I need to create a cut out in my image to display the tabs on planner pages

[Eva303627382wmi]

I have a full color image that is for the tab dividers for a 12 month planner. The printer wants the art to NOT cover the tabs. Image attached here. I am new to illustrator. I have tried the knife, scissors and eraser. Can you pleas help me understand how to do this? I need to cut the image away for all tabs to be revealed as blank. I have a total of 24 images I need to do this with tomorrow. Thank you in advance. 

[Monika Gause]

What kind of image is it? a vector image?

What you could do then is to take the image file and set up artboards to divide it.

Then place the artboards into the file with the planner into clipping masks