DIY Sliding Notebook with Tear-Off Inserts

In This Article

Design Your DIY Sliding Notebook Cover
Design Notebook Inserts
How to Bind Your DIY Sliding Notebook
What you need to get started

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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 recommendations
2 Chipboards
18mm Chicago Screws
White Glossy 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

Ready to Create Your Own Planner?

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.

Planify Pro has more DIY tips to help you personalize your planner, whether you’re designing a gift, building a product line, or just creating a layout that works for you.

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!