It is always the most simple of projects that require the deepest thinking. What's the term?
Deceptively simple.
Believe it or not, it's taken me three go arounds to finally get to the point where I'm not just confident about posting plans for you, but making eighteen more for myself! Finally, magazine file plans that are easy, inexpensive and sturdy - but not bulky or heavy!
And no longer deceptively simple! Thanks to my numerous attempts (two to be precise that did not work out so well) making your own magazine files is not just cheaper but also easy to do! Read on!
This is just a sneak peak of what my office is becoming (I'm pretty excited!) and these DIY magazine files with pretty fronts and book plates are certainly not hurting!
And if you want a more contemporary look at an even cheaper budget, try just painting the ends with chalkboard paint.
$2.50 Each!!!
For solid wood! With book plates! Now everywhere I look, you can't buy the cardboard ones for under $10! And these ones are going to last you forever and ever.
I used scrap 1/4"PureBond Plywood (remember I'm committed to no more Formaldehyde furniture in my home), but to be fair, I'll give you an estimate of what each could cost if you were to go and buy all the materials today.
$1 in Wood Per File
You can make 18 magazine files from 1 full sheet of PureBond Plywood - so a little over a $1.00 in wood.
$.25 Per Bookplate
Book plates were found in the scrapbooking aisle at Joanns and cost $0.25 each. I don't know why I haven't been using these for furniture! They are the real deal, but cheap and come in a variety of sizes. Mine came with brads, but you may need to purchase screws or brads.
Scrapbooking Paper is Pretty AND Cheap!
I used 1/3 sheet of scrapbooking paper for the decorative faces, amounting to $0.15 each. I loved this stack called Linen Closet.
Other Stuff
We'll estimate the remaining $1.10 is for the bottom 1x4 board, nails and glue and modge podge.
So how bout that? Two and a half bucks and your precious magazines that you just can't quite bear to toss can now look pretty and organized in your office!
How should we organize, by season or by title?
UPDATE: When I figured the 18 magazine files per sheet of 1/4" plywood, this was assuming a 45 degree angle on the sides. But I choose a 30 degree angle because it is easier to cut with a standard sliding 10" mitersaw. With a 30 degree angle, you will only be able to make 15 magazine files from a sheet of 1/4" plywood. If you would like to maximize the number of magazine files you can make, cut the ends at a 45 degree angle, longest point 12".