I was in the Dollar Tree looking for Easter goodies for my boys and found a million things having nothing to do with Easter. Doesn’t that always happen? Below is a basketweave coupon file thingy.
I am trying to get uber organized with my coupons, and as I get better with a system I need more ways to file and organize my finds. The size, durability, and tabbed accordian files with button and elastic closure were perfect. The look…not perfect.
I would have loved to have done this project with some fun Amy Butler fabric scraps, but that would require me to own fun Amy Butler scraps. All I had was this fabric scrap so I went for it. I eyeballed and penned a pattern onto the fabric by tracing a half inch border around the sorter.
To create a hole for the button, I cut a small cross in the fabric where I wanted the button to go and then hot glued the fabric flaps around the button.
Although I am not intentionally flipping you the bird here, this part WAS frustrating. Hot glue has the advantage of instant satisfaction but the disadvantage of needing to work very quickly. My edges were a mess and the fabric was gluing to places I didn’t want it to. I later trimmed as much of the excess fabric to clean it up before adding the trim.
In order to reapply the elastic doodad, I used a bbq skewer to poke small holes in the fabric and resinserted the elastic back into place. It worked perfectly.
Now for the fun part! I used my label gun and labeled the tabs in order of my most frequented stores.
The button was bugging me. It was ugly. I decided to use some primer sprayed into a painting tin and applied with a q-tip. Once that dried, I used the same method to apply some Heirloom Whit to the button.
It still looked a bit boring, so I took an embellishment off of one of my bobby pins, spray painted it red and superglued it in place. Cute!
So here it is all shiny and madeover.
And here it was all ugly and dumpy…
…and now fresh and floral!
It took me about an hour from start to finish and cost me only $1 and some on-hand supplies. If you make one, link to me so I can see!
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Carrie says
Wish I were half as crafty! 🙂 That is so cute!
Mommy of Two 24/7 says
I am *so* doing this with some fabric tomorrow to my coupon caddy! 🙂 I'll post a pic later!
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Mommy of Two 24/7 says
I am *so* doing this with some fabric tomorrow to my coupon caddy! 🙂 I'll post a pic later!
If you follow my blog and leave a comment on the freebie post, you are automatically entered to win 3 hair ties.
Follow me at mommyoftwo247.blogspot.com 🙂
Lanie Ree says
You know, I was at the dollar store a few weeks ago, and I stared at this coupon organizer for like ten minutes before putting it down and walking away. I might just have to go back and grab one…
Kim says
Very cute – I thought it was a clutch purse at first.
prashant says
That turned out so cute.
data entry work from home
Jenny B says
Adorable!
Natalie Catherine says
love the fabric choice! great job i love the idea!
The Domestic Chick says
Love it! Really cute!
Here is the one that I made
http://thedomesticchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/sewing-class-inspiration.html
Laura PARING DOWN says
That fabric is cutie patutie!
susan says
Too cute! This is probably how Vera Bradly got started 🙂 Makes me want to run to the dollar store!
..SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.. says
That is just great! I have bookmarked this for sure!
{p.s. I have a lil something waiting for you at my blog!}
Frippery says
Very nice. I just bought one of those at DT to hold receipts for my business taxes. Now I can make it pretty too. Thanks!
Jen C. says
Cute! You are all spring-ey already! I am still struggling with the whole coupon thingy. Sales, yes … but, coupons are time consuming. Maybe making a clutch for myself would get me off to a start! 🙂
stephanie says
Funny thing, I lost my coupon box somewhere and have been looking for a new one. I guess I know where I'm going this weekend!!
I heard we will be lunching together next month in Lancaster!!! Can't wait!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Patricia says
looks fabulous beth!!
you are wonderfully creative!!!
blessings
patricia
Jemsmom says
Girl… you are something else!!! You need a t.v. show!
Anonymous says
Uber cute !!! You are so clever !!!
Kathy 🙂
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Beth, that is so stinkin' cute. I loved the line about having to own Amy Butler scraps. 😉
This is the second link in about 20 minutes that I've found to bookmark as a feature for next Friday. I guess it's a good day for blogging. 😉
Marianne@Songbird says
Would you believe we do not have coupons here! Nope, full price or wait for sale specials not other options. I'd still want one of those organizers, because it looks just too cute!
foggogs says
really cute idea Beth.
Jenny Lynn says
Cute!
I just did a post on Wednesday about how I organize my coupons. You should check it out 🙂
http://grahamcrakas.blogspot.com/2010/03/wfmw-coupon-binder.html
Carmen says
Very cute! Much nicer and so affordable!!
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence says
That turned out so cute!
Embellished Bayou says
Totally cute! My old coupon file is falling apart, I see a trip to the Dollar store in my future!
Sarah says
ooooo, I love this idea! I've gone through more coupon sorters than I can count. This would be a great way to reinforce the actual sorter (for me at least).
Lovely Scribbles says
Super cute (and resourceful, I might add) as always, Beth!
Pam says
That turned out so cute.
all thingz related says
This turned out so good! Looks 100% better!
~Rebekah
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
Super cute! And I love the fabric, even if it isn't Amy Butler 🙂
-Liz