DIY Planner Purse: How to Make a Portable Planner Bag with Wire Binding

How to Make a DIY Planner Purse with Wire-O Binding and Carry Handles

This DIY planner purse tutorial shows you how to create a portable planner that doubles as a stylish carry bag — complete with wire-O binding and built-in handle cutouts in the chipboard covers. The result is a planner you can grab and carry like a small purse, keeping your schedule, notepads, pens, and accessories neatly packed in one place.

The planner purse design is especially popular with students, busy parents, and planner enthusiasts who want their planning tools on the go without carrying a separate bag. The handle cutouts are carved directly into the chipboard covers, giving the planner a unique handbag look while keeping it structurally solid. Wire-O binding lets the pages flip flat for easy writing, and the handles fold up for carrying.

In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to print your planner inserts, build custom chipboard covers, cut decorative carry handles, punch holes for wire binding, and assemble everything with a wire-O closer. You can customize the cover design, page layouts, and size using templates from Planify Pro. For more binding options, check our complete guide to book binding methods.

View all Planify Pro‘s Planner Collections HERE!

Looking for more planner inspiration? Explore our complete guide to custom planner makers in 2026, browse 50+ planner template ideas for sellers, or see our step-by-step roadmap on how to start a profitable planner business on Etsy.

Template

How to Export PDF

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

For Cover Design: Go to Save/Export -> Selected Page -> Paper -> Select A4 -> Click Generate PDF

How to Print PDF

Download the Free Adobe Acrobat Reader program for printing.

You will need in Total around 120 Pages or as many as you wish. Print the page in the PDF at 100% scale. You can print the front and back or just the front page. Print the Cover Design at 130% scale.

You will need

Materials:

Chipboard 1.4mm
White Glossy Sticker Paper
80gsm Paper
O-wires 20mm
Book Corners

Equipments:

Binding Machine
Heavy Duty Paper Cutter
Circle Cutter
Cutter

Instructions:

Print the Insert and cut to size.
Hole punch the inserts.
Prepare two chipboard, size 16x14.7 cm
Print the cover page at 130% scale on white glossy sticker paper
Place the chipboards on the cover page and fold in the sides.
Cut a piece of white glossy sticker paper and place it on the inside of the cover.
Use a circle cutter and cut out two holes on each corner, radius 1.5-2cm, depending on how wide you would like the handle to be.
Cut straight lines connecting the two circles so it forms a handle.
Prepare the wires.
Insert the back cover.
Insert the inserts.
Insert the front cover.
Cinch close the wires.
Optional, apply book corners to the corners of the covers.
You're done!