DIY No-Sew Fabric Mail Organizer

I've been shopping around for a nice looking mail organizer for our kitchen to help curtail the piles of mail that seem to squat on the counter despite all my efforts to evict them. I wanted something like this from Ballard Designs, but I couldn't justify spending that much cash. Then I ran across this post on the lovely Noodlehead blog, and I thought, "hey! I could do that!" Being that I try to avoid hauling out my sewing machine as much as possible, I set out to make a nice fabric mail organizer without sewing a stitch. Here's the finished product:

Cute huh? I'm in love with it. Here's what you need to make one yourself. 

• 12" x 24" artist canvas
• background fabric, about 1/2 yard (use cheaper fabric here)
• pocket fabric, about 1/2 yard (fancy it up here)
• thin batting, about 1/2 yard
• foam core board, about 1/2 of a 20 x 30 sheet
• 1/2 spool of ribbon (optional)
• scissors, spray adhesive, fabric glue or hot glue gun, staple gun, straight blade knife, hammer
• An iron

1. Use your background fabric to upholster the canvas, pulling the fabric taut as you staple it to the wood frame. I recommend ironing the fabric before you staple it on so it looks nice and smooth. Use a hammer to secure any staples that aren't quite tight. 

2. Trim away excess fabric. Because I wanted it to look finished and professional, I ironed on some hem tape to cover the edges and the staples. I only did this because I had hem tape on hand -- don't feel like you need to go buy some for this, since this is the back we're talking about!

3. Once your canvas is covered, it's time to make the pockets. I did 3 pockets. Grab the foam core and measure out 3 rectangles 12" x 6" then use a straight blade knife to cut them out carefully.

4. Cover each foam rectangle with batting, using a bit of spray adhesive to hold the batting on the board.

5. This is where it gets tricky to explain, so hang with me. Let's call the outside of the pocket (the part you'll see) side A, and the inside part that will face inward and hold the mail side B. Iron your pocket fabric and fold it to cover each batted rectangle, leaving about 1/2 inch length-wise on side A, and 2 inches on either side width-wise. The fold of the fabric around the rectangle will be the top part of the pocket. Use some spray adhesive to secure the fabric to the batted rectangle, and smooth out any wrinkles as you go. Starting with the bottom pocket, hold the rectangle side A down and align the bottom of the foam board with the bottom of the canvas frame, letting the excess fabric lie on the canvas. Staple the fabric to the wood frame all the way across the bottom of the canvas, then flip the pocket up like on a hinge so that the pocket is upright on the canvas, with the bottom staples secure across the bottom of the canvas frame and the sides of the fabric hanging off each side.

6. We're now going to fold the fabric around to the back of the frame and staple it to the back to hold the pocket upright. Starting at the bottom of the pocket, pull the fabric taut and smooth and staple it the wood frame on the back side of the canvas. Carefully work your way up the side of the pocket, tucking the fabric smooth and stapling, folding it a little less each time so that the pocket angles outward to hold the mail. Take it slow and easy, and don't be afraid to pop a staple out and try again if it's not looking the way you want it to.

7. Repeat step 6 on the other side of the pocket, making sure to keep the angles level so the pocket opens smoothly. It should look like this when you're done.

8. Now that you've got the first one down, the other two are easy. Follow steps 5-7 for each of the other pockets. Since there isn't a piece of wood going all the way across to anchor the bottoms of the other two pockets, just secure them well on along the 2 inches or so of wood frame on either side while side A is facing downward and the 1/2 inch of fabric will act as a hammock to hold the mail. The staples along the bottom edges and the sides are plenty to secure the pocket to the frame.

9. Once all 3 pockets are secured, flip the canvas right side up and glue some decorative ribbon across each pocket using hot glue or fabric glue.

10. Flip the canvas over and staple the edges of the ribbon to the frame and cut off any excess ribbon. Use a hammer to gently secure all the staples so they're tight.

11. Add a wall hanger -- I used simple eye hooks and picture wire.

12. Hang up your creation and enjoy! This one is my new central mail hub (bills on top, my pocket in the middle, husband's pocket on bottom) and it's hanging right above the recycle bin for easy mail sorting. I plan to make another one to organize the kiddos' school papers and homework. And I'm liking this project so much I see a few more in my future as Christmas gifts!

   

If you make an organizer, please send me a pic! I'd love to see it!