hi, i'm katie. i'm the full-time mom and part-time blogger behind LCE. thanks for visiting. i hope you enjoy reading about crafting, eating and life in general! LCE is also on twitter, pinterest, facebook and google
+. so whether it's here on the blog, via email or on a social platform i look forward to meeting you!
i love planners! i have a weakness for them. but i have also become something of a thrifty/frugal person. so while i see all these yearly planners in the stores, ones that i used to buy, i think to myself that i could probably make one myself and have it be just as cute while costing almost nothing. so with that in mind, i introduce to you my 2013 diy planner: it is made out of a cereal box and paper. and if you think it looks familiar, well, it is! i made this exact “journal” a few months ago and figured i could add in some calendars and have an all purpose planner – a journal and calendar in one. so if you need to make the covers, head on over to my post here for the tutorial. then hop on back for the rest of this good stuff….
for the inside of the planner, print out my template below (i’ve divided the year into 3 zip files):
*I caught an error for July and August. If you downloaded the erroneous version within the first 5 mins of me posting this you may need to download the new version above. Sorry. 
*please keep in mind that i am not even close to a guru when it comes to computer things, so i did what i could and it works for me! it may be simplistic, but i love it. and as another note, in looking for digital washi tape, i came across this etsy shop and love, love, love it! and so i bought her digital tape because it is so darn cute.*
once you have a calendar printed out, cut it right in half – at the 5.5″ mark. (it’s formatted to print onto 11″x8.5″ paper and should cut right in half, with room on the inside for punching holes.)
follow that same step for all 12 months. then if you’re feeling up to it, cut some plain 8.5″x11″ paper in half for your “journal” or note paper. this is a great place to jot down those great ideas, write the cute things your kids say, and even for writing down your goals for the year so you can see them often.
with all that paper in there you’ll probably want tabs so you can open right where you want to. there are a lot of different ways to add tabs to this, but the one i’m going to show you right now it super simple.
take one of your calendar halves and trace it onto the back of a piece of cardstock. (double-sided cardstock would be even better!) don’t forget to mark where you want the holes to be punched. also, be sure to leave a space on the left hand side…that’s where you’re going to add your tab.
cut out the shape, leaving a tab sticking out the side. make it as tall or short as you want.
and then, if you want to, round the edges out a little bit.
punch the holes, and insert it where you want it in your planner. when you flip it over it will look awesome, like this:
and there you have it! a money-saving way of making a cute and functional diy planner for your new year.
and for each month, i put in a quote. i took most of them from my pinterest board. good thing i pinned them so i had them when i needed them! thanks heavens for pinterest.
enjoy your new year! good things are in store.
update: after several requests for a WEEKLY PLANNER template, i’ve made one!
the washi tape is where you write in your dates, and the space at the top right is for you to write in your own “good thought” or motivational quote to get you through the week! you can download 4 different colors, here. enjoy!
***for anyone who is having problems printing the calendar from their computer, try this tip from audrey, who commented below: “IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PRINTING THE CALENDAR…here’s what I just figured out after Katie so kindly sent files by email. In the Advanced Print Properties (visible on my machine once I clicked on “print” and had the option of multiple pages, etc), you have to click the “Print as Image” checkbox and it should print fine.” thank you, audrey!!***
I’ve just spent the morning working on my 2013 diary/planner and stopped for lunch and a little pinterest browsing when I came across this post. I use the exact same method and calendar layout, but now i am going to change up my fonts a bit. Thanks for the inspiration!
I just LOVE this free printable!!! I too am a planner “junkie”….the more different, the better!!! Thank you for posting!!!
Do you have “sheets” for the smaller planners? I have the full size one and a smaller one for traveling. I’d love to see them if so!!
Thank you for posting these great ideas for all to share!!!
Hi Becky! Unfortunately I don’t have any other size printable. I’m not sure what size planners you use, but I’d be curious to know for the future! You can always email me using the Contact Form and let me know what planners you’re referring to and/or what you had in mind. Thanks!!
Hi…the smaller planner has 2 sets of 3 rings in it….the paper size is approximately 6 3/4″ L X 3 3/4″ W.
