Do you need a custom perforated line for your scrapbook? Is your notebook's perforation line not ripping properly? Don't waste money on over-priced specialty paper - you can make perforated pages with most types of ordinary paper!

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Hand Method

  1. 1
    Place your sheet of paper on a Cutting Mat.
  2. 2
    Place a ruler along the line you wish to perforate. (if the line is curved, you can cut a cardstock or plastic "guide" to use.)
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  3. 3
    Press the point of a large-headed Quilting Pin through the paper every 1/16th of an inch or less along your line.[1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Make a Tool - Method #1

  1. 1
    Obtain a rotary pizza cutter.
  2. 2
    Mark 5 degree increments along the outer edge with permanent marker.
  3. 3
    File or grind away the edge between the marks using a Dremel bit or a hand file.
  4. 4
    Leave small, sharp edges/points every 5 degrees.
  5. 5
    Roll your tool along the line to be perforated.[2]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Make a Tool - Method #2

  1. 1
    Obtain a rotary Pizza or Pastry cutter.
  2. 2
    Mark 5 degree increments along the outer edge with Permanent Marker.
  3. 3
    Place sewing pins in a radial pattern so that their points overlap the edge by approximately 14 inch (0.6 cm).
  4. 4
    Attach the pins to the rotary cutter by one of the following methods:
    • Superglue (will break of used on anything thicker than a single layer of construction paper)
    • Spot Welding (Can last a very long time)
    • Duct tape (can use only a few times on thin paper)
  5. 5
    Roll your tool along the line to be perforated.[3]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Easy Method

  1. 1
    Get a pattern tracing wheel and use it to draw a line across your paper.[4]
  2. 2
    The tracing wheel has small spikes on it, so it will make tiny holes on the line, making it easy to tear paper.[5]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can this be purchased in Victoria, Australia?
    T. Chinsen
    T. Chinsen
    Top Answerer
    The rotary cutter and the tracing wheel are both items that can be purchased in a fabric store. The rotary cutters can vary in price, with brand names being more expensive. Most stores will carry a generic, less-expensive brand that will do the job. The tracing wheel is a dressmaking tool, and is the most efficient for making perforations. Scrapbooking sections of craft stores also carry a tool specifically for this task. It can be described as a "piercing tool" on the packaging.
  • Question
    Couldn't we just use a protractor with a sewing needle stuck into a soft pencil or even a thumb tack? Just lift and poke as the angle gets smaller?
    Kim G
    Kim G
    Top Answerer
    Yes. You can use any sharp, piercing instrument to perforate the page. And anything that helps you get the pattern you want.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • Cutting Mat
  • Large Head Quilting or Sewing Pins.
  • Rotary Pizza cutter
  • Protractor to measure angles
  • Dremel or hand grinding tool
  • Super Glue
  • Welding equipment
  • Duct Tape
  • Paper

About This Article

Lois Wade
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Crafts Expert
This article was co-authored by Lois Wade. Lois Wade has 45 years of experience in crafts including sewing, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007. This article has been viewed 217,372 times.
21 votes - 81%
Co-authors: 16
Updated: March 5, 2023
Views: 217,372
Categories: Papermaking
Article SummaryX

With a little patience, you can make your own perforated pages with a pin. Start by placing your sheet of paper on a cutting mat so you don’t damage the surface. Then, place a ruler along the line you want to perforate and push a pin through the paper every 1/16 of an inch or however far apart you want your holes to be. If you want to make your own perforated pages regularly, buy a pattern tracing wheel, which lets you make a lot of holes quickly. For more tips from our Crafts co-author, including how to make your own pattern tracing wheel from a pizza cutter, read on!

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