We have a lot of papers - unused and used papers. When we moved from Salt Lake City, UT to Los Gatos, CA, it became apparent how many papers we have. I used to store the papers in several stacks. One stack in my husband's computer table, one stack in living room (occasionally he needs paper to write something about the football games) and the rest was stacked on dining table/my working table. This time I don't want to have different stacks of paper all over the apartment. I decided to put them together with the exception of small stack of papers on the computer table. I thought for a while what could I use to keep the papers together then it popped in my head the idea to reuse the cereal box.
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| This is the cereal box I used |
This is the cereal box I used for my paper folder. I already cut it for my purpose before I remember to take picture. Sorry about that. I am still not used to making craft while thinking about writing a tutorial blog. =)
I cut it from top right corner to bottom left corner intentionally. I didn't bother to add a vertical support on the front of the folder like the office file folder. I want to be able to slide in/out the paper easily. I don't care about the strength of the vertical wall either. This paper folder will be placed on my cubical craft table against the cubical cabinet's wall. I just want a container where I can put the papers closer to the printer and easy to access/use.
After cutting it in the shape I want, I apply glue on one of the triangle box's side. Then I put two triangle boxes together side by side. I used my paper clips to pinch the edges together. Then I laid it down and used our tape measurement to make sure the corner stuck nicely. I left them alone for couple hours before I wrap it with my leftover shelf liner.
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| Apply glue on one side of a triangle box and stick two triangle boxes together |
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| My leftover cabinet liner |
I know my cabinet liner looks old. Frankly, I didn't quiet like it. I got it from Dollar Tree to protect the side of the refrigerator beside stove. I didn't realize they had nicer design (except the wood grain) when I bought this. Anyways, this paper folder will sit on a cubical and no one can stare at this old design all the time. Of course everyone still have to stare at the one on the refrigerator beside the stove. I will replace this after it got dirty later, so I guess it's OK for now. ;P
I cut two pieces for my paper folder. One big size which will cover the sides of the paper folder and the bottom and a small one which will cover the back of the paper folder. I cut the triangle shape on one of the side and folded it in. This step will create a crease on the shelf liner. Once I peel the paper, the sticky side will have a crease that guide me the position of the bottom side of the paper folder on the shelf liner. This way I ensured that the triangle I cut was perfectly lined with the paper folder. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not press it. Putting it lightly on the sticky side is enough. We will perfectly stick them later. Well, you can if you are sure that you can stick it without bubble :)
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| Stick it with used gift card |
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| Pull the shelf liner up |
To stick the triangle side, I pulled the triangle shelf liner upward against the triangle wall. Using a used gift card, I slowly stick them. (Note: don't throw away your used gift card. You can use it for a lot of thing including this one) It is really easy to stick a self-adhesive paper with a used gift card without bubbles. All you have to do is put the used gift card on 45 degree against the surface and slowly scrap it to the direction of the surface need to be worked on. Using the same method, stick the bottom of the paper folder properly. I also stuck a 1/4 inch width along the bottom corner of the last triangle side.
For the last triangle shape, I could stick them then cut the unused part or measure the dimension first, cut the unused part and stick them. I decided to use the second method. So I laid the paper folder down with the unfinished side on the bottom and carefully I marked the corner of the triangle. Using the corner marking, I drew a line and cut it.
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| Carefully mark the corners and draw a line |
The last uncovered corner is easy to deal. All I need to do was took the small piece shelf liner and stuck it on the uncovered side. But, before I did that, I had to deal with the extra shelf liner on the paper folder. I could either cut it or folded it in. I prefer to folded it in to hide the edge and prevent it being peeled off. For the corner, I made an angled cut and cut the paper that's sticking on the corner.
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| The last unfinished side |
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| Stick the last piece of shelf liner |
And the paper folder is done. Look how nicely it sat on the cubical with my laminator machine :) So far it's been a great paper organizer. I can slide in the new unused-paper I found all over the house. I know it will also be easy to use when I need a piece of paper.
Happy DIY-ing,
Sherls
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