How I organize my Blog Book Binder + FREE PRINTABLES!

Today I'm sharing how I organize my personal blog book binder.  I always enjoy seeing how fellow bloggers and creativepreneuers organize their business materials, plus it's a great excuse to give away some FREE printables!  I also made up some blog binder organization printable packs that can be purchased from my Etsy shop, so I'll provide links for those as well.

But first, I want to take a minute to show you how to use your FREE printables:

Cover

For the cover of your binder, simply place your title printable into a word document and print.  Once the sheet is printed, slide it into the front of a clear cover binder and you are ready to go.  I chose to position my title at the top of the sheet, but it's up to you.

The Spine

For the spine of your book, print another copy of the title and trim down to fit the dimensions of your particular binder.





Free 'Blog Book'/ Blank Title & Spine Printables

Maybe you want to call your book a 'blog book' or maybe you don't,
so I made a blank version just in case.

You can print the blank version as it is and hand write your title. But if you prefer a type font, just copy the image into a word document and insert a text box on top of the image.  Now you will be able to type whatever title you want and position it within the blank space.  Before you print, adjust the settings of your text box so that the background and outline are transparent 😉

Tab Printables

For the rest of the free printables (I used mine to label my tabbed dividers) I found it easiest to place three per page in a word document.  It's always good to conserve paper, right? 😊

Each of the printables pictured here will be available within this post as I discuss that particular section, so keep reading!

 My Blog Book

As you saw earlier, a simple white binder with my signature red roses is how keep it all organized.

This binder includes a supply pouch, 5-Subject notebook, tabbed dividers, a folder and a ruler (for measuring dimensions of products that I list for sale).  Basically, my notebook is for frequent every day scribbling and the tabs serve more like a file cabinet for things I need, but don't access quite as often.

Note:  For simplicity, I'm referring to this binder as a 'blog' book within this post. In real life, however, my binder is more of a blog and business binder.

Since my blog itself is monetized (I utilize Google Ad Space and work with various affiliates) and I sell products on Ebay and Etsy, I need a way to keep track of everything.  For this reason I have sections of my binder devoted to my shops, supplies and accounting, but your binder may or may not need to cover these areas.

Binder Pouch

As soon as you open my binder, I have a pouch containing some pens, binder & paper clips, a calculator and sticky notes.  Sticky notes and scraps of paper are my life.  If I wasn't able to constantly scratch down all of my ideas then I think my head would explode 😆

  The Blog

In this section I keep track of my basic blogging information such as; usernames, passwords, my email account info, my blog mission and goals, topics, branding information, content creation and posting schedule.




Free 'The Blog' Printable

Notebook Paper & Sticky Notes

When I first put my binder together, it was full of pages and notes cobbled together like this.  It worked ok, but I wanted something prettier and more organized.  I decided to create organizational printables that not only looked good, but were designed to fit my personal business needs.

Now the 'blog' section of my binder is more organized like this:

Note that even with the organizational printables, I'm still using those sticky notes!😄 I like the way I can make them into additional tabs to help me find what I need quickly.  I also want to point out those binder clips.  When I have a big section like this posting schedule calendar, I find that the clips help me avoid ruffling through a hundred pages.

My organizational printables have been so helpful to me that I wanted to share them with others.  Because everybody's blog and business are different, I kept each section as a separate purchase.  This way bloggers can pick and choose what is needed without having to buy the entire book.  I also kept the prices low at $2.49 per pack.  This way if someone does need the entire set they can have it for less than $20 😉

You can click here to purchase the My Blog Information printable pack.
You can click here to purchase the Content Creation printable pack (includes posting schedule).

  Affiliates & Campaigns

Here is where I keep my account details for my affiliates as well as company contact information




Free 'Affiliates & Campaigns' Printable

The Stores

My 'The Stores' tab is where I keep everything organized for the different platforms that I sell on.  Here you will find account information, the types of products that I currently sell and where, pricing strategies and ideas for new products.

Because I use different shops for different types of products, I went ahead and separated my blog binder with a unique tab for each shop.  I didn't think it was necessary to photograph each tab, but you get the idea 😊




Free Printables for 'The Stores'

Do you sell on a platform that you want a specific tab for?
Just use the blank printable from earlier in this post 😉

Monetization Printable Pack

Because I have separate tabs for my affiliate work and my stores, I ended up splitting this printable pack across the sections.  Affiliate and campaign worksheets are in that section while I placed my product goals/ plans/ ideas worksheets in the store tabs.

You can click here to purchase the Monitization printable pack.

 Marketing

My 'marketing' tab is where I organize my services used (like Vistaprint for business cards) as well as keep track of goals and resources.




