punching holes

Use a hole punch like this for making holes in paper and card - even very thick card. If your hand wont reach aroung the wide handles, the close the punch on the card with your hands near the pivot, then 'walk' your ands along the handles to the end. It is here that you will have the best leverage - you will be able to exert a greater force.
Small versions of this hand punches do not work very well because there is not enough leverage.
The hole, being 6mm in diameter, is a very loose fit on 5mm dowel.

A very good tool.
Not only can it punch holes in thick card, it can manage to do the same in wooden lolly sticks. It's a pity that the holes are 4.8 mm diameter, because the 5mm dowel is a VERY tight fit.
You can enlarge the hole in card with a sharp pencil - just twizzle the pencil point in the hole, but be careful not to make it too big. If you have punched holes in lolly sticks the pencil won't work, so you will have to use a small round file - or a TAPERED REAMER, as below.

tapered reamer

The tapered reamer is a tool that has been designed for a different job, ie. tidying up holes drilled in metal, but it can be very useful for enlarging holes in a variety of materials, including plastics and wood. Unlike a pencil it has cutting edges, so it does remove material.

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