Want to make a DIY Christmas planner that looks like a real gift? This double-door planner features a folded cover that opens like two doors, revealing your holiday planning pages inside. It uses wire binding, chipboard covers, and custom-printed inserts from Planify Pro — and it’s one of the most impressive handmade planner projects you can create.
In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to design inserts, customize patterns and stickers, print covers on glossy sticker paper, and assemble the double-door binding. If you’re new to planner making, check out our guide to different binding styles for an overview of wire, PVA, and signature methods. Looking for ideas to fill your new planner? Check out our mindful Christmas planning guide for seasonal layouts and habit trackers.
You’ll need the following:
- ✓ Paper 70gsm or any copy paper you have
- ✓ Chipboard
- ✓ 20mm o-wires
- ✓ Binding Machine
- ✓ White Glossy Sticker Paper
For printer recommendations to get the best results with your covers and insert pages, see our best printers for making and selling planners.
Open the Insert Template
- Go to PlanifyPro
- Scroll down to the London Winter Girl collection
- Scroll to the far right and select Checklist Notes DIY
- Click Open
You will see a single half-page A6 insert with checklist on the left and notes on the right.
Customize the Background Pattern
- Click Pattern
- At the bottom right, choose: Both (applies pattern to both pages), Left (applies to checklist side only), or Right (applies to notes side only)
- Select a new pattern to apply
- This allows you to mix different patterns on each side if desired
Customize the Widgets
- Click on a widget
- Select: Notes or To-Do list
- Adjust number of rows (increase or decrease)
- Click the widget
- Open Checkbox Left
- Choose new icon style and new icon color
Edit or Remove Headers
- Click on the header text
- Enable Show Header to add spacing
- Type a new title (e.g. To-Do, Checklist)
- Click Remove Header to delete it
Add Additional Widgets (Optional)
- Click Edit Layout
- Select the widget area
- Click the ➕ plus button to add a new widget space
- Click the empty area → Add widget
- Delete extra columns if needed: Click the fraction icon, then Select Delete
Edit Sticker Titles
- Click Stickers
- Select the sticker
- Edit text on the right panel
- Use Aa to: Change font, Adjust size, Change color
- Each sticker must be edited individually
Export and Print the Insert Page
- Go to Save / Export
- Select this page only
- Choose A4
- Enable Hide cut lines
- Click Export PDF and download the file
- Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Click Print, Set: Custom scale: 100%, Pages: Page 1 only
- Print 100–120 copies with 70–80 gsm paper
- Double-sided printing options: Manual (print front → flip stack → print back) or Automatic duplex (flip on short edge)
- You may also print front only and leave backs blank
Create a New Cover Layout
- Open the front cover page
- Go to Stickers → London Winter Girl
- Select an image, resize and position
- Go to Hub → Create New
- Select A6, Click Edit Layout, Remove all widgets
- Click Left to Right to duplicate layout
- Insert one image, resize and center
- Click Left to Right again to duplicate image
- Click Add Page, Insert one image only
- Resize to fill the page
- Export page, Size: A4
- Download PDF, Save as Front Cover
Print the Covers
- Open PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Print settings: Scale: 125%, Quality: Best / High
- Paper: White glossy or matte sticker paper
- Print: Front cover: 2 copies, Back cover: 1 copy
Bind Your Christmas Planner
The double-door design uses wire binding on both sides, creating a planner that opens from the center like a set of doors. This is the same wire binding technique used in notebook making, but applied twice — once for each side of the planner.
- Cut 3 chipboards total: 2 for front doors, 1 for back cover
- Trim white edges, Leave 1 cm border
- Peel adhesive, Place chipboard centered
- Trim corners, Fold edges inward
- Align two chipboards side by side
- Mark the center point
- Fold cover exactly at the center
- Attach chipboards with fold aligned to center
- Repeat for second front cover
- Trim edges, fold corners
- Line inside with white sticker paper
- Trim inserts using heavy-duty cutter
- Punch holes: Inserts (wider margin side), Back cover (both sides), Front covers (one side each)
- Use 20 mm (2 cm) wires for ~120 pages
- Insert in order: Back cover, Inserts, Front cover
- Cinch wire
- Repeat for other side
- Both sides bound with wire
- Your Double-Door Christmas Planner is complete!
More DIY Planner & Notebook Tutorials
Love this double-door design? Explore these other handmade planner and notebook projects:
Ready to Design Your Custom Christmas Planner?
PlanifyPro makes it easy to create professional planner pages, calendars, and printables that are perfectly sized for your handmade planners. Choose from hundreds of templates or design your own layouts in minutes – no graphic design experience needed!
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.
Want more tips and inspiration for building your own custom planner or launching a personalized planner brand? Check out our blog for a helpful beginner’s guide: “What You Need to Start a Planner Shop” and Courses to help you get started.
Check out these easy tutorials and bring your custom planner ideas to life Click Here! Don’t forget to visit our Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for more inspiration—and to explore our wide selection of premade planner templates, design stickers, and fonts for making your own personalized planner. Let Planify Pro help you on your journey to planner success!
