While I now use the Arc system for my planner (read more about why I made the switch), I still use binders to organize more permanent papers such as recipes, important documents for my rental property, hardcopies of business documents and my tax planner etc. I store these binders on my desk. They were taking up space and then I had an ‘epiphany’ of sorts on how to make them more useful – turn them into a to do list!
Planner hack: dry erase binder covers
To enlarge the screen of the video, click the square icon in the bottom right hand corner of the video (it will say ‘full screen’ when you hover your mouse over the icon).
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Didn’t realise I’d said ‘like’ so many times till I watched the playback – sorry! :/
The whiteboard markers I use are from Daiso (they have small pen-like whiteboard markers in a pack of 5 for $2.80. The thicker markers shown in the video are from Kmart.
Make sure you purchase clear view binders so you can slip the binder cover into the front. The binder covers I used are from Target. Amazon have binders in plenty of colors if you don’t want to use white.
I printed the cover onto full sheet matte label paper – the colors turn out better than when printing onto paper. If you really want the colors to POP, print onto glossy label paper. For a list of places to purchase label paper from see this post. You could also print the covers onto cardstock.
Download the pattern covers & blank binder cover inserts here. If you’re an existing subscriber you can login to the free printables library here (password was sent in the initial sign up confirmation email).
If you want to organize your papers, I also included a binder cover in the free printables library so you can label the contents of your binder. This is a great idea if things are subject to change or you’re temporarily storing papers in a binder before putting in a filing cabinet or archiving them (or if you didn’t want just the plain stripe pattern cover).
The binder covers and pattern pages are full page size but can be printed for half size binders, Erin Condren planner size, Plum Paper etc. – see this post for printing tips & instructions. Just choose ‘custom page size’ in your printer menu.
Want more binder covers? There are tons in my Etsy shop!
How to add text to binder covers
If you want to add your own title to the stripe covers before printing follow the tutorial below:
The aqua and pink binder covers in the above video are from my printables shop.
Using Binders
- How to organize recipes plus a free printable recipe binder
- Planner Organization: Why I use the Arc Planner instead of binders
- Ways to organize using binder covers (plus a free printable monogram binder cover)
- How to organize your taxes with a printable tax planner
More planning tips
- 7 Ways to make colors POP when printing using an Inkjet printer
- Don’t own a printer? Here are 5 companies that will print and ship printables to your door
- How to print printables without a white border (borderless printing step by step video tutorial)
- How to Choose a Printer (Including the best printer for printing printables and planner stickers)
Kt says
The problem with dry erase is that it comes off so easily that I’m often erasing when I don’t intend to. I use permanent marker, like Sharpies, then wipe it off easily with rubbing alcohol.
Rachael says
Good idea! Sharpies come in more colors than whiteboard markers too 🙂