I’m a sucker for just about anything at Costco. 5lb bag of chips. Of course. 30 pairs of socks…you can never have too many. And who can’t use a sharpie in every color of the rainbow? Like I said, I’m a sucker. At the beginning of the school year I was perusing the isles when I came across the largest pack of construction paper I had ever seen. My kids love crafts and we go through card stock like there’s no tomorrow so this was right up our alley.
Immediately after my purchase I had buyers remorse. We didn’t really need that much paper and I came to the realization that it was going to be scattered through the house. It sat on my laundry room counter for months while I went back and forth. Ultimately, Hunter had a school project that required several sheets of paper and we busted the package open and he chose his colors. I was trying to keep it neat and tidy, so it stayed on the counter. Then Hallie needed some paper and pulled out a few and before long the nice tidy stack found its way to the game/crafts closet. It didn’t take long for my nice stack to turn on it’s side and start to create chaos. See it there:
And no matter how many times I straightened it I couldn’t get it to stay clean. In my annual beginning of the year purging and cleaning of the house I resolved to find a solution. I bought several bins and boxes and nothing worked like I needed it to. So I turned to the garage and my never ending piles of scrap wood and pulled out the table saw.
I cut two sides and a back piece of wood and cut 9 sets of grooves in each (using the table saw) and cut a top and bottom
I glued, clamped and nailed the sides to the back and attached the tops and bottoms as well.
Once dry, I was able to slide in each shelf – which is adjustable, shelves can be removed for larger stacks of paper.
I returned the stack of beautifully organized paper back to the closet. Yes, it looks like it belongs in a 1st grade classroom. But what home couldn’t benefit from a little paper organization? It makes me happy. It makes me even happier to know that my kids have pulled out papers every day and it still looks like this!
The best part is I didn’t even paint or stain it. I like the natural wood and it wasn’t worth pulling a paintbrush out!
Very cool! I would love one of those. We go through a lot of paper at our house too.
I think every home with children must go through a lot of paper!
Genius!! I just got a new router for Christmas, and I can see how I could apply it to this project. We are soooo desperately in need of paper organization (not construction paper – but bills, school assignments, more bills, more school assignments) and this is a clever and pretty way to take care of the piles!
A router would be so much easier on this project. This would be great in a kitchen command center – send pictures when you get it complete!
This is so cool. I want one.
Come down here and visit and we'll make one for you!
Wow that's awesome ?
Thanks!
Okay… I want your brain. Seriously… you are so dang creative. Have you ever thought about making things to sell online? I would definitely buy the paper organizer… at a reasonable price, of course. ha 🙂
I would love to make things and sell them but of course the minute I have this in the closet I'm on to a new project! I've got a laundry list in my head of projects I want to start!
Excellent work. Looks good too!
Thanks!
This is really cool! Do you mind if I pin to Pintrest from your blog? I know people just do it anyway, but I always feel like I need to ask!
Of course! Thanks for following along!
Can you post the measurements for this, please? We need one for our preschool.
where did you buy the wood from, please?
I built this from all the scrap pieces in my garage, but the wood was original purchased at Home Depot for other projects.
where did you buy the wood from, please?
The wood was leftover scraps from other projects – but originally purchased from Home Depot.
I love this clever idea..matter of fact I love most ideas I find on this site…Thank you for sharing…xoxo
Thanks!
I love this clever idea..matter of fact I love most ideas I find on this site…Thank you for sharing…xoxo
Love this. I need several of them as I am a scrapbooker and we go through paper like no tomorrow. I also make greeting cards and do a lot of paper projects. Would love to try something like this. Maybe after Christmas cause time is packed right now. Thanks for the instructions.
Love this!
May I ask what the material is you used for the shelves and what thickness it is?
Thanks!
Cecily
I used 1/2″ plywood for the sides, back, top and bottom. I used 1/4″ MDF for the shelves.
As an old cabinet maker, the side and back pieces I would cut my grooves while in one sheet then cut apart. This way all dildos will lineup. If you are going to make more than one I would make a sled with a strip to make the spacings. The rabbits are easy made cutting along the edge with an old piece wood clamped to the fence.
Love this. I have a lot of construction paper and my card stock is quickly growing. I will have to have my husband make me a few of these. He’s the wood worker while I craft
I’m sure you make a great team. My husband doesn’t love to craft – or woodworking, but he is patient as I slowly destroy the home!