Memorydex Storage Box!

I cannot believe it's been well over a YEAR since I have blogged (gotta change that picture)! So much had happened since then...and so I am not even going to try and catch up! My life is taking on a new "norm" and I am having to learn how to live with chronic pain that, at this point, isn't coming under control. Day to day living can be tough-and often times crafting is totally out of the question!

As a result of that, I have discovered that the delightful little cards that, in my working days were referred to as "roll-a-dex" cards, can quickly become little pieces of art that are easily mailed and swapped, a delight to flip through when I can't do anything and am bored out of my skull looking st FB and Pinterest and have exhausted my list of blogs I follow. I've enjoyed this so much so, I created my own group (after being thrown out of another based on association with someone the admin didn't like....go figure!) Not a bad thing as Make It Memorable-Memorydex Swap was born-a FB based group to share ideas, swaps, etc. As my collection quickly grew I found myself struggling with storage. The little box sold by Memorydex creator  Heidi Swapp was much too small-and the paper cheap cheap cheap for the price tag on it (I know I paid over $ 13--I got it when it first came out-now I am seeing that down to $ 9-still---its falling apart!)

I sprang for her roller version only to find that cards fell off and didn't display properly to suit me (I'm picky!) UGH! What's a gal to do…?! I searched You Tube  and Pinterest and found a lot of tutorials on how to build my own but math isn't my strong point (understatement!!!) and it was too much work for the valuable little time I knew I'd be able to craft (I think I'll have some posts on crafting with chronic pain...). So I headed into town with a few memorydex cards in my pocket and went in search of the perfect (or as darn close as I could get it) storage system. Cards had to fit. Ideally, I want to be able to see them but also have a lid so storage could be stacked. I knew whatever I ended up with I would need to adapt it. 

I hit Hobby Lobby first and couldn't find any boxes but did find dowels-square dowels. I went to my pocket for my cards to measure only to discover they were in my bag...in the car! I am famous for this! So glad coupons are on our phones now-I forgot mine so often my partner in shopping crime Theresa was often given my coupons to hold the minute she got in the car! But I digress-I guessed on the size and bingo! It's perfect. Blurry pic-ugh! The dimensions are 5/32x5/32 and are 24" long-5 pieces. Oh-and they are SQUARE!

But I still needed a box. Struck out at Joann's so on to Michaels where I found this-on sale!!! Made by Recollections, its about 4 1/2" deep, 7 3/4" wide and 11 and a smidge (11 1/8") long! WITH A LID!

And I had my cards with me this time so not only did I know they'd fit... I realize that it would fit a double row of cards !!! Two came home with me-one to put cards in I've received and  my own cards in that I want to keep and one to keep the ones I made and am willing to swap (if I ever get caught up again!)

I have been itching to put this together-and knew I couldn't wait to figure out how to do a video-so here's the picture tutorial...heavy on the pictures....and my "don't do it this way, do it that way learn from my mistakes" tips and tricks. Oh-and now photo issues, too! 4000+ I cannot seem to get off my phone or, if I was lucky enough to get them, can't rotate them! Bear with me-I think you can still figure this out! I think even though I was designing this it didn't take me more than 45 minutes....! 

Here's what you need:

Storage box-I used RECOLLECTIONS-photo box-see dimensions above

Dowels-again, see info above (round dowels will work as well...)

Heavy card stock (I used water color paper-sturdier but not too bulky)

Paper cutter

Heidi Swapp punch OR regular hole punch

Kraft knife

Adhesive

Pop dots or Fun Foam

Washi tape or do (optional)

Pencil

Step one-building the brackets.

I used watercolor paper for its weight-its heavy but not too heavy to punch through.

I cut 11 strips 11" x 1".

I took one strip and laid it down on my score pal.

I then, using a card, I very technically measured eyeballed where my cards would fit, being sure to leave space on either side.

I then took marked the hole placement on the strip with my pencil--and used a red sharpie to mark that piece as my TEMPLATE (as you'll see in the next photo--DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Its soooo easy to get the template mixed up with your other strips! Trust me!)

Next I laid a strip up against the edge of my Score Pal (SP) so it would be straight on the end and long side. I put my template over that, colored in my holes.

Repeat this step until all 10 pieces are marked.

Now-here's were some variations come in...

IF you have the HS HOLE PUNCH....just  punch two sets of holes on each strip (I noticed that the holes on her card I used do not match the hole punch-my Type A kicking in here-why? Same brand? But close enough-just move on, Sharon!)

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE HS PUNCH...you can do several things--

you can take a craft knife and cut around the holes, matching the shape; or

you can take a craft knife and simply cut an "X" in the center of the square part of the template mark; or you can take a round hole punch and punch a few holes to make the opening for the dowel rod. The HOLE doesn't have to be perfect-just so its big enough for your dowel rod to go through. What DOES HAVE TO BE PRETTY PERFECT is the spacing of the holes on each sheet so when you stack them your holes match up nicely and give you an equal smooth opening.