Free 'Marketing' Printable

 Marketing Printable Pack

When making this worksheet pack, I made sure to include space to keep track of link parties that I participate in.  Link parties are a great (free) way to get your blog name out there, make relationships with other bloggers and to find links to awesome posts for your own reading 😎  I highly recommend that any blogger wanting to expand their audience should participate in link parties related to their blog subject matter.

You can click here to purchase the Marketing Printable Pack.

Social Media & Networking

After creating these printables I added them to my binder as sub-sections of my marketing tab, but you could certainly make them their own tabs if you wanted.  The social media pack contains space to track social media platforms used and their corresponding log-in information as well as worksheets to record content ideas and hashtags.  The networking pack helps you compile a list of bloggers that you follow and (want to reach out to) in the form of address pages.

You can click here to purchase the Social Media printable pack.
You can click here to purchase the Networking printable pack.

Accounting

My accounting section contains my sales and income records (of course) but I also have tabs for resources and supplies.  The resource tab is where I keep information on suppliers for the goods that I create.  My Supply list tab is where I track the cost of every supply so that I can get a better idea of how to charge for my finished products.

Free 'Accounting', 'Income', 'Expenditures', 'Resources'
and 'Supply Lists' Printables

Legal

My legal section is where I keep printed copies of my blog policies and media kit.

Free 'Legal' Printable

Accounting & Legal Printable Packs

The accounting pack that I created contains worksheets for tracking income, expenditures and supplies.  The Legal pack is really just a cover page and I didn't feel right charging for it separately 😉  For this reason I added it into the accounting section.

Note:  Even bloggers who do not sell products or utilize add space may benefit from accounting worksheets to keep track of web hosting and other blog related expenses.

You can click here to purchase the Accounting and Legal printable packs.

Free 'Calendar' Printable

I don't actually keep a calendar within my binder but in case you do, here is another free printable 😀

Blog Book Cover

Want a 'Blog Book' cover that matches the printable packs?
You can click here to purchase the black rose spine and cover printable pages.





And there you have it, all the ins and outs of how I organize my blog binder, a whole slew of free printables and several links to affordable organizational printables!  Whew!

I hope you enjoyed this blogging/ organizational post, thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

© Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams 2019

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This post was added to the Best of the Weekend link party.

A Thrifted Outdoor Easter Brunch

 Outdoor Table Setting

Last fall Husby and I were at one of our local Goodwill thrift stores when I spotted this tile topped dining table with a matching bakers rack.  It. Was. Gorgeous.  And at only $130 for the set it was also quite a deal.  But I didn't need a table and so I walked on by....but couldn't stop glancing back.  

Finally I went over to look more closely and realized that the table is made so that the (Italian 😍) tiles each rest individually within an iron frame.  The weight of the tiles holds them securely in place and the lack of grout means that spills - or rain - will fall right through the table.  That was when it clicked and I realized that this was the perfect set for our backyard patio!

A quick conference with Husby went something like this:

Me: This table is soooo pretty!

Husby:  Oh, you want that, ok.

Me:  It's $130 though, do you think that's too high?

Husby:  For a table like this?  No.  Besides, you could always flip it for twice that much.

Me:  Sold!

Now, you know you are a dedicated thrifter when $130 for a (higher end) Italian tiled table set with four chairs and a matching bakers rack seems high 😁  But not to worry, we make a point to visit the thrift store on discount days.  Going on Friday means that you get to take 20% off your order (after showing the days Facebook coupon at the register).  That brought this table set down to a mere $104.  Score!

Since the weather around here has finally started to warm up a bit, I couldn't resist getting outside and finally putting my table to good use.  Take a look:

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Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links.  If a purchase is made through an affiliate link then (at no additional cost to you) I will receive a commission.  Affiliate links are noted below.

Milk Glass Plate Settings

For this little gathering I decided to use my vintage milk glass snack plates (Goodwill, $10 for 12).  If you look closely at the plate you can see that one side has a circular area in the pattern.  This is intended to be a place to set a coordinating teacup, but I chose to go with larger goblets instead.  The golden flatware was another thrift store find ($5 for a large mixed bag) and the forsythia twigs were taken from a larger bunch that I already had.

 Offset Centerpiece

I decorated one corner of the table using a potted faux ivy plant (Goodwill, $3), a couple of artificial forsythia branches (Dollar Tree) and a miniature decorative cake that I made myself.

You can click this Dollar Tree (affiliate) link to browse their online selection of artificial florals.

You can click here to visit my Etsy shop where I have one more of these artificial cakes in stock.

