Getting organized doesn’t have to be boring.  If you don’t believe me, check out this expanding file by Cathe at Just Something I Made.  She turned a plain ol’ accordion-style file that you can find at any office supply store and wrapped it in a vintage book cover that she rescued from her local recycling center.  I see great old books all the time at yard sales and thrift stores with covers just begging for a project like this!  If you feel guilty about dismembering a perfectly good volume for the sake of crafting, look for one whose pages are falling out to help ease your mind.  Ask at your local library; most libraries regularly throw away damaged books and are more than willing to let you take them or purchase them for a small donation.  [how to make a vintage book expanding file]

Project estimate:

• Vintage book, on hand or $1 and up
• Expanding file, about $2 and up
• Elastic headband, on hand or $1
• Ribbon crimp ends, $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  about $3 and up