L to R: "x", craft knife ( I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fiskers fingertip knife--I remembered when it first came out and demo'd at a local store-I tried it and hated it-I now own two and next to pop dots its probably one of my fav thing to have!), circle punch (kinda need to smooth that out some)

Ok. So now all your 10 strips have two sets of holes.

Stack five up and make sure they match up (if you accidentally turned one over-you want to know NOW!) Again, I butted my strip against the SP, used my favorite adhesive (ATG) and put two rows of tape down-one across the are with the holes and one above it. Stick down the next strip. Repeat 3 more times until all 5 strips are neatly adhered together.

 

I own TWO tape guns...both out of ammo...how does this happen...!!!!

 testing to be sure holes are ok!

Now-repeat this--but be SURE you have these strips laid out the exact same way as your first set.

If you have some sticky inside your stacked holes and you want to remove it-sprinkle it with baby powder. This works to remove sticky from edges of stickers that are cattywhompus on things, etc.  A great little trick (smells good, too!) 

nice, clean non-sticky holes!

The next step will prevent your dowel rods from poking through the sides of your box and again, you have two options: first you can use POP DOTS and put them over the holes being careful their edges do not extend over the edge of the strips.

I originally thought just the 4  over the holes would do it-discovered it needed support all the way across.  You can also cut a strip of Fun Foam (fyi-its cheap, ATG sticks perfectly to it AND you can cut it to any size-by hand or die cut and some punches will go through it, too!) and adhere it to the back of the strips and use your craft knife to cut out the holes (I tried the punch-the FF is too thick but a craft knife will cut through FF like butter so no biggy here.) Before you remove the backing on the PD or put tape on the FF---lay your strips down inside your box so that the sides with the holes face one another. You want to be sure you haven't reversed your panels! Sorry-I didn't take a pic of this! Once you're sure your holes are lined up, then remove the PD backing or add adhesive to your FF and carefully stick the panels to the sides of your box.

Now its time to MEASURE and cut the dowel rods. You do not need a saw! I used my craft knife, marked one side where I wanted to cut, turned it, cut the next side and so on until I cut through. It was pretty easy and cut pretty clean. If you have a rough edge, either use your nail file or sandpaper (that you have in your stash because torn sandpaper makes great sand on beach projects!) to smooth it out. Err on the long side-its easier to cut more off than to waste a dowel!  As Norm would say, "Measure twice, cut once!" (late husband was a HUGE New Yankee Worskshop fan! He didn't take too kindly when I asked why he didn't have the back deck built in a day if Norm could do it in a half hour! Lol-no, he did laugh!) Back to our project...

I ended up cutting off a smidge from what I measured...

Once you have all 4 dowels cut simply slide them into the holes and your done....unless you're like me and you see an ugly black spot that got on your support strip there God only knows how...and its driving you crazy!  

I didn't want to add any more bulk so---washi tape to the rescue! I simply used two rows of it and wrapped it to the back. The dowel will go right through it or you can do the "X" thing to cut a hole. Slide your dowels back in and you're good to go! I think the washi adds a nice little color pop (not that you're going to see it that much...!) 

Isn't it awesome....?! I paid less than $ 3 for the dowels (and that package had enough to do at least 4 more boxes give or take! The box was $ 4...pop dots and washi I had so for about amere  $ 7 I have a box that holds well over double what Heidi's little box does for 3x the cost!  Mine is prettier, has a protective cover and is far sturdier than hers! Go me! I can also label the ends of the boxes (HS doesn't have that, either!) and store them with the label out to save on costly display real estate in my craft room! 

Here's what it looks like on the inside with some (there are more cards in my craft room that I have to put in...

And, as you can see---there is still PLENTY of room for more cards on either side!

I am big on dimension, going off the page, etc. -- there is only one card that sticks up a little too high but as they slide back it's fine! This will keep me mindful tho of how I do my swap cards-I don't want them so out of proportion that they can't be easily displayed and/or stored... oh, and speaking of display-I got some plain but cute mini wood easels at Michaels as well-when I get them up and out of the car...they will be perfect for showing off the cards! 

I am going to do another box--in one box I am going to put the cards I've received as well as cards I've made and want to keep. In the other box I am going to put cards I've made and am willing to swap (IF I ever get caught up/ahead). If I can figure out how to do the video, I may try and tape it and put it on You Tube. I was just itching to try this and had to do it today or burst! 

So there you have it! Now go and Make It Memorable! Don't forget to post your work, ask to do personal swaps or jump in and join in the event fun.  Whatever you do, Make It Memorable! Oh-and side note-please please please SIGN the back of your awesome artwork!  Or cheat (like I do!) and make a label with your info to just slap on there before you send! I LOVE looking back and saying, "Oh, so-and-so made that!" and then maybe even send a quick pm to let them know seeing their card again made you smile! A great little trick! 

As for me, I am gonna go get another cup of coffee and face life-more medical stuff-UGH! Coffee will help... (Thanks, Odetta!) 

Until next time, Happy stamping and scrapping an, remember,  Make It Memorable!

Blessings,

Sharon

www.okistampqueen.blogspot.com
On Facebook: Make It Memorable-Memorydex Swap