Thrifty Magazine File -Tutorial

Crafty Blog of the Day: The Avid Scrapper
Although I'm just a wee beginner at papercrafting and haven't even
began to scrapbook, Carla is such a wonderful artist in this genre
that I can't help but be inspired by her gorgeous work and seeing
her work gives me terrific ideas to play with as I learn this new craft.
I hope y'all check her out and see just her beautiful creations...
and be sure to leave a comment and tell her Craft Junkie sent ya!

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Okay, I have an admission to make...

I'm cheap.

No, not just frugal or thrifty but down right cheap.

I shop for everything on sale, when I can't manage to get it for free...I do love me some FREE! Being this cheap allows me to stay home and not work outside the home since I don't spend unnecessarily. I am cheap on groceries, clothes, the bills (yea, I'm as green as possible because I don't like spending the money! lol) and everything else that I can possible be cheap on.

That includes every single thing I craft. EVERYTHING! When I mail out orders from my Etsy shop, I use all recycled mailing materials (why should I put out more things to go into a landfill...plus, I'm cheap!), I buy all my supplies on sale and even recycle some things that I buy at thrift stores. I live on the cheap, I craft on the cheap. I love to trade things out, too (keep this in mind all you thrifty and nifty crafters that are reading this! lol).

So, I have began amassing a load of craft magazines (gifted by a dear friend cause you know I ain't buyin' those expensive bad-boys!) and craft catalogs and I needed some way to store them. Have you looked at how expensive those magazine storage filess are? Holy Cow!!! The one pictured here is from Target and they want $12.99 for it...seriously, just for one of them!

Do what?

Yea, I know you have to be thinking what I'm thinking...isn't that a bit much? No, wait...isn't that wayyyy too much? Well, I think so, even if you guys don't...cause I'm cheap. Sue me.

Besides, I'm crafty, right? Why buy something (at that kind of HUGE price) that I should be able to make for next to nothing! Yea, now we're talking...free, my favorite word!

So here is how you, too, can house your magazine/catalogue collection for FREE!

I was trying to figure where I could get cardboard boxes of the same shape and size so that as I make more magazine files, they would all match...then it hit me: The post office. Okay, so they give the boxes out for free so you'll mail something with them but hey, don't throw the word free around so liberally cause there are women like me that will jump on that stuff.

And what do ya know, they make a free Flat Rate Box that is the exact right size for what I needed! Coolio!

The one pictured at right is the flat rate box I told you about and they are the perfect size...but you can use what you have on hand, just check your sizing so your magazines fit.

So, lets get busy making our magazine file (once you've raided your local P.O. for some of these great boxes. *smile*) When getting your boxes, the main thing to consider is that they are big enough to hold your magazines (at least 8 1/2" deep when standing on end).

The first thing to do is to tape your box completely shut.

First close the bottom and secure it shut with packing tape (don't worry about the inside now, we'll get to that later.)

Then flip it over and do the same thing with the top, taping it securely shut. It sounds silly but all you're doing right now is taping up an empty box, making sure to line up the closing parts well to give yourself a uniform and square box to work on.

If any of your lower seams or corners are weak, reinforce them with packing tape to sturdy up your box since it will be holding some weight when full of your wonderful collection of reading materials.

Now that you have a nice empty box to work with, check your magazine size to make sure it will fit.

As you can see, mine will. *smile*

Remember that it's the depth that matters and not the height...we're cutting the top off, but we'll get to that, for now just check and make sure it's deep enough for your magazines and catalogs will fit.

If it looks good, time to continue...

Find the front of your soon-to-be magazine file and about half way down, using a straight edge, cut through all the way across.

I used a square because my lines always wind up crooked but if you can see (and cut) straighter than I do, a ruler should suffice.

Be sure to cut all the way through and, on what will be the sides, cut back about 1" on each.

Now, lay your box on the side (probably what was intended to be the top, but you can see here what I mean) and cut from your 1" in cut on the diagonal to the top corner.

I may not have explained that very well but this picture shows what I'm trying to explain. Be sure to use your straight edge again and cut all the way through.

You are cutting across your taped lines but that's okay, it will hold and we'll reinforce it in a bit.

Flip your box over and do the same thing on the other side. After completing this step, the only thing holding that piece on is the seam across the "top" of your box. Using your trusty ruler/straight edge, cut that last seam away and you should find yourself with a rough magazine file.

Now, to sturdy it up.

Take your packing tape and tape the inside of the seams that you taped the outside of when we began, making sure to run the tape over the top (diagonal) edges to firm it up.

Once you've done that, those flaps on the inside need to be reinforced and taped down.

Using your tried and true packing tape, just tape them tightly to the inside of the box so that your magazines don't catch on them when you slide them in.

By now your magazine rack should be done and ready to decorate! YEA!

Or, if you're in a hurry like me and doing this late at night, you can put off decorating your handy-dandy magazine file box and just fill that baby up with all those great crafting magazines just so you can admire your crafty and FREE new
goodie!

Tomorrow I will be covering it with some great wrapping paper I scored at the thrift store for 25¢!! (I'll be sure to post pics after I decorate her, too) But for tonight, she looks fine, just like this.

Happy Crafting!!!

Peace & Love,

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