I can second this! I found one at a local thrift store for 5$ and it has been a life saver! I actually use it for my day designer as well. It's heavy duty enough to handle thick laminate sheets, or a bunch of regular paper at one time.
I think the very best punch is from Levenger. It’s also the very most expensive. But - I think it’s worth it. It has a bigger mushroom top than the Arc or happy planner, so pages stay on, but flip easier. I think it’s worth the investment for sure if you’re going to be in the disc system.
❤ I love this! Another option for the covers is look at some of the shops for clear covers and use scrapbook paper layered under it and like a whole new planner without all the work
I was using the disc system in 2022 and learned a key tip about the differences in shapes in the disc punches 😮 The Levenger uses a mushroom and that makes it the smoothest fit for discs, then there’s the Arc/Staples and Tul/Office Depot. Also, don’t forget Cloth & Paper, Jane’s Agenda, EllemonPaperCo, and Hemlock and Oak sell inserts, accessories for discs 😊
Cant wait to see your setup video for the new planner. I ended up following you and got a Plum Paper planner for 2025 instead of using EC. I'm super excited since I was able to make it how I wanted ❤
Long time disc bound planner over here. So glad you are switching. I love the ability to move things around and add things too. For punching covers, definitely use Tul or Arc punch, happy planner punch is great for paper.
I am switching from EC daily duo to plum paper disc bound planners too. I take my planners to work and want light weight planners. I need a daily and a weekly one i can open and look at at once. I’m tired of the big, chunky coils and look forward to being able to remove pages as I no longer need to refer to them. I got A5 ones and will keep them small enough to be on 1 inch discs. I follow you on insta too and love your content there too. Huge fan of Cultivate What Matters too, especially annual powersheets, refresh journal, little by little journal, This Is His Year workbook, and their monthly planner.
Hey girl... thanks for sharing these tips! I have used plum discs for awhile and when I use the happy punch the lines were off so I created a new guide with washi so I could punch quickly and easily. I hope you enjoy your new planner!
I use a Tul puncher, it works great, and is adjustable to different sizes of pages. Levenger is awesome but is much more high end (expensive) than other companies. Plum Paper has great discs. I have trimmed and reused coil items to put in my discbound. Washi on the edges is a great idea!
I use the happy planner punch with a junior (half letter) disc planner & it works well.. I was always a coil girl..but am loving the inserts & all-in-one-planner with discs. Love janeagenda stuff the bigger the discs the better for the chunky planner
Also, thanks for showing the Planner Kate disc accessories with Plum Paper. I miss my bottom tabs, but I also don't want to cover my covers. I'm torn. I've just been going with top tabs, which do stick out, but the planner can still stand ok. Will be watching how yours progresses.
I own multiple punches. The happy planner one is my favorite for paper because the length of the ‘stem’ of the mushroom is longer. When I make my own covers, I use a Levenger or Arc. I’ve been using discs since 2019.
Thanks for sharing these tips. I hope I made the right decision to go back to the spiral PP planner. Ugh! I felt that the pages in the disc system were too loose. Adding washi tape to the edges is a great idea for extra strength & support.
Great video! I have Staples Arc disc punch for when I need to punch anything thick or for multiple pages. Highly recommend! I get a little frustrated with the HP disc punch because it gets jammed easily.
I switched from Erin Condren to disc for the same reasons. I love the Erin Condren paper, but the ability to move paper around was enough to switch me and let me just deal with the Happy Planner and Plum Paper paper. I am not fond of the Plum Paper slickness of their paper, but I just deal with it.
Try disc punching one of the covers in your stash that you don’t like too much. See if it will stay and if you can stand how it looks. I have done this with twin loop laminate covers before (agenda 52 planner cover to Happy Planner disc bound). Not sure how coil hole configuration will work but if you can stand to part with a cover in the name of an experiment it might be fun to see.
Also I have done the same with accessories. As long as the punch is strong enough it can get through all sorts of materials. I use the we r memory keepers power disc punch which is awesome to get through all sorts of materials.
Also for laminate with HP punch- you’ll need to step on the center on the floor. It makes a loud pop once it is through. Unless you get a stronger punch simply pushing it with hand with many laminate it will jam. The HP punch is durable and I used and abused mine in this way, although the first eventually broke.
Ah! Super smart!! Wash I tape over the edge before punching! That is HUGE! Thank you for sharing that insight. I am swapping over from EC weekly and monthly (used two) into Happy Planner starting Jan.
A few years ago I modified my ECLP into a disc bound. I love the coil for notebooks and my teacher planner. But for my life planner - I just want a disc bound. I love EC, but there really isn’t any reason why, in 2024, we cannot have a disc-bound option.
The ARC punch from Staples is the absolute best!
I can second this! I found one at a local thrift store for 5$ and it has been a life saver! I actually use it for my day designer as well. It's heavy duty enough to handle thick laminate sheets, or a bunch of regular paper at one time.
Came here to say this too! I've had mine for almost 20 years and it still works great. I have used it to make my own covers with 10mL laminate sheets
I think the very best punch is from Levenger. It’s also the very most expensive. But - I think it’s worth it. It has a bigger mushroom top than the Arc or happy planner, so pages stay on, but flip easier. I think it’s worth the investment for sure if you’re going to be in the disc system.
I got the Levenger punch...it's heavy duty and I love it and use it often.
always amazing videos Kristan! Thank you!
