Designing Custom Binders
For anyone who has to carry a lot of binders, whether for school or for work, the binder system quickly becomes obsolete. Conventional binders are often too bulky and take up an inordinate amount of space in bags. The headache-inducing paper cuts you get from trying to file things away can be brutal. And then there's the difficulty when you have a bad case of class A amnesia and need to find that one specific set of notes that holds all the answers you've ever needed—never mind how long it takes!
This post will show you how binders can be reworked into something more efficient and practical, while still retaining their functionality and charm. There are a few different ways to go about this, so we'll talk about each option in turn. Let's get started!
The Minimalist Approach
This is the most minimalistic way of working with binders, and it's great for keeping things simple and organized. The basic idea is to have separate binders for each class or subject area. You can either color-code your binders (e.g., red for Arts & Letters, green for History, etc.) or label them with stickers. If using stickers, a word of caution: stick with small labels and make sure you don't use anything too fancy or difficult to read.
However you choose to organize your binders, be sure that each binder is able to store all the documents you need for correspondingly-labeled classes. There's nothing more frustrating than going to open up a binder and having it fall apart because of a missing insert, or worse—having everything fall out on the floor in front of all your classmates!
For example, my binders are separated by subject area and color coded accordingly. I always put my syllabus for each class at the front of the binder so I can get an idea of what's going on with each subject at a glance. However, there's no rule that says I have to use those specific subject areas for my binders. In fact, I generally use a variety of different subject areas depending on the course and how much or little information I know about a particular subject.
The Earth-Friendly Approach
The earth-friendly approach is slightly more complex but also much more practical than using only colored binders. This approach involves using recycled materials to assemble your binders. Start by finding some binder inserts that you like and then sticking them into a scrap book or sheet protector of your choosing. Then place all the documents you need for correspondingly labeled classes in individual plastic bags (I use small clear garbage bags because they're easily stackable).
If your bags start to get too full, simply replace them with new bags. When it's time to switch classes, just grab a new bag and you're good to go!
The Frugal Approach
This is the most low-tech approach and doesn't really require any special materials. All you really need is some paper, a pair of scissors, and some time. Visit your local stationery store or office supply shop and pick up some binder dividers or sheet protectors that match your bag of choice. You'll also want to pick up at least one plastic bag (if not several) that can hold all the documents you need for each class.
Whatever way you choose to work with binders, you can be sure that they'll be practical and functional. And, if you keep at it, eventually you'll be able to fit all the papers for each class in one binder!
This post was originally published on the author's personal blog in March of 2013. It was updated on June 15th.
Title: DIY Backpack for School
I've been looking for a backpack for school that is able to hold all my stuff, but I haven't been able to find any that are both cute & functional. So I decided to make my own!
Materials:
1. Felt (Two colors, I used black & royal blue) 2. Zipper 3. Scissors 4. Sewing machine 5. Thread 6. Sewing needle 7. Ruler 8. Pen 9. Velcro
Directions:
1. Cut out the exterior & lining pieces from the felt. Each piece of felt should be 8 inches by 13 inches, with a thinner strip of 1/8 inch by 4 inches to construct the zipper flap (see picture). 2. Sew a rectangle of velcro onto one end of the zipper, and a rectangle of velcro onto one end of the zipper flap. 3. Place each set of pieces right sides together, with right sides facing inwards. Pin all around, or use your sewing machine to sew around each edge leaving an opening at one short side (make sure you leave enough extra fabric to flip over and close it up!). 4. Turn the backpack right side out and put it together by threading the zipper through both sets of fabric. Pin or hand sew around the perimeter, making sure to close up your opening!
5. For a solid color bag, you're done! But if you'd like to create stripes on your bag, like I did for my royal blue & black version, continue with steps 5-7. Cut out a piece of felt in a contrasting color (the one pictured here is royal blue) and place it on top of your bag with the right sides facing inwards . Pin around the perimeter and sew it onto your bag. 6. Cut out a line along the bottom of your two-toned bag to make a slanted edge, like so:
7. Then cut out a piece of felt in a contrasting color (once again, royal blue is pictured here) and place it on top of your bag with the right sides facing inwards . Pin around the perimeter and sew it onto your bag. 8. Leave an opening at one short side of your backpack and turn it right side out! Sew shut that opening and enjoy!
I'm so proud of how this turned out, I really can't wait to use it for school now! And best of all...
Conclusion
There you have it! A simple, straightforward way to make a backpack of your very own. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start stitching!
"And any time I had a question, they answered it thoroughly and promptly. Thank you so much for all your help!"
"I am happy with the results and it was the perfect prize for my daughter."
"My son is autistic so we take a lot of things with us when we go out to eat or just shopping. This backpack has lots of pockets and is big enough so that everything fit inside nicely."
"It turned out beautiful! And any time I had a question, they answered it thoroughly and promptly.
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Designing Custom Binders