I hope someday those sizes can be available!!!! Thanks.
Wow
Great cute idea!
I’ve been wanting to do something just like this! Thank you!!! You made my home that much prettier
aw, thanks, Kari!
Thanks so much for the calender downloads! They are perfect…I am going to make my planner as soon as I finish a box of cereal!
Thanks, Erin! It always makes my day to get some good feedback! I’m so glad you like it!
maybe it’s me or my computer, but when I click the link, the pages are blank??
LOVE the look and really want it — any clue what I’m doing wrong??
Thanks for your comment, Lauretta! I’m so sorry it’s not working for you. I’ve sent you an email – I might be able to help you out!
This is so cute. I love the idea of using cereal boxes. It doesn’t take long to build up a big supply of those at our house.
I also really like your calendar template.
thanks, Kirstylee! and as for the cereal boxes…tell me about it! we have way too many!
Thanks for sharing! I am an avid planner user and have been needing a new planner for 2013. Now I have one for FREE! Thanks again!
thank you for your kind comment, Trista! I’m so glad you like it!
These are so cute!! I have been trying for 2 hours to get them to print and adobe keeps printing blank pages:( anyone else have this problem and can give me some advice? Thank u!!
Hi Tanisha! So sorry it’s not printing for you. I’ve sent you an email – maybe I can help?!
can you send email again! I wasnt paying attention and it probably went to my junk and it was deleted. THANK YOU!!!
No problem!!
Hi, Katie! I just signed into Pinterest and found your tutorial for this journal. I love notebooks, too. I love paper anything. Thank you for posting this neat idea along with some others that I am about to check out…e.g. envelopes. Keep up your great ideas. Gratefully, Sally.
thank you for your sweet comments! they put a smile on my face
Hi Katie!
Love your planner, but I’m having the same problem as Tanisha. Can you help me please? Thanks.
Hi Patricia! I’ve sent you an email! Hopefully I can help….
I just printed out your beautiful calendar pages! Thank you, and I love the quotes. Perfect! Im going to use a smash journal to make a calendar with it.
Thanks Sonya! I love the smash journal idea! That will look really cute.
This is super cute!!
For some reason, I’m having the same issues as some of the ladies above. Printing blank pages or half of the page…. some numbers, not all the wording, etc. Can you help?!
)
I hope so!
check your email!
I really love this planner! I do have a question. I only have a black and white printer do you have this planner without the washi tape? I so want to print it but my only option is my home printer. I look forward to hearing from you. Aly
Having printing problems as well. May you send me in pages in an email as well?
check your email
Can you please send me the email that you sent the others? I am so excited to do this I am putting cereal in ziploc bags Thank you
Hi Amy! Can you email me at livecrafteat at gmail dot com? The email address i have for you got sent back. Thanks!
LOVE LOVE LOVE these calendar pages!!! I’ve been looking all day (well, in between working on my other computer) for 1/2-sheet calendars – and find this cuteness!!! However, I too cannot get them to print. I even tried “printing to PDF” and then printing the newly-created PDF, but it’s not working. What’s the magic word? (also, you dont’ happen to have a weekly calendar set up like this do you? Ok, I thought I was pushing my luck there. Guess my left-brain needs to be stretched a bit and try to be creative…)
check your email
Hi I am having problems when i want to print out the papers.It doesn’t come out complete.Did anyone else have problems with that?
Hi Rosalie! Sending you an email right now…
Thank you for posting the planner! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! My resolution this year is to be more organized and this is a HUGE help! Also, the quotes are so awesome! Oct and Nov are hard months for me and the quotes for both months couldn’t be more perfect! I will be visiting your blog often!!!
thanks, Kristi! you’re so nice
I love this. I love planners and there are times it is easier to have a planner than to use the iPad. What font was used? I absolutely love it.
thanks, Amber! the main font i used was Pea Nicki from kevin and amanda dot com. i love that font!
Hi Katie!
Downloaded and printed without any problems. I would love to learn how to make an equally cute weekly printalbe planner! Think you could do a tutorial on how you actually created the calendar?
