Craft Paper Organiser

This simple and by no means original project was inspired by the need of one of my close friends, and the frankly ridiculous prices for anything sizable that would fit a 12" by 12" sheet of scrapbook paper.

However, the possibility for use and storage are endless, (sandpaper, edge binding and baking trays immediately come to mind) It's a relatively easy build and as cheap as the materials you make it out of. Most of which I had collecting dust in corners.

An additional benefit to making it yourself is that it is exceptionally adjustable, don't want it to be as big? Make it smaller, don't want any drawers, don't make any. Want one with just drawers? Go ahead, its up to you.

Measurements are provided for 1/2" MDF and 1/4"MDF, if using different material like plywood they may need to be adjusted as most plywood is 1/8'' bigger then stated.

Material for Main Compartment

1/2" MDF

Sides:

1. 46 3/4'' by 12 1/2'' (x2)

Back:

1. 46 3/4" by 14'' (x1)

Top and Bottom:

1. 13'' by 14'' (x2)

Spacer for slats

1. 3/8" by 12 1/2" (x1)

1/4" MDF

Side slats

1. 1" by 12 1/2" (x66)

you can use any flat wood even square dowels, width doesn't matter much, as long as it its 1/4" thick.)

Decorative Top (optional, any wood or material you want)

1. 13" by 14" (x1)

Material for Shelves

1/4" MDF

1. 12 3/4" by 12 5/16" (as many shelves as you want, use this measurement for drawers as well)

Material for Drawer, (this is for one, take this for as many as you need)

1/2" MDF

1. 12 1/4" by 3 1/2" (x2)
2. 11 5/16 bt 3 1/2" (x2)
3. A shelf
4. Handle

Front (optional, any wood or material you want)

1. 13" by 3 4/3"

Tools And Supplies

1. Table Saw or Circular saw
2. Brad Nailer and nails (I used 1'' and 5/8") (can also use a drill and screws, you'll just have to fill the holes, or not up to you)
3. Drill, countersink bit
4. 1" screws, and 3/4'' screws
5. Hammer
6. Clamp
7. Tape measure
8. Wood glue

Finishing (Optional)

1. Primer
2. Paint
3. Putty
4. Spatula
5. Paintable silicone (optional)
6. Sander/Sandpaper, 120g and 240g
7. Dust mask
8. Paint and something to apply it. (I used an electric sprayer, but a roller, spray paint or a brush are more likely to be available.)

Cut out all of the parts, Preferably while leaving yours still attached.

I provided measurements but, the good part of making something yourself is that you can make it however you like, this cabinet is 4 feet tall, if you want something more manageable, just shorten the back and sides.

As for the shelves, I didn't want as much of a heavy duty look so I used 1/4" MDF, you can use 1/2" in fact if your planning on having mostly drawers I would recommend it. Just be sure to cut the spacer to be about 1/8 bigger then the self so it will be easier to adjust. (if your not going to paint then you could get by with an even tighter fit.)

I cut 15 shelves including the ones for the drawers, This number will vary depending on what you will use it for, and how much paper you have, (the 15 was decided by my friend for her needs, don't judge my paltry paper supply in the staging photo. :))

Here you can also decide how many drawers you want and pre cut them as well, to help with painting later.

For the decorative top and drawer I used two white oak cabinet doors that have been kicking around in my shop for entirely to long. I used a hammer to break of the frame,then cut the middle part down to size, this gave my top an interesting bevel as you will see. That step is entirely up to you tho, I think it also looks good without the special treatment.

Taking both of the sides and a brad nailer with 5/8" nails, I added a frame of two extra slats to the outside making a straight guide, (if you have no extra it's fine you can still use them later)

Now you can start adding the slats to the side,

If you intend to use this for something more intense then paper, I would add glue to each before attaching with the nailer, (or screwing them down however you decided to go about it.) I decided not too, because I'm much too bad at measuring to be friends with glue.

Push the first firmly to the frame you made attach it, add the spacer, and then the next one, continue down the side like this. When I came to the edge of my frame I just removed it and moved it along, just be sure that your not pushing to firmly like i did so a gap forms (see in pic) , if you do, just remove the guilty parts and reattach properly.

Measure frequently as you go along, being sure that you are still in line, you want your sides to match up later so you need to be precise.

Leave a section empty at the bottom, this is to store the leftover shelves that you might not need at the moment, I left space for 7 shelves.

I made my stats a bit longer than necessary, as a precaution, so after I was done I just cut them flush to the side with the table saw.

