After my first “reasons” post – I decided that it might be fun to tempt you all with a few more of my favorite creative tools by listing out all the reasons that I think you should be adding to your stash. Far be it from me to tell you what to do with your money, but let’s be honest – we crafters are not known for our frugal ways. We like to grab up the best creative goodies – so I’m here to simply steer your wallet in the right direction!

Today, I’m on a mission to turn you into a notebook making fiend…just like me. It’s obvious that I love making notebooks so it only makes sense that I would own The Cinch Binding Tool from We R Memory Keepers. Here’s why you should have one too:

We R Memory Keepers does a great job of offering incredibly innovative products that are really easy to use. Unlike other binding tools out there, The Cinch includes all of the instructions you need directly on the machine, so no need to keep up with a manual. Hallelujah.

Whenever I purchase a new notebook, I feel like I need to wait to use it…like the pages are too precious to actually touch. But here’s the problem: I’ve been known to write down a to-do list of things I’ve already done, just so that I can cross something off the list …thereby creating the semblance of productivity. Please tell me I’m not the only one.

With such excessive list-making practices going on, I really have to have plenty of notebooks on hand to keep up with myself and I don’t want to feel guilty about using up the notebook pages.  If you’re a list making fool like I am – The Cinch will make you feel a little better about jotting down notes. As soon as you fill up one notebook – it won’t take long to make another.

There is another binding tool out there called the Bind It All. I owned one for years – but never used it. It was just too much of a pain…literally. The lever was really tough to push down and I could only punch through a few sheets of paper at a time. At one point, I had a sore bicep after using it. That thing is in craft supply heaven.

Just like Sade, The Cinch is a smooth operator. The lever does not require much exertion at all and the weighty machine stays in place as you use it so you don’t have to deal with securing it as you punch your pages. It also can punch through super thick book board with ease and can handle up to 20 sheets of text weight paper at one time. 

It’s not quite the same as when Oprah handed out all of those cars, but trust me…notebooks make an awesome gift and with The Cinch, you can create handmade notebooks for all your friends. You can personalize them with pretty paper or monograms. You can customize the colors for a special occasion or select exactly the size you need. Whenever a birthday rolls around, you can whip out The Cinch and make a pretty notebook, then package it up with some pens and you’ve got a great gift (trust me – I’ve done this plenty of times and the recipient is always happy!) No need to scour the aisles of Target for a last minute present. Make it yourself.  

If you need a little help getting started with The Cinch – there are kits that give you everything you need. You can make a desk calendar, a wall calendar, a recipe book or a journal. Each kit contains all the basic components you need and it’s just up to you to dress it up with embellishments, stamps, paper, photos or whatever else you want. These completely customizable kits let you flex some crafty muscle without figuring out what supplies you need to stock up on. The kits are an especially fun way to get beginners involved or even your kids!The Cinch is on the pricier end of crafting tools. It rings in at about $90 bucks which is nothing to scoff at, but if you are a paper love like me – this machine will pay for itself over time. A stylish notebook can easily run you $10-$20 and you don’t even get the DIY bragging rights that we all love so much!  Once you have The Cinch tool in your arsenal, you can create notebooks for about $1-$5 each depending on what supplies you use. Considering the many gifting options you have with this tool, it won’t take long before you’ve made the purchase worth your while. Now, if you don’t expect to use this tool very much – then of course, this will take a bit longer…but chances are, if you have one, you’ll come up with lots of ways to use it. Handmade planners, photo books, personalized desk calendars…get creative!

Now you know I wouldn’t pitch you on this fun tool without giving you the chance to win one! You have until Friday, January 20th to enter below and the winner will be announced on Saturday, January 21st. Good luck and happy crafting!

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