School binders

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Designer:  Lisa Storms

Binders are a basic school staple that come in many colors and designs.  But why settle for someone else's creation?  Kids like to be unique and express themselves, so let them decorate their own and watch their creativity soar!  The craft drill allows you to add a lot of extras (both functional and decorative) to a binder and other hard school supplies by adding holes where you wouldn't normally be able.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

Rock Star Binder:
Add elastic cording to the front of a standard binder for a convenient place to stash supplies and notes.  While you have the drill out, add holes to a clipboard to store in your binder you can pull out for an on-the-go homework space.

1.  Trim patterned paper to fit inside front cover of a black binder.  Add stickers to right side and insert into binder sleeve.
2.  Measure and mark four holes on left side along top and bottom approximately 1" apart.
3.  With stack of magazines or wood block inside binder, drill holes at all eight markings and top with eyelet Rain Dots.  You may need to remove inside paper to remove any debris from drilling and reload lining holes back up.
4.  Thread elastic cording through holes very tightly (so items stored on front will be secure) and tie inside.

5.  Using a piece of loose-leaf paper as a guide, mark three holes along left side of clipboard and drill with largest bit.
6.  Add a couple flat stickers to clipboard for decoration.

Flower Binder:

Just imagine what you can add to your binders once you realize you can drill holes for brads!  Here glitter flowers add fun dimension to a normally flat binder.  And organization just got easier (and cooler) by adding a bookplate on the spine with brads.

1.  Trim blue patterned paper to fit inside front cover of a purple binder.
2.  Trim green patterned paper to 3.75" wide and punch down right side with Threading Water border punch. 
3.  Adhere to left side of blue paper and add strips with class information.  Insert into binder sleeve.

4.  Drill a hole at center of each flower on patterned paper, and one hole above class info. 
5.  Add flowers to each hole with brad.

6.  Using bookplate, mark holes for each brad.  Drill two holes and attach bookplate filled with school subject onto spine with brads.

See what other school supplies you can come up with to drill into - from locker organizers to composition books.  Here's one more idea to get you started ... an originally generic supply box my daughter needs for first grade is uniquely transformed with a ribbon monogram for some extra school fun!  Simply print or sketch a letter for a drilling template and knot ribbons through the holes (remember to drill against a wood block). 

Supply List:
Fiskars Brands: 85167097 Craft Drill
Fiskars Brands: 01-001045 Border Punch - Threading Water
Fiskars Brands: 12-99027097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer

Cloud 9 Design: Eyelet Rain Dots

Ink by Steph: Patterned paper and stickers

Heidi Grace Designs: A Little Bird's Tale patterned paper, flowers, and chipboard bookplate

Other: Wood block or stack of magazines, 3-ring binders, clipboard, elastic cord