If your not painting your cabinet just move on to the next step,

I like to prime and paint before assembling when possible, as no matter what painting method you're using its easier to do a good job on a flat surface. Since the outside of the box will need to be puttied and sanded after assembly its not practical to do it now, but it will be much easier to finish the inside nicely if you give it a good coat now.

First sand down the inside surfaces of everything for the cabinet, as well as the shelves and the inside of the drawer pieces, try to smooth down every sharp edge as well, as they are pron to getting damaged and worn much faster if this is not done.

Then I used a brush to apply primer as I found it easiest to get into the groves, and I didnt feel like cleaning out a roller as well so I used the brush on the flat parts as well.

Just be careful not to get to much paint into the groves as you want the shelves to fit later as well.

After another quick sand, being sure to get every grove, I applied one coat of paint with a sprayer, it will need two or three but that will now be easier to do once assembled.

Since MDF is very prone to splitting i made sure to predrill all the holes for the screws.

I started by laying the back on a table so the edge hung over enough so i could add the screws, if your box is smaller it will be much easier.

I attached the side with one screw on the far end. Moved it inward enough so I could add a line of glue, then placed it on the glue and screwed it on flush with the side. (Look at the pictures to see what I mean)

Repeat this with the other side

Once you have the sides done, add a layer of glue to the bottom, and screw it firmly in place as well, you can now stand it up to attach the top as well. (Since my sides were warping a bit i used a clamp to hold them in place, the warping will go away after you finish the outside as well.)

Test to see if the selves fit at this point, you want to catch it before the glue drys, they should slide in easily.

Now is also the time to assemble the drawers if your planning on making them.

Start by marking the center of the outside on the 12 1/4" pieces, as well as both the long edges of the self your using.

Then the simplest way i found to join the two was to build a little house out of the sides (see pic) then working one side at a time i lined up the center marks of the shelf and the side on the very edge and attach it using 1" brad nails and a bit of glue.

(I attached this drawer with the painted side outside accidently as you can see, the painted side goes inside. I kept it as the demonstration because you can see the marks in the pic better)

Flip it right side up, and add the smaller sides, by pinning them to the sides of the first ones, then flipping it back over and securing them to the bottom as well (when nailing it can be tempting to hold the edges together right next to where your nailing, just be careful, as sometimes nails can go sideways and catch you.)

Use a small hammer to tap in any nails that are sticking out a bit, and give everything a good sanding.

If your not giving your drawers a front, and dont have ant handles or knobs, just use a spade or forstner bit to cut a circle in the middle of the top part of the drawer, big enough to hook a finger in, and you'll be good.

How well you do this step in any woodworking project can be the difference between a obviously handmade product, to professional looking one.

Mostly its sanding, lots, and lots of it, (be sure to wear a dust mask) start with a rougher grit like 120g, to smooth out all the edges and connections, if your measurements weren't the straightest they could be, now's your chance to hide it as the saying goes.

"Putty and paint make me the carpenter i aint."

Speaking of putty once you have the edges almost smooth, use a spatula along with some to fill any of the screw holes, as well as covering the seams on the sides where the boards meet. Be generous and use a nice wide spatula as you can see the one i started with was much to small to do a good job so i had to go back later with a bigger one.

Let the putty dry and sand everything down again.

As for inside where i couldn't use putty, I used some paintable calk to fill the cracks and wiped it down with a damp cloth to get the excess off.

I also decided to round out the outside edges of the slats.

If you did the previous step well this should be quite simple, add 2 more coats of paint, lightly sanding in-between layers.

I only added one more coat to the inside of the cabinet and drawers, as I didn't want the paint to build up to much and clog up the slides.

The shelves also only got two nice thin coats, to keep the thickness down.

If you see seams and cracks after the first coat take them down or add more putty, before continuing to paint.

Since my drawer fronts and top were already finished, i just gave them a light sand and a fresh coat of varnish for the cut sides.

To add the top, clamp it down firmly being sure the edges are square and screw it down from the inside using screws that you know won't go all the way through the top.

For the drawers, find the middle of the board, and drill a hole to attach the knobs,(I find it easier to do this before mounting) you can use one as a guide for the others just be sure to use the same one, (use this advice at your own risk)

Clamp it down firmly on the drawer (making sure that its centered) and screw it in place.

Re-drill the mounting hole for the hardware, and attach the knobs

Admire the simplest drawer you will ever make.

Set everything together, and Enjoy!

You may want to add wheels if it's as big as mine, but since i'm attaching it to a wall I decided against it.