First, you'll need to decide on how many folders for each child. I am using 3: FOR MOM, RETURN TO TEACHER, IMPORTANT FORMS. The original blog I found used one folder for each day of the week because they homeschooled. You could just use two for IN/OUT but the organization blogs I read said we should use very specific labels for Hailey to know exactly what can go in that pocket.
I chose to use standard 2 pocket, laminated paper folders. I matched up coordinating colors/designs for each child: they were cheaper than anything else. I got everything for this part at the local Dollar General. I found instructions on wrapping plain manila folders with decorative Duct tape or mod- podge fabric to them: that's way too labor intensive for me but feel free to do that if you have the patience! I bet they'd be cute! I'm only providing instructions for what I did but you can alter them
easily.
Three sets of 3
Supplies:
File folders
Sharp Scissors
Scotch Tape
Duct Tape
Ribbon
*Washi Tape/embellishments (optional, if you wish to decorate it)
Hot glue gun and sticks
3M strips or hanging accessories
1. Cut the inside pockets out of the folders. Because they'll hang sideways, you won't need them and they will prevent the papers from sliding in and out easily. Save the scraps to reinforce the labels later.
 |
| Folder with pockets |
Pockets Removed
2. Choose the order of your folders for aesthetics. You'll be starting with your bottom folder. Open it and lay it with the spine down.
In Order
Folder Spine Side Down
3. Choose the middle folder and place it, closed, along the top edge of the top flap on the bottom folder. Using the sheet of paper, see if it peeks out of the top of the bottom folder, while leaving room to affix a label on the middle one. Be sure to leave enough room for the size of the label you are using: you don't want it covered when papers are inserted. Don't glue yet!
Bottom folder with the middle folder on back flap
4. Continue this process for each folder. Once you get it where you want, you can use scotch tape to hold them in place so they don't move. Be careful NOT to stick it on the outside decorative part, as it will pull off the design when you get ready to affix it permanently. I also marked the inside of each folder so I would know how far down it should go. 
What it looks when built
5. Now hot glue or tape the left and right edges and where they attach to each other. Be careful not to glue your opening slots (where the paper is placed in the photo).
6. Let the adhesive/glue dry! I waited 20 minutes just to be safe!
7. For more decoration and/or additional sturdiness, you can go along the left and right sides with decorative Duct tape or Washi tape. It also gives it a nice finished look. I skipped this step for now since our local Duct tape selection is limited and I wanted each set of folders to coordinate.
8. Time to label! I chose to use plain paper and attached to one of the leftover folder pocket pieces to make it sturdy. Choose a font that is clear and easy to read and a color that shows up well. You could also use 3d stickers, etc. It should pop like advertising to grab the child's attention and be easy to read.
9. At this point, you have to decide HOW to hang it. Because punching holes with all these layers seemed like a Herculean task, I just hot glued cute ribbon to the back and reinforced with some duct tape.
10. I wasn't sure how much room I'd need for everything else so I chose to wait and buy 3M strips later and used small push pins to get it up.
Ta-da! So, you can see why I didn't go for a different process. This already had a lot of steps to it and my goal was a One Day project. One folder got ruined because I experimented with a straight blade. The cuts were a little difficult and I was glad I thought of the tape along the edges to make it look more finished. You can also see on the right side that one set of folders is slightly shorter than the others: I was not feeling well and wasn't paying attention. :)
Did you try this? Did it turn out? I would love pictures and to hear how it went for you. If I can clarify anything, please email me or post!
Be Creative!
~Leo
No comments:
Post a Comment