and I haven’t posted any Valentine’s Day projects yet, or out of no where Thanksgiving is 5 days away, and I haven’t posted photos of my Thanksgiving Mantel yet! You get the picture. The Seasons and Holidays tend to sneak up on me, and then I’m not prepared, like I would like to be. As a DIY Blogger it’s important to push the Seasons a bit too, in order to get your projects out there early enough for your readers to recreate them in time, for use in their homes. Also, you will more likely be featured in Round Ups and blog posts, that are Seasonal/Holiday specific, if you have your posts on your blog early enough. Which can really help to increase your traffic!
I began by doing a bit of research and poking about to see what types of subjects other DIY bloggers were posting about each month, and I created a list of topics for each month of the year. If you happen to be like me, you may find this information useful, so I thought I would share it. And at the very least, I know I’ll be able to find it when I need it, since it will be right here on my blog!
January
- Goals
- Trends
- Organization/Storage
- Cleaning
- Winter Projects
- Valentine’s Day
February
- Valentine’s Day
- Winter
- Spring
March
- Spring
- Spring Cleaning
- Easter
- Garden
- Porch
- Outdoor Living
April
- Easter
- Spring
- Garden
- Mother’s Day
- Spring Cleaning
- Wedding
May
- Mother’s Day
- Spring
- Garden
- Memorial Day
- Coastal
- Graduation
- Patriotic
- Summer
June
- Summer
- Summer Garden
- Coastal
- Lavender
- Porch
- Summer Mantel
- Outdoor Living
- 4th of July
- Picnics
July
- 4th of July
- Garden
- Summer
- Outdoor Living
- Travel
August
- Summer
- Summer Organization
- Coastal/Beach
- Outdoor Living
- Back to School
- Fall
September
- Fall
- Fall Table
- Fall Mantel
- Labor Day
- Halloween
- Fall Porch
October
- Fall
- Fall Mantel
- Fall Porch
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving
November
- Fall
- Thanksgiving Table
- Holiday Tablescapes
- Christmas Mantel
- Christmas Decor
December
- Holiday Decor
- Christmas Crafts
- Holiday Mantel
- Christmas Ornaments
- Handmade Gift Ideas
- Wrapping/Packaging
- Christmas General
- Year in Review/Best Posts
- New Years
Ink in the Book says
January 3, 2013 at 3:34 pmThank you so much for posting this. What a neat idea that will come in handy for a forgetful head like me! Thanks!!
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:22 pmYou’re welcome, I’m glad you can use it!
Renata says
January 3, 2013 at 3:51 pmHi Karen, I am a typical blogger. Yes, it happens to me, that I am late with the DIY projects. Thank for sharing your calendar, it useful for me. I have to modify some of the ideas to fit to my needs and our family holidays. Thanks. … Renata
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:22 pmThanks Renata! It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one that this happens to!
The Queens Table says
January 3, 2013 at 4:12 pmKaren,
Thank you so much for sharing this information. As a fairly new blogger I am in awe of those who find time to blog everyday. I have decided that this year I will be more pro-active about my blogging and this organization, especially the planner, will help with those goals. Thank you! Thank you!
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:24 pmYou’re welcome Crystal! I’m glad to hear that you’ll be blogging more this year, you always have excellent information on your posts!
Linda Pekrul says
January 3, 2013 at 4:44 pmThis is super. Thank you.
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:24 pmYou’re welcome Linda!
Pendra says
January 3, 2013 at 4:55 pmThanks Karen this is so neat! We bought a house this last year and I’m telling you I have been dragging all year…I’m ready to get into making Christmas cards NOW, and it’s over! hehehe! I used to be super organized and made all my family quilts for gifts… I’m embarrased to say, I even bought store cards this year! I’m off to check out Beckie’s site. Thanks!
Hugs,
Pendra
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:25 pmThanks Pendra! I never even sent cards out, so you are actually way ahead of me! haha
Ms. Redo says
January 3, 2013 at 5:11 pmWhat a great idea to put this list together, I’m printing it for use this year, thanks so much. Mary
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:26 pmThat’s great Mary, I’m so glad you found it handy! Thanks for your comment!
Kristi L (Digital Cake) says
January 3, 2013 at 5:19 pmAs a brand new blogger, I really appreciate you putting this list together! I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants, so it really helps to get tips like this from other bloggers! My #1 goal is to be more organized in 2013, so this is a great first step!
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 5:27 pmYou are so welcome Kristi and welcome to the world of blogging!!
Artsy Chicks Rule says
January 3, 2013 at 7:27 pmWow, you are the best Karen! 🙂 Thank you so much for putting this together and sharing it. This is awesome info for all bloggers but I am especially grateful since I am so new. It will be super helpful to me this year!
Nancy
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 8:15 pmYay! I’m so glad you like it Nancy!
Clements Racing Products says
January 3, 2013 at 7:59 pmKaren, I’m going to start a blog (because you are so inspiring!) and I was so wondering what blog format you prefer? Thank you for the great organizational calendar!