Thanks for the wonderful freebie
Thanks again!
Elisabeth
HI,
I love these calendars and the great idea for the planner but I am also having the same issue with printing them. Can you please help?
check your email, Sharon!
I would love to have these pages but I’m not having any luck getting them to print. What am i doing wrong? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Kathy
Love the calendar…just can’t seem to get it to print. Can you help? Thanks!
Hi Shirley! Sorry it’s not working for you. Audrey just posted a solution – try that and see if it works for you. If not, lmk! Thanks!
It worked!! Thanks!
hurray!!
IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PRINTING THE CALENDAR…here’s what I just figured out after Katie so kindly sent files by email. In the Advanced Print Properties (visible on my machine once I clicked on “print” and had the option of multiple pages, etc), you have to click the “Print as Image” checkbox and it should print fine.
THANK YOU Audrey! You’ve solved the question I couldn’t answer
You’re the best! Thanks for sharing & posting it here.
I would love to print the planner calendar pages but I can’t get them to print. Is there a secret?
Hi Kathy! Audrey just posted a comment that might be helpful…. Try that out and let me know how it goes.
Truly love your design!!! Sorry to say I’m having trouble printing also. I hate to bother you but when you have a chance could you email me also? Thanks so much for sharing your talent!!!
Hi Jennifer! Sorry it’s not working for you. There’s a tip for getting it to print properly that another reader sent me – I’ve included it at the bottom of this post. You can try that and see if it works. And I’ll send you an email just in case
Love the planner but even after trying to solve issues with Audry’s advice I’m still having trouble getting the whole page to print correctly. Could you email me the files as well? Thanks so much.
It would be awesome to have the weekly planner for the times have lines for each hr. I always liked planners that just had the days of the weeks and lines so you could write notes or activities. I guess I like a daily planner and not an hourly planner. (its another idea or option if you are interested in making something new.
thanks for the suggestion! maybe sometime down the road when i get a chance!
Hi Katie!! I LOVE your planner pages! I am redoing my planner and have been looking/designing all day! I’m wondering if you have the file in an 8.5 x 11 or if not if you have another file type that I could change to an 8.5 x 11? I’m seriously in love with yours. Not to bright, but still colorful!
Hi Amanda! Unfortunately I don’t have it in 8.5×11
I’m so sorry. If I do these next year I will keep that in mind and make a few different sizes. Thanks for asking!
Hi! Could you please email me this planner! I already printed out the weekly ones thank you very much!
Hi Anna! Check your email!
I have tried for a couple hours to just get these monthly files to open…can you tell me what type of file they are, where they were created, so I can open them in the proper app? I have seen nothing like these and really like them, they are SO pretty – so I don’t want to give up!!
Hi Brooke! Sorry you’re having trouble printing them. I’ll send you an email….
I see the weekly planner update at the bottom of the page, but when I scroll over it, I can’t find anything to click… is there a link to that tutorial that I’m missing?
Hi Audrey! The link to the weekly planner printable is in the paragraph below the image. It will tell you to click “here.”
Hi, I have also been having trouble printing these correctly. Is there something I can do? Thanks!
Hi Jessica! Sending you an email right now
Hi there!! I am loving the planner!! Unfortunately I am unable to print it as well. I would love some help. Thanks!
sending you an email right now, Kenya!
I am soooooo glad I pinned your DIY calendar on Pinterest!!! I have a franklin covey binder and wanted to put in back into use. I bought FC pages for it and HATE THEM. I fought them for almost 3 months and then printed your’s out. I’m taking out the FC pages and trying your printables. THANKS!!!!!!!
That’s awesome, Kimmie! I’m glad you can use them!!
Hi! I love your yearly organizer. The first file downloads perfectly (however, they are done for the year!!) but the other two files do not download. Nothing shows up on the file at all. Could you email the files to me? Thanks so much.
Carol
Hi Carol! I’m sending you an email right now
thank you so much for the creative ideas and pretty calendar – what a talent you have. I can’t wait to use it in my planner but I’m having the same printing troubles. Any help is appreciated
check your email