Organizational Tips: How to Print on Index Cards

Are you a plotter or a pantser? If you plot, do you use post it notes, grocery receipts, notebooks or index cards? Do you have a binder or a system to keep them organized? Can you find them? Well, here’s how we can make your life more organized…

Or… You have them, but can you READ what you wrote down in a rush out of the shower? in the carpool lane? Those little notes you think you will be able to read with abbreviations?

The article I stumbled upon that taught me this neat trick is “How To Print On Index Cards” written by Rhonda Levine on Techwalla.com.

Instructions

1. Before purchasing index cards, check your printer to see what is the smallest sized index card it can be configured to. Some printers will not print on the 3″ x 5″ cards. If this is the case, you can still print on the larger 4″ x 6″ cards.
2. Place a stack of index cards in your printer tray and move the printer guide up against them to let your printer know it’s loaded with index cards.
3. Open your word processing software (MS Word, OpenOffice, or MS Works) on your computer.
4. From MS Word, click on the “Page Layout” tab
5. Click on “Size” in MS Word. Set the size to either 3″ x 5″ or 4″ x 6″ depending on the size card you purchased. There is an index card setting.
6. Change the margins in MS Word to be no more than 1/2″ all the way around.
7. Change the page orientation to “Landscape”.
8. If you are using OpenOffice, click on the “Format” tab on the top of the page. On the drop down list, select “Page”. Here you will be able to change the page size and define the margins. Set the page orientation to “Landscape”.
9. If you are using MS Works, click on “File” and then select “Page Setup” from the drop down menu. Click on the “Size, Source & Orientation” tab to select the size and landscape orientation. Then, set your margins.
10. Create your index card text.
11. Click on the “Print” tab.

Sticky Notes?

On your wall? On your floor? All over your desk? At the bottom of your bag? In your journal? You can print on those too!

The article that taught me this nifty trick is “How To Print Typed Post-It Notes” by an ItStillWorks.com Contributor.

Instructions

1. Download a template for typing Post-It Notes. If you prefer, you can simply make your own template for each Post-It Note, make the margins 2.5″ wide x 2.7″ high.
2. Type your message. Decide how many custom Post-It Notes you need and type your message into each box. Use copy and paste to make this go much quicker.
3. Print typed messages. Print the document as you normally would. Do not involve the Post-It Notes yet. Once printed, apply a Post-It Note to each typed message.
4. Reprint. With the Post-It Notes covering the typed messages, place the paper into the manual feeder of your printer. Print the page again.
5. Use your typed Post-It Notes and impress you friends, family or fellow workers/classmates.