Karen Watson says
January 3, 2013 at 8:18 pmI’m so glad you’re thinking about starting a blog, it really is fun! I like Blogger because it’s free and so easy to use! You can always switch to a paid platform like WordPress later, if you feel the need too. I’ve been on Blogger for 6 years though and I still really like it.
Kristi says
January 3, 2013 at 11:39 pmThanks for this great list!
Karen Watson says
January 4, 2013 at 12:24 amYou’re welcome Kristi!
Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives says
January 4, 2013 at 12:42 amThank you…it is nice to see the beautiful spirit behind The Graphics Fairy…you have helped me with several small project that I use with the street kids I work with for free on Wednesday nights. Have a great 2o13!!!!! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
Karen Watson says
January 4, 2013 at 8:12 pmHi Mary Helen,
Wow, I'm so thrilled that you're using some of my graphics for such a great cause!!
xoxo
Laura Strack says
January 4, 2013 at 12:45 amKaren, not only are you the Graphics Fairy, but a Blogging Angel, as well. Along with my Daughter n Law, I want to start blogging this year and also start a little DIY for friends/family and whomever may be interested. This will be so helpful while we are getting started. It will give us ideas and keep us on task for our first year. Perfect Timing so Thank You so much!!
Karen Watson says
January 4, 2013 at 8:14 pmHi Laura, That's wonderful, I'm so glad you have found this helpful! Congrats on your decision to start a blog this year, I think you will have a lot of fun with it!!
Amy Marshall says
January 4, 2013 at 3:36 amKaren, Thanks so much for posting this! I’m a newbie (5 months) and this will be a huge help to me. I’m going to pin it to my “blogging resources” board.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Amy
http://www.homesweetthriftyhome.blogspot.com
Karen Watson says
January 4, 2013 at 8:16 pmThanks for the pin Amy!! And congrats on your new blog!!
Ashley Phipps says
January 4, 2013 at 1:48 pmWow!! What a great list! Thanks so much!
Ashley
http://www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
Karen Watson says
January 4, 2013 at 8:16 pmYou're so welcome Ashley! Thanks for your kind comment!
Megan {Splendid Design} says
January 4, 2013 at 3:37 pmThank you for the great list and ideas! Alhtough I had a list going already it helps to fill it the wholes as to speak. Thank you so much!
Megan
P.S. I just realized that I met you last year at SNAP! Believe it or not I am yet to organize my things from the conference. Hopefully I will be a little more organized this year. Happy New Year!
Megan {Splendid Design} says
January 4, 2013 at 3:37 pm*holes not wholes…opps!
Karen Watson says
January 4, 2013 at 8:20 pmHi Megan,
Yes, yes I remember you!! It's nice to "see" you again! I hope you are doing well. I will be going to Snap again next year, will you be there?
Happy New Year to you too!
xoxo
Karen
Megan {Splendid Design} says
January 7, 2013 at 5:03 pmOh, I wish but I am due with my second child right around that time. I am really bummed out but I will be there in 2014 for sure.
Decosse's Dynamite Doodles says
January 5, 2013 at 3:17 amKaren this is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for doing all the legwork for all of us. I have only recently gotten into the blogging world. In an effort to get organized I have a separate digital calendar and physical one for my design team obligations and everything related to my blog(I’m not fortunate enough to have a cell phone or tablet to keep everything digital so I need a physical book for its portability). This will really come in handy as I look ahead.
I never realized that you you covered blogging aspects on your DIY Projects section (followed the link from your vintage graphics blog), but now that I know, I’ll have to have a better look around.
All the best in 2013!
Lisa D.
Karen Watson says
February 24, 2013 at 12:12 pmThanks Lisa, I’m glad you found it useful! This is my first blogging tip post. I wasn’t sure how many of my readers are bloggers, so I thought I would test this out and see if it interested anyone. I plan on doing more in the future!
jaime ♥ raising up rubies says
January 18, 2013 at 9:59 amthis is so helpful Karen! i’m always runnin’ around at the last minute to get things posted! always thinking “i should have done this 2 weeks ago!” (heehee) thanks for compiling this for us to use! ♥
Karen Watson says
February 24, 2013 at 12:13 pmYou are so welcome Jaime, I’m glad you liked it!
Denise Francisco says
January 21, 2013 at 11:24 amThank you! I made a makeshift editorial calendar for 2013 in an effort to stay organized, but I’ve been struggling with themes. This definitely makes it a lot easier!
Karen Watson says
February 24, 2013 at 12:14 pmThanks Denise! I’m so glad it helped you!
All that Jazz says
February 23, 2013 at 11:14 pmWow Karen! You are amazing! How do you do it? You blog, you take care of your family, you create you make all those beautiful transfers. And still make time to reply to everybody. God Bless you! You have inspire me to blog again. Thank you. I can’t wait to do some of the beautiful projects you have posted.
Karen Watson says
February 24, 2013 at 12:15 pmI’m so glad you were inspired! I think that’s the best compliment you could have given me! God bless you too, and happy blogging!!
KalynBrooke says
May 8, 2013 at 6:39 pmI’ve just started working on my own editorial calendar, and this post was very helpful – thanks!
Robert Connor says
May 12, 2013 at 12:52 pmWe like your site! Lot of neat stuff…