DIY Clipboard Notebook: How to Make a Wire-Bound Notebook with Clipboard Clip

How to Make a DIY Clipboard Notebook with Wire Binding

This DIY clipboard notebook tutorial shows you how to build a wire-bound notebook with an attached clipboard clip and an inside pocket — combining the best features of a clipboard, notebook, and organizer in one compact tool. The clipboard clip holds loose papers, receipts, or reference sheets on top, while the wire-bound pages inside give you space for notes, to-do lists, and planning.

This design is perfect for anyone who needs a portable writing surface — students, surveyors, teachers, or anyone who likes to clip papers for quick reference while also having a notebook ready. The wire-O binding lets the notebook open flat or fold completely back, making it comfortable to write on in any position. The chipboard covers give it a solid feel that works as a writing surface even without a desk.

In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to build custom chipboard covers wrapped in decorative sticker paper, install a clipboard clip using eyelets, create an inside paper pocket, punch holes in your pages and covers, and bind everything with wire-O. Customize your designs using templates from Planify Pro, and explore more binding techniques in our complete guide to book binding methods.

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Template

How to Export PDF

For Cover Design: Go to Save/Export -> Selected Page -> Paper -> Select A5 -> Click Generate PDF

For the Inserts: Go to Save/Export -> Selected Page -> Paper -> Select A4 or US Letter -> Click Generate PDF

How to Print PDF

Download the Free Adobe Acrobat Reader program for printing.

Print the Cover Design twice at 130% Scale, on A4 White Glossy Sticker Paper. Print the inserts at 100% scale. You can either print just the right or second page on the front side, or print the inserts front and back.

You will need

Materials:

Chipboard 1.4mm or any thickness
O-Wires 20mm or any similar size
Clipboard Clip

Equipments:

Cinch Machine or any Binding Machine
Riveting Tool

Instructions:

Print, cut and hole punch the inserts.
Print the cover design twice on white glossy sticker paper. Trim the white edges around the cover design off.
Cut two chipboards to the following size: 15.8x22.8cm
Remove the adhesive from the cover designs and place the chipboards on to the center of the cover design.
Trim the corner with scissors (45degrees).
Fold in all the sides.
Place white glossy sticker paper on the inside of both covers or print a colored design for the inside cover.
Hole punch the front and back cover.
Take your clipboard piece. They usually also come with the buttons to secure.
Mark where the clip should be placed on the front cover.
Hole punch and the cover at the marks and insert/secure the clipboard with its buttons/screws. You will need a riveting tool to press secure the screws.
The inside pocket is optional. Prepare a piece of cardstock with the following size: 12.5cm x 14cm x 9cm. Add additional flaps 1cm thick to each side.
Fold the flaps.
Apply double sided tape to the flaps and remove.
Place the inside pocket to the inside cover and prepare the wires, combine the inserts, back and front cover and cinch together the notebook.
Your done!