We all know you can write on post-its. Did you know you can print on them too?
Printing
In the original OVERnote article the author admitted to playing "fast and loose" on a cheap Laser printer and suggested that printing these things carried some risk. Keeping that in mind I tried printing first on an old inkjet printer (my trusty Canon BJC-1000SP). No problem! I then tried it on an HP multi-function printer and finally on a Laser printer. Worked without a hitch.
I'll also say "proceed at your own risk" to cover my behind, but I've printed lots of these things now (mostly on the Canon) and none of the printers have complained yet.
Printing Templates
The original OVERnote documents were in PDF format. I created these easily-editable templates in Word (.DOC) format and OpenDocument format (ODF) to make it easier for you to make your own Post-it covers.
There are two templates:
1. The Printing Guide. This is the first page you want to print out. It has six boxes marked on the page so you know where to position your six blank Post-its. It's editable in case you want to use Post-its that are not the standard 3x3 inch squares. Download the Printing Guide here: ODF (9 KB) or DOC (13 KB).
Figure 2. The Printing Guide2. The Cover Template. This is the document you modify to place your own post-it designs. The page has six 3x3 inch squares based on the standard Post-it size. The numbers in the column in the middle (0 to 3) serve two purposes. The first is to mark out (roughly) the inches down the page, 3 inches per box. The second is so the table's cells representing the post-it boxes remain at the proper size even when the cells themselves are empty (and ready for you to fill with your own designs). Download the Cover Template here: ODF (9 KB) or DOC (13 KB)
Template Tweaking Hints
Turn on the ruler guide in your word processor. Use it when editing to keep an eye on the post-it boxes of your Printing Guide and Cover Template to make sure they stay at 3" x 3" (assuming you're using standard post-its).
Add and Resize images to fit. After inserting images into my post-it boxes, I found I could use the resize drag bars around the image box to enlarge or reduce my images to bring my boxes back to 3" as required. Note: You'll probably use Photoshop or MS Paint to come up with your images - whatever you're comfortable with is fine. I used the GIMP to create and manipulate my images. It's free and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Anyway, we're not printing on photo paper so some roughness in your images is acceptable.
Note: I created these documents using OpenOffice.org. OpenOffice.org allows saving to Word format as well as in the new standard, OpenDocument format (aka ODF). I haven't tested the Word version from within MS Word so your results may vary. If you're on MS Word, there's an ODF Add-in you can try here.
How to Print Your Personalised Post-its
Step 1. Print the Printing Guide. It has six boxes where you can position six standard post-its (3" x 3").
Step 2. Load your Printing Guide with blank post-its.
Step 3. Feed the loaded Printing Guide into your printer.
Step 4. Print the Cover Template you've personalised with your designs. If you like, you can try my sample cover template as in Figure 3, available here: ODF (24 KB) or DOC (27 KB). This step will print the Cover Template's designs onto your six blank post-its.
Step 5. Peel off your post-its and use as desired!
Figure 4. Loading the Printing Guide with blank post-its
Figure 5. Printing out a set of personalised post-its using the Cover Sample: Before...
Figure 6. Printing out a set of personalised post-its: After!Ideas
Here are some of my ideas for your post-it designs.
Bookmarks
A blank post-it works perfectly well as a bookmark. Not much point in printing out the word "Bookmark" on a post-it, is there? But how about a bookmark that lets you know the date and time you last set it? Maybe even one that lets you know the current page number at a glance? And, of course, your name just in case you lose the book.
Leave a Message
To take messages and write notes, the original OVERnote is perfectly servicable, especially if you're a scribbler like the OVERnote's creator. If you want something different, how about this? Print your face on your post-its. Make your messages personalised. Advertise yourself. Don't let them forget the favour you did them. What goes around may come around.
Chapter tabs
Just like those plastic dividers, but even cheaper! Plus, you can print the chapter names out, write them in yourself, or just have the chapter numbers on these babies.
Targets
A bit of Office Fun. Included in the sample cover template is one for a human silhouette. Use it for a bit of deskbound target practice. Keep score! The beauty of these targets is, they can make a satisfying snap when you hit them. They can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. You might want to go visit OfficeGuns.com or splash out and get yourself some hardcore rubberband action from Rubberbandguns.com and BackyardArtillery.com.
Inbox Organiser
For your physical inbox. Separate the reams of paper with post-its sporting the titles: Must Do, Optional, Maybe, Recycle. Make up your own titles depending on whether you're a follower of GTD, some other productivity regime, or your home-brew version.
Status
The Doctor Is IN. The Doctor is OUT. Don't bother me just now, I'm REALLY BUSY. A variation of the Come in/Go Away! mat. Happy, Angry, Sad... A blank Smilie Face. A Series of enlarged Emoticons. Stick these on your monitor, on the door to your office, on your forehead. People will get the message. Crystal clear communication is a wonderful thing.
Practicality
Okay, so maybe not all of these things are all that practical (or practicable). Still, it's a way of indulging in a bit of procrastinating fun and looking busy while you're doing it.
Figure 7. No more wondering who took the trouble to take a message for them!
