Tips & Ideas for Our Giant Monthly Wall Calendar
Have you seen our colorful monthly wall calendar but wondered how you would use it? Or maybe you just purchased it and want some ideas to get you started? You have come to the right place! I'm sharing all my favorite tips for hanging our wall calendar, which pens to use (and which to avoid) and so much more!
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What to Use to Write On Our Wall Calendar
I have gotten this question more often than anything else! There are several options. I'll try to go through all of them below. But first, here are some important things to note.
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DISCLAIMERS
- Test any marker or pen you want to use on your calendar in an inconspicuous area first!
- I have tested a ton of different chalk markers, dry erase and wet erase markers (too many to list) on our calendar. There are a few colors that leave a little bit of “ghosting” on the surface after they are erased. So TEST your marker on a small & inconspicuous area before writing all of your calendar!
- Traditional ball point or ink pens will not write well on the smooth, matte laminated surface.
White chalk markers
I personally think white ink shows up the best and most beautifully on every single color, so I recommend using white chalk markers.
I have tested pretty much every chalk marker available since creating our wall calendar. This is my favorite white chalk marker and the one recommend. It's perfect for writing directly on the calendar AND for writing on glass or plexiglass if you frame your calendars. The chalk marker wipes right off with a damp paper towel. I recommend wiping it off with a damp paper towel and then immediately following it up with a dry paper towel.
If you have the paper version of our calendar that is not reusable, I still recommend this same white chalk marker for writing on them. If you are looking for tips on making the paper version of our calendar reusable, skip to the end of this post :)
Dry Erase or Wet Erase Markers
If you prefer using dry erase markers to write on your calendar, be sure to test them on an inconspicuous area first. I have tested a ton of different ones (too many to list) on our calendar and there are a few black dry erase and wet erase markers that leave a little bit of “ghosting” on the surface after they are erased. So please TEST any dry or wet erase markets before using them all of your calendar!
Note that some dry erase markers will still need to be wiped away with a damp paper towel.
Tips for Hanging Our Wall Calendar
How to Arrange It
The possibilities are endless depending on how much wall space you have and what your preferences are. Hang all 12 at a time, 4 at a time (perfect for businesses who are focused on quarterly goals), 3 at a time, or even 1 at a time. No matter what arrangement you chose, your Kaleidoscope Living Giant Wall Calendar will double as art.
How to Hang Each Month
Hang Them Directly On Your Wall Without Frames
If you want to hang your calendar directly on your wall, you can do that! I chose a thick, beautiful paper to have our calendar printed on so that it would look stunning even when hung directly on a wall!
My favorite way to hang each month directly on a wall is to use this sticky putty. It's incredibly inexpensive and it peels off my walls and off my calendar without any damage. You just tear a little bit off, ball it up and put a little blob in all 4 corners (see the photo below). Keep in mind that how well this holds will depend on the texture and finish of your walls.
I do not recommend poster dots. They sound like a great idea and are very strong, but I wasn't able to get them off the calendars without damaging the paper OR off my walls without taking some of the paint with them :(
Add Frames
If you are only going to hang 1 to 4 months at a time, I love the idea of hanging them in 16 x 20 inch frames. The same erasable chalk markers work great on glass or plexiglass!
You can find some of my favorite frame options listed below.
- These affordable IKEA frames (seen below)
- These super inexpensive magnetic poster hangers are another great options
- I also love this even less expensive option from Target
Adding Appointments/Deadlines/Birthdays to Your Calendar
Sticky notes
I have found that I like dating my calendar with chalk markers and then using post-it notes to add appointments, etc. to my calendar with. This is largely because I can use different color post-it notes to signify different things and can write on them with any pen I have handy at the moment. I also love that I can move them around if things get rescheduled or changed!
Note that each square of the calendar is about 2 x 2 inches, so I like using these 1 1/2″ x 2″ sticky notes. They fit perfectly without covering the dates I have written in :) Sometimes I cut them in half to create smaller notes. I have learned the hard way that not all sticky notes are created equally. The name brand Post-it notes are worth the extra money–they stick well! Some less expensive options I have purchased fall off easily.
I have also discovered these transparent sticky notes, which I love! The chalk markers write beautifully on them as well and they allow the colors of the wall calendar to shine through.
Ways to Make Our Old Paper Monthly Wall Calendar Reusable
If you purchased one of our paper calendars before we released our erasable version, you can still make them reusable! Most people will write directly on their calendars and simply purchase a new one each year. But you can absolutely make our monthly wall calendar reusable with these ideas!
Use frames with glass or plexiglass
As mentioned previously, one of the easiest ways to make your calendar reusable is to use 16 x 20 frames with glass or plexiglass. You can then write directly on the glass/plexiglass with chalk markers or dry erase markers (again, I think white chalk markers show up best).
Cover them with contact paper or get them laminated
I have tested covering our calendars with clear contact paper and writing on them with chalk markers. It worked like a charm! The chalk markers cleaned right off of the contact paper with a damp magic eraser sponge. Just note that the contact paper does dull the colors of the calendar a bit (see below).
I have heard from several customers that had their calendars laminated at office supply stores that it works well also!
Use Washi Tape
Another option is to use solid color washi tape across the top of each weekly row to write your dates on. Washi tape easily peels off paper without damaging it! Use sticky notes for all your appointments, etc. At the end of the year, remove all the washi tape and sticky notes and start anew!
That's a lot of information, but I hope you can see just how versatile our monthly wall calendar is with all of these options! If you have any questions, please drop them below or email us at [email protected]
And please share photos of your wall calendar in action! Share on social media and tag @tasha.kaleidoscope and/or @kaleidoscope_living. We can't wait to see!
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