How to Print and Bind your Downloadable Prayer Journals, Kids’ Faith Resources, and other Devotional Resources

In today’s digital age, downloadable prayer journals, kids’ faith resources, and other devotional materials have become increasingly common. With so many resources available online, it’s easier than ever to find tools to support our spiritual journeys and nurture our children’s faith. However, with the abundance of digital options, it’s all too easy for these valuable resources to get lost in the depths of our computers, never to be used!!

Plus, so many of us crave the tactile feel of a physical copy! (In fact, that’s a huge reason why the Faithful Life Planner has only ever been offered as a physical, not digital, edition!)

But fear not! Printing and binding these downloadable resources is simpler than you might think.

By bringing these materials from the digital realm to the tangible world, we can transform them into practical tools that we can touch, feel, and engage with on a daily basis.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to print and bind your downloadable prayer journals, kids’ faith resources, and other devotional materials, empowering you to make the most of these valuable resources in your spiritual journey. Let’s dive in!

[btw :: We offer quite a few digital devotional journals here at Faithful Moms + the Faithful Life Co. Make sure to check them out in the shop!

Get Started

Getting started using your downloadable PDF journals, prayer guides, devotionals or other resources is as easy as 1-2-3. All you need to do is —

1. Print
2. Bind
3. Use

Of course you’ll need to decide whether you want to use a local print shop to print and bind your printables, do it yourself at home, or if you’d prefer a combination of the two!

We find printing at home to be the most cost-effective option, but you can sometimes find a great deal on sending your downloadable resource to a local print shop to have it print and bound there.

When printing your prayer journal, devotional resource, or other downloadable PDF, you have two simple options ::

1. Use a Print Shop.
2. Print at Home.

USING A PRINT SHOP ::

If you’re drawn to the time-savings and simplicity of done-for-you, definitely look into having your resource professionally printed.

Simply download your digital product and visit a local print shop. Many offer paper customization, cover choices, and binding options like spiral or perfect binding for that polished look.

Hot tip — A local Staples or Office Depot makes this even easier by allowing you to upload your file online, select your cover and binding and pick it up about 24 hours later! Or if you don’t even want to leave the house, you could even have your bound journal shipped right to you.

PRINTING AT HOME ::

If you decide to print your downloadable journal, planner, or devotional at home, we recommend using a high-quality paper. Think thick, smooth, and easy to write on. What a difference it makes!! This is especially true if you’re printing something like our Kids’ Devotional Journal in the You Already Are bundle because kids could be using all sorts of mediums like marker, pen, crayon, or paint on the pages.

Years ago at the recommendation of a friend, we fell in love with this 32# Premium Matte Paper and have never gone back. It’s the bees’ knees, and we highly recommend it!!

PRINTING RECOMMENDATIONS ::

Full-Size (or Letter Size) Printing Instructions:

• Ensure the document is printed at 100% or less.
• Full-size PDFs (8.5×11) are ready to print.
• Set your printer to letter size and hit print.
• For duplex printing, use the printer’s two-sided setting.
• If your printer doesn’t have a two-sided setting, print odd pages first, then print even pages and feed them back into the printer.
• Conduct a test run to ensure correct page orientation.

Half-Size Printing Instructions (5.5 x 8.5):

• Print document around 100%, depending on your printer.
• For single-sided printing, adjust printer layout to print 2 pages per sheet.
• Cut each sheet of paper in half after printing.
• For double-sided printing, cut 8.5×11 paper in half first.
• Adjust printer’s paper tray to half-size (5.5×8.5) paper.
• Change paper size setting on printer to A5.
• Print two-sided or print odd pages first, then flip and print even pages.
• Double check printer’s page orientation and scale settings with a test run.

How to Bind your Downloadable Resource

Done-for-you Binding

If you opted for printing your journal, planner, or other resource at home but don’t have a binding system or want to take the time to do it on your own, you can take your printed sheets to a local office supply store and have them bind it for you with a spiral coil. They’ll even add in a clear plastic front cover and hard back cover, or you can laminate the front and back cover of the journal before having it bound.

Do-it-Yourself Binding

Still prefer that hands-on approach? Consider some of the options below ::

• 3-RING BINDER – Classic and Budget Friendly :: Keep it simple with a timeless three-ring binder. Print your pages, use a three-hole punch (this is one of our faves), and slip them into the binder. This classic option offers durability and the freedom to rearrange pages with ease.
• COMB-BINDING – Professional and Lay-Flat :: Opt for comb binding machines like this coil-binding machine on Amazon for a sleek and professional finish. Print your journals, punch holes, and insert a plastic comb spine to secure the pages. Enjoy the added benefit of lay-flat capabilities for convenient reading and writing.
• DISCBOUND NOTEBOOK – Take control with flexibility :: This is one of my favorite ways of binding downloadable PDFs, especially resources like our Faithful Life Printable Pack and our Holiday Priority Planner and Organizer. With disc-binding, you can arrange pages any way you want and easily add-in or remove pages. This allows full control over your journal’s binding style, giving you the flexibility to add or remove pages as needed, perfect for future updates or additions. If I need an extra notes page or want to move pages around, it’s VERY easy to do with a discbound notebook! Order your own disc-bound hole punch like this cost-effective option on Amazon. You can find covers, discs, and other disc-bound binding systems here.
• PRINT AS INDIVIDUAL WORKSHEETS – Simplicity at its finest :: Prefer a minimalist approach? Print each page as individual worksheets and store them in a folder or binder. This straightforward option allows for easy customization and organization, making it simple to add notes or additional resources alongside.

Pick One and Get Started!

In today’s digital age, downloadable prayer journals, kids’ faith resources, and other devotional materials have become increasingly common. With so many resources available online, it’s easier than ever to find tools to support our spiritual journeys and nurture our children’s faith. However, as we’ve said, with so many digital options, it’s all too common for these valuable resources to get lost in the depths of our computers, never to be used.

Remember, getting started is as easy as 1-2-3: print, bind, and use. Whether you choose to use a local print shop or print at home, there are options to suit every preference and budget.

So why wait? Pick one and get started!!

[By the way, if you’re interested, we offer a variety of digital resources and prayer journals here at Faithful Moms + the Faithful Life Co. Make sure to check them out in the shop!]