❤ I love this! Another option for the covers is look at some of the shops for clear covers and use scrapbook paper layered under it and like a whole new planner without all the work
I was using the disc system in 2022 and learned a key tip about the differences in shapes in the disc punches 😮 The Levenger uses a mushroom and that makes it the smoothest fit for discs, then there’s the Arc/Staples and Tul/Office Depot. Also, don’t forget Cloth & Paper, Jane’s Agenda, EllemonPaperCo, and Hemlock and Oak sell inserts, accessories for discs 😊
Cant wait to see your setup video for the new planner. I ended up following you and got a Plum Paper planner for 2025 instead of using EC. I'm super excited since I was able to make it how I wanted ❤
I am so late on getting my planner set up, but I can't wait to do it and film it! Thanks for being here 🥰
Disc user for years. I use plum paper as a base and customize from there. Love the flexibility.
I switched between coil and discs more than once. I am staying in discs from now on because that’s been the absolute best for my mind.
Long time disc bound planner over here. So glad you are switching. I love the ability to move things around and add things too. For punching covers, definitely use Tul or Arc punch, happy planner punch is great for paper.
I love this. I thought I was the only one doing this 😊 I like the Big Happy planner size and create an 8x11 size. Fun stuff 💕
I am switching from EC daily duo to plum paper disc bound planners too. I take my planners to work and want light weight planners. I need a daily and a weekly one i can open and look at at once. I’m tired of the big, chunky coils and look forward to being able to remove pages as I no longer need to refer to them. I got A5 ones and will keep them small enough to be on 1 inch discs. I follow you on insta too and love your content there too. Huge fan of Cultivate What Matters too, especially annual powersheets, refresh journal, little by little journal, This Is His Year workbook, and their monthly planner.
Love the washi tip!!!
Inkwell Press also has some beautiful hard covers for disc bound planners & dividers. Knockout Print Shop also has clear dividers.
Great tips, Kristan! I’m excited to see your year in discs.
Hey girl... thanks for sharing these tips! I have used plum discs for awhile and when I use the happy punch the lines were off so I created a new guide with washi so I could punch quickly and easily. I hope you enjoy your new planner!
I use a Tul puncher, it works great, and is adjustable to different sizes of pages. Levenger is awesome but is much more high end (expensive) than other companies. Plum Paper has great discs. I have trimmed and reused coil items to put in my discbound. Washi on the edges is a great idea!
I use the happy planner punch with a junior (half letter) disc planner & it works well.. I was always a coil girl..but am loving the inserts & all-in-one-planner with discs. Love janeagenda stuff the bigger the discs the better for the chunky planner
Also, thanks for showing the Planner Kate disc accessories with Plum Paper. I miss my bottom tabs, but I also don't want to cover my covers. I'm torn. I've just been going with top tabs, which do stick out, but the planner can still stand ok. Will be watching how yours progresses.
I own multiple punches. The happy planner one is my favorite for paper because the length of the ‘stem’ of the mushroom is longer. When I make my own covers, I use a Levenger or Arc. I’ve been using discs since 2019.
Thanks for the uncoil, washi, punch idea! I have some spiral notes pages I want to move over!
Thanks for sharing these tips. I hope I made the right decision to go back to the spiral PP planner. Ugh! I felt that the pages in the disc system were too loose. Adding washi tape to the edges is a great idea for extra strength & support.
I hope it works out for you too!
I have a TUL punch and a Happy Planner punch. The TUL punch is nice, but has smaller mushroom/stems.
Great video! I have Staples Arc disc punch for when I need to punch anything thick or for multiple pages. Highly recommend! I get a little frustrated with the HP disc punch because it gets jammed easily.
Thank you for this tip! I'm sure I'll want to upgrade once I start really using the planner.
I switched from Erin Condren to disc for the same reasons. I love the Erin Condren paper, but the ability to move paper around was enough to switch me and let me just deal with the Happy Planner and Plum Paper paper. I am not fond of the Plum Paper slickness of their paper, but I just deal with it.
Try disc punching one of the covers in your stash that you don’t like too much. See if it will stay and if you can stand how it looks. I have done this with twin loop laminate covers before (agenda 52 planner cover to Happy Planner disc bound). Not sure how coil hole configuration will work but if you can stand to part with a cover in the name of an experiment it might be fun to see.
Also I have done the same with accessories. As long as the punch is strong enough it can get through all sorts of materials. I use the we r memory keepers power disc punch which is awesome to get through all sorts of materials.
Also for laminate with HP punch- you’ll need to step on the center on the floor. It makes a loud pop once it is through. Unless you get a stronger punch simply pushing it with hand with many laminate it will jam. The HP punch is durable and I used and abused mine in this way, although the first eventually broke.
Ah! Super smart!! Wash I tape over the edge before punching! That is HUGE! Thank you for sharing that insight. I am swapping over from EC weekly and monthly (used two) into Happy Planner starting Jan.
Oh yay! We're in a similar boat then. Best wishes on your switch! 🥰
Good luck with the changes!! It looks like it will be perfect ❤
I tried plum paper and just couldn't like the paper after EC. Rings can also be snipped to use as "discbound"...my solution so I could keep EC paper!!
A few years ago I modified my ECLP into a disc bound. I love the coil for notebooks and my teacher planner. But for my life planner - I just want a disc bound. I love EC, but there really isn’t any reason why, in 2024, we cannot have a disc-bound option.
I punch my EC covers lol😊
❤❤❤