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DIY Sliding Notebook with Tear-Off Inserts — Step-by-Step Tutorial

A handmade sliding notebook with tear-off paper inserts, the finished project from this DIY build
A handmade sliding notebook with tear-off paper inserts, the finished project from this DIY build

Build a refillable desk notebook — design beach-themed A5 covers and note inserts in Planify Pro, print on sticker paper, perforate the pages and bind with Chicago screws.

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Want to make a DIY sliding notebook with tear-off pages? This unique desk notebook uses Chicago screw binding and a sliding cover mechanism — so you can tear off finished pages and slide in new inserts without re-binding. It’s a Mediterranean-themed project that’s perfect for anyone who loves making custom planners and notebooks.

In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to design beach-themed covers and note pages in Planify Pro, print them on sticker paper, and assemble the sliding notebook with chipboard covers and perforated tear-off inserts. If you’re new to bookbinding, check out our guide to book binding methods to compare different binding techniques.

What you’ll need to prepare before crafting your DIY sliding notebook:

Paper to print out the Notes Pages — see our best printers for planners guide for recommendationsChipboard book board for planner covers
Chipboard / Book Board

×2
Chicago screw and rivet assortment kit
Screws & Rivets Kit

18mm
Printable vinyl sticker paper
Sticker Paper
Paper Cutter with Perforated Blade

Design Your DIY Sliding Notebook Cover

Opening Planify Pro and clicking Create a Planner to start the sliding notebook

Selecting A5 page size from the Size menu for the notebook cover

Create a Blank Page

  • Click Create a Planner

  • Select A5 size from the Size menu at the top

  • Switch Edit layout to ON to remove all widgets to create a blank page

Switching to Sticker Mode and choosing a Mediterranean beach sticker

Expanding the beach sticker to fill the page as a background image

Add Background Sticker

  • Switch to Sticker Mode on the top left

  • Choose stickers to add to your template

  • Click and drag the sticker to expand it and make it your background

Adding a Widget text element to the notebook cover in Planify Pro

Customizing text font, size, and color for the notebook cover title

Customize Cover Text

  • Click Widget on the left menu bar to add and customize text

  • Customize your text using the menu bar at the top

Adding a sticker for the back cover of the sliding notebook

Completed front and back cover design for the Mediterranean-themed notebook

Design the Back Cover

  • Add a sticker for the other side of the book cover

Exporting the notebook cover as a PDF from Planify Pro Save Export menu

Setting print scale to 110 percent and selecting paper type for cover printing

Export and Print the Cover

  • Go to Save/Export, click Generate PDF and download the file

  • Set the print scale to 110% and select the paper type that matches your paper

Design Notebook Inserts

Creating a blank page for notebook inserts in Planify Pro

Adding a note widget template to the insert page

Create Insert Pages

  • Create a blank page

  • Go to Widget and choose note template

Customizing line color and note style using the top menu bar

Changing the note style to dotted grid, lined, or blank in Style settings

Customize the Style

  • Customize the color of your note using the menu at the top

  • Go to Style to change the style to your preference

Using L to R button to duplicate design from left page to right page

Adding decorative stickers to the notebook insert pages

Duplicate and Decorate

  • Click the L to R icon to duplicate the design from the left page to the right page

  • Add stickers as you like

Exporting finished insert pages as a PDF at 100 percent scale

Export and Print the Inserts

  • Adjust the layout for binding according to the guide provided above

  • Go to Save/Export, click Generate PDF and download the file

  • Set the print scale to 100% and print out

How to Bind Your DIY Sliding Notebook

The sliding notebook uses Chicago screw binding — a unique method that lets you add and remove pages without re-binding. Unlike wire binding or signature binding, this technique is fully refillable.

Cutting out printed cover pages and trimming to size

Placing chipboard between front and back cover sticker paper

Prepare the Covers

  • Print the internal pages on A5 or A4 paper depending on your preference. If you use A4 paper, you will need to trim it in half after printing.

  • Cut out the cover page and inserts.

  • Assemble the notebook by inserting the chipboard between the front and back covers.

Using a hole puncher to create holes in the front and back covers

Punched covers aligned and ready for Chicago screw binding

Punch the Holes

  • Use a hole puncher to create holes in the front and back covers.

Using a paper cutter with perforated blade to add tear-off lines to inserts

Perforated tear-off inserts stacked and ready for assembly

Create Perforated Tear-Off Pages

  • Use a paper cutter with a perforated blade to create perforated lines on the internal pages.

Inserting Chicago screws through the back cover inserts and front cover

Tightening Chicago screws to secure all pages in the sliding notebook

Final Assembly with Chicago Screws

  • Insert Chicago screws through the back cover, inserts, and front cover to secure everything together.

Completed DIY sliding notebook with Mediterranean theme and tear-off inserts

Your Sliding Notebook is Complete!

  • Your DIY sliding notebook is ready to use. Tear off pages as you fill them and slide in new inserts whenever you need more space.

More DIY Planner & Notebook Tutorials

Enjoyed making this DIY sliding notebook? Explore these other handmade planner and notebook projects:

DIY Half-Hidden Wire Notebook Create a professional wire-bound notebook with a hidden spine technique DIY Folding Gratitude Notebook Make a wire-bound gratitude journal with folding cover and moon theme How to Make a DIY Lay-Flat Sketchbook Create a sketchbook with PVA binding that opens completely flat DIY Booklet Binding Tutorial: Signature Binding Master the Coptic stitch for sewing professional booklets DIY Double-Door Christmas Planner Double wire binding with a folding holiday cover design Book Binding Methods Guide Compare wire, coil, PVA, and signature binding techniques

What you need to get started

Chipboard sheets for DIY notebook and planner covers
Chipboard / Book Board
Paper cutter with perforated blade for tear-off notebook pages
Guillotine Paper Cutter
Cinch binding machine for wire binding DIY notebooks
Cinch Binding Machine
O-wire binding wires for handmade notebooks and planners
Binding Wires
White glossy sticker paper for printing planner and notebook covers
Sticker Paper
Cardstock paper for DIY planner pages and inserts
Cardstock Paper

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