Matching Bakers Rack

To the right of the table is the coordinating bakers rack that I couldn't resist dressing up a little as well.  If you are keeping up, yes, that's two outdoor bakers racks that I now have.  Totally normal, totally normal 😆

You can click here to see the other rack or keep scrolling for close-ups of this one:

Cage Full of Eggs

Another Goodwill find, this bird cage ($5) was originally stuffed full of faux ivy.  I took the ivy out with the intention of using the cage for Halloween (I was going to try and make something like Cornish Pixies from the Harry Potter series) but decided not to since the cage features a heart design - not exactly spooky, ya know?  

I ended up leaving the cage outside where it has held up through the winter without any problems and since I was decorating for Easter I thought, why not eggs?  A few of my favorite pastel Easter eggs filled the cage nicely and added a bit of spring color.

Pots & Florals

The rest of the shelving decor consists of terracotta pots (all found for .25 at a garage sale) and an assortment of artificial plants.  If I remember correctly, the pink potted geranium was $1 at a yard sale while the ivy and violet were $2 and $1 at Goodwill.

I'm toying with the idea of adding some pretty glass wine bottles in the wine rack and hanging some milk glass mugs from the cup hooks, but that will happen when I find some that I don't mind losing to the elements 😉

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And there you have it, a cute little thrifted table setting just in time for Easter!
I hope you enjoyed this holiday thrifting post, thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

© Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams 2019

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This post was added to the Vintage Charm Party,
the Best of the Weekend
and the Silver Penny Sundays weekly link parties.

Easter on the Porch

Inspired by the warmer weather and sunshine that we've been having,
I decided to freshen up the front porch for spring.  Take a look:

Right Side

On the right side of the porch lives my bakers rack, which currently features yellow and cream florals for spring and colorful eggs for Easter.

It has been a few seasons now since I moved this rack from the kitchen to the front porch and it has held up really well until this recent winter. Unfortunately a few rust spots appeared on the frame and the wooden top was damaged.  I'll have a post coming soon where I share how I was able to repair it with some paint and contact paper.

You can click here to see it when I first moved it outside.

You can click here to see it when it was in the kitchen.

Easter Ready Bakers Rack

Here is a better view of the top shelf.  A bunch of sunny yellow flowers are nestled into the corner of the top while pots of artificial grass anchor the lower shelf.  A pedestal bowl of plastic Easter eggs give a bit of unexpected spring whimsey.

Securing Your Pots

Sometimes I like to have containers tipped over so that the contents inside appear to be spilling out.  The trouble is though, when we get a big wind the pot goes flying and smashes onto the porch 😒  I prevented another accident by using a pipe cleaner to secure the pot to the rack.  After wrapping one end of the pipe cleaner around the floral bunch I poked the remaining end through the hole at the bottom of the pot and then wrapped it around a bar in the back of the bakers rack.

Outdoor Milkglass

With my collection of thrifted milk glass ever growing, I've been using as part of my outdoor decor for a couple of years now.  I figured some of it would get messed up but it's heavy enough that it doesn't blow around.  And you know I'm always looking for 'reasons' to collect more, right? 😉

Detail Tip

Here is a close-up of the Easter eggs.  Notice the difference between the eggs in the left and right photos?  The eggs on the left look prettier because none of the holes are showing.  Something as simple as adjusting plastic eggs so that the holes are not noticeable can make a big change in overall decor appearance.  This is a big tip for your photography as well, it's amazing the way the tiniest details can jump out of your photos.

Flower Bunches in a Terracotta Pot

To the right of the Easter eggs sits a terracotta pot that holds a couple more bouquets of dahlias and daffodils.  The bouquets appear to be sitting loosely, but if you look closely at the bottom photo you can just make out that the pot is filled with rocks.  The rocks serve to add weight to the pot while also securely hold the bouquets in place.

Spring Florals & Strawberry Planters 

While I have two strawberry planters on the porch, only one is filled.  It's not uncommon for me to leave elements of my designs unused from time to time, as it gives the eye a place to rest.  Secretly, I also like the idea that if I so choose, there is always more to 'do' 😊

Springtime in the Corner  

On the other side of the door is another grouping of florals and eggs in an assortment of containers.  I like to mix elements with my favorites being milk glass, ceramic and terra cotta.

Bird's Eye View

From this angle you can better see that I have another container (this time a mixing bowl) that is filled with more brightly colored Easter eggs.

Using mixing bowls in unexpected ways is another favorite design trick of mine.  Not only are they sturdy and pretty, but they are easy to pick up inexpensively at yard sales and thrift stores.  The terracotta pot to the left of the easter eggs is also layered into an ivy colored mixing bowl.  And if you scroll back up to the second photo in this post, the potted (faux) ivy on the bottom shelf of the bakers rack lives in another ivy covered mixing bowl 😉

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And that's my Easter ready front porch!
I hope you enjoyed this seasonal decor post, thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

© Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams 2019

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This post was added to the Finding Silver Pennies weekly link party.