The Incredibly Simple Way to Hole Punch your Printables
Ever wanted to try out a Free printable Planner insert but not sure how to hole punch the pages?
When I started making my own planner inserts I got stumped by the simplest problem - how to hole punch my printables?
At the time I was using an old Daytimer Desk planner binder that had a 7 ring binder system, but I'd lost my Daytimer hole punch. I didn't really want to spend £40 on buying one when I wasn't sure if this was something I would keep doing.
What if I decided this wasn't for me? What if I bought a shiny new planner from Arc or Filofax that had a different ring system? Then I would need to buy another hole punch (or two!) It would soon start getting really expensive.
Maybe I'd be better off just sticking with printed inserts that were already punched??
Then I had a brainwave. Why couldn't I use the standard 2 hole punch I already had to punch my holes? Surely there was a way to get my holes in the right place every time?
Many inserts and a whole heap of confetti later I figured it out. There are basically 2 ways to Punch Holes in your Printable Planner Inserts and it all comes down to Time or Money.
For more on Planner Inserts:
How to Hole Punch your Printables
Option 1: Save Time / Spend Money
If you are going to punch a lot of your own inserts then I'm afraid that the quickest and simplest way is just to go and buy a hole punch already set up for your planner. Having decided that I loved making printables (so much that I set up my own Etsy shop), I eventually did go out and buy a new Filofax binder, which I love.
I went for the Filofax A5 Domino Soft Organiser and as this has a 6 ring set-up I also invested in the Bind System Planner T 6001 hole punch to be able to punch and go.
There is no getting away from it though, quick and easy as this is, it does cost money!
Plus Points
Quick, simple to use
Multiple pages at a time
Perfect results every time
Minus Points
Branded hole punches can be expensive
If you change your planner brand, your hole punch may no longer fit
Option 2: Save Money / Spend Time
If you're just starting out, or only want to print a few pages then I recommend you go for my secret method - which is SO Simple and easy to do once you know how to do it!
You're going to love this - so obvious once you know it, you'll wonder why you never thought of it yourself.
Step 1: Mark on your printable where you want your holes to go.
This gives you a hole punch template that will help you in the future.
Take an insert you already have with the holes in the right place, and use a pencil or pen to mark out the holes on your new planner insert.
This gives you a hole punch template that you can keep and use in the future
Step 2
Now for the Big Reveal .............turn your hole punch upside down
Take off the bottom of your hole punch, taking care not to spill all the confetti circles that are trapped in there all over the floor.
Believe me, it takes forever to pick them all up and put them in the bin!
Now holding the punch upside down, place the hole punch over your new planner and you'll be able to see the pencil marks you made... Now punch
Move to the next mark... and punch
Told you it was simple...a way to hole punch your paper perfectly every time and be sure that they'll fit in your binder.
The only thing you need to watch is the side of the hole punch you're not using isn't anywhere near your page (yep - done that as well!- I told you it took a little trial and error.)
It's as simple as that - you can now punch whatever size and design of inserts you need, without the expense of a fancy hole punch. It just takes a little more time.
Plus Points
Cheap - you can pick up a standard 2 hole punch in any stationers / grocery store
Punch Multiple pages at a time
Will work on whatever size and brand of planner you decide to use
Minus Points
It takes a little more time as you have to mark the holes and punch 1 at a time
You need to concentrate on your punching to get them in the right place and make sure you don't accidently punch holes somewhere else on the page
The Future of Hole Punching is Yours
As with many things in life, the choice of how you want to hole punch your Planner inserts is yours depending on whether you want to pay and have it quick, or free and take a little more time. Either way, you've now no excuse not to try printing out your own planner inserts.
If you want to give it a go, why not download one of my Free Printables and punch away
And don't forget, if you need a little more help with your printing, check out my tips on how to Print your Printables.
Sarah x
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