
If you want to make a fast and easy binder this is it. You probably have all the parts to put it together just sitting around your house right now!
Supplies
- Gluestick and hot glue gun
- Flat Cardboard (not corrugated). Could be a cereal box, packaging or shoe box… get creative!
- Cheap 2-ring 3×5 notecard binder, or any old small planner or binder
- Pieces, parts, stickers, envelopes and scraps for collaging
- File folders or thicker paper for dividers, heavy scrapbooking paper works great
- ♥ DIY Planner Templates to fill the inside!

First, pull out the 2-ring binder clip from your 3×5 notebook. Directions for this and attaching the clip here. Decide what size paper you’d like, poke holes in it and hook it on the binder ring. Measure all the way around this – remember to measure for any tabs you’d like to include plus a little extra on the edges. This will be the width and height of Part A and Part C in the diagram above. The width of Part B should be as high as your binder clip plus a little extra. Part D can be whatever width you’d like really. It can be shorter and fold inside or outside, it can be wide as Part A and Part C or even a funky shape.
Once you figure out your sizes add the widths together and cut out one strip of cardboard. The cardboard I used was thinner than I would like so I cut out two pieces the same size and glued them together. Now make your folds, decorate and add the binder clip!
The pocket on Part A is optional. I cut out a piece of the same cardboard and attached it with hot glue on 3 sides. The closure is a piece of off-white elastic from Joann’s. Stretch it around the closed notebook to get the right length. Then cut two slits in the spine to feed it through. On the outside sew the ends together and you’re done.
Happy binding!





