Get the most out of your printer by creating fun and personalized notepads. There are five cool and easy ideas to go try out and helpful tips are included on how to save on paper and printer ink cartridges.

Creating personalized notepads and other creative stationeries is not only a great way to save money and make something useful, but it is also easy and fun. One of the best parts about printing your custom notepads is that you can tailor them to express your personality and meet your needs. All you need is your computer, printer, paper, printer ink and your imagination to get you going. The following are just a few ideas to get you started in creating cool, fun and meaningful notepads.

1. Shopping List. Who else knows more about what you need, than yourself when your are shopping? By creating your own grocery list notepad, you can check off the items you need and avoid forgetting that one particular thing that will send you back to the store. Another way to use your list is to post it on the refrigerator letting your family check things off as they use them. This will save time on the guessing game of creating a list on shopping day.
2. A To-Do List. We lead busy lives with multiple tasks that have to be completed each day. Making a To-Do list will allow you to jot down things as they come to you or you can pass them out to whomever is responsible for the task at hand.
3. Phone Records Log. How many times you have taken a call and then forgot to pass along the message? Why not create a notepad for phone messages that has all the items you need.You can create a document that lists the caller’s name, time called, number, message and any other relevant information that you wish to keep track of.
4. Contact Information. If you use a babysitter you want to have a list of numbers that they can call if they need to get in contact with you. There are times that you may have additional instructions for them, but may not remember to tell them, especially if you are in a hurry. A specialized notepad can be created that lists out contacts, possible allergies and any other important information that needs to be stated.
5. Custom Notes for School or Other Correspondence. A personalized notepad comes in handy when you want to write a quick note to a teacher, coach, colleague, etc. Print paper that says, “From the Desk of_____” at the top and the recipient will always know where it’s coming from.

Just think, these are just a few of the thousands of notepad ideas you can make at home. To do it, just open your word processing software and create the document the way you want it to look. Microsoft Word, Publisher or even Mac Numbers are excellent programs to start with. The software you choose will greatly influence what you can make. After you choose a program and come up with the initial design, you can add other elements like artwork, frames and pictures to your notepad. Be mindful of how much printer ink is needed because printer ink cartridges can be pricey to replace. Something like a Phone Log should not be overly colorful and elaborate. However, for something like a personalized note for school or a business contact, you may want to spice things up with color, but you still should be mindful of how much printer ink the document will use. Now that you have take into consideration the printer ink usage and you are pleased with your current design, you then need to decide on the paper size you wish to print your notepad on. Check out your local craft store for a variety of paper sizes and styles. Finally, load your printer with paper, press print and kick back!

Xavier likes to write articles that show people creative ways to make use of everyday household items. He has taken an interest in printer ink cartridges and ways to get the most out of them.