M&J Blog

By Dara

Bills, bills and more bills!  They just seem to keep coming, one right after the other.  Sometimes organizing them or just simply remembering where you placed them can get difficult. 

 For example, I have a habit of opening them after I get home and throwing them on whichever table or draw is closes to me.  I guess it’s not the best habit when I have to pay the bills on time.

I finally came to the conclusion that I need some help.  So for this week’s project, I’ve decided to make a mail holder.  I wanted to buy one from the store, but it’s a lot more fun to make it myself.  Plus the one’s at the store are so dull.  

 Materials:

• White on white poster foam core board (Two posters glued together with a thin layer of foam in between the posters)

Above:  Poster foam core board

• Box cutter
• Sobo glue (Crafts glue)
• 2 ¼” of 5mm black velvet ribbon
• Bullion crest
• Square pyramid nailheads
• Velcro
• A can of Krylon’s indoor/outdoor gloss spray paint (You can get this a local hardware store)

Steps:

mail_box_sizes1 <— Here’s a pdf of the measures for the mail holder that you can print and trace.

1. Measure and trace two 2″ x 8″ on the poster foam board.  This will be for the side of the mail holder.
2. Measure and trace 4.5″ x 10″ on the poster foam board.  This will be for the back of the mail holder.
3. Measure and trace 4.5″ x 6″ on the poster foam board.  This will be for the front of the mail holder.
4. Using a box cutter carefully cut the pieces off the poster foam board.
5. Using sobo glue, glue the edge of the 2″ x 8″ onto the edge of the 10″ piece.  Repeat this on the other side as well.
6. Then glue the 6″ edge onto both of the 2″ x 8″ piece.
7. Let it dry for about five minutes.
8. Then after it dries, the mail holder should be sitting up right.  Place it on top of the rest of the foam board and trace the bottom.  This will be the support for you mail holder.
9. Using a box cutter, cut of the piece, and then glue it onto the bottom of the mail holder.
10. Now you can spray paint the mail holder any color you like.  Remember not to put too much paint because it will dissolve the foam.
11. Let it dry for about 10 to 15 minutes.
12. After it dries, you can now decorate it using the velvet ribbon to hide the edges.  Use glue to add this on. 
13. You can then also use glue to add on the bullion crest.
14. Finally, add some nailheads to the top of the mail holder.
15. Leave it dry for about 15 minutes and then add the velcro on the back so you can add it onto your wall. 
16.  Now your mail holder is all done and ready for work.  Enjoy!