Homemade (Paper Bag) File Boxes

So, today I decided to tackle our home office and clean it up a bit.  I moved the laptop to my room and set up our desktop computer in it's place.  We had our desktop at our business office, but it is has since returned home.  Needless to say, I got tired of looking at it sitting on the floor in a pile.  Once I finished cleaning up the desk, reorganizing, and put the computer together, I realized I was in desperate need of some file boxes.  We were stacking our papers in random areas that either needed to be filed at home or taken to our business office to be entered into the new business computer and then filed as well.  Papers sometimes were lost, misplaced, and even bills were late (not many) due to our lack of organization.  I think I am officially nesting because I normally don't have these urges to organize.  Clean, yes. Organize, no.  Anyway, I needed to go to the store to get a few things so I decided to buy a few file boxes.  The store did NOT have what I wanted and I wasn't about to pay $15+ on file boxes I didn't want.  On the way home I was thinking if I had something I could use or if I could make anything.  And THIS is what I came up with.  I'm pretty happy with it too!  Hope you like it and try it out.

1. You'll need a paper bag, scissors, and a stapler.

2. Cut off the bottom of the bag, leaving the sides intact.

3. CAREFULLY roll the bag inside out...unless you want to see your stores name on your box.  : )  And yes, this is easier said than done, but if I can do it...so can you.

4. Once rolled out, lay out the paper bag and flatten it.

5. Fold the bag lengthwise in half and make a solid center crease.

6. Then re-open the bag and fold the edges to the center crease.

7 & 8. Fold up the corners of the bag about 2/3rds up.

9. Once both corners are folded up, fold the flap down as tight as you can to the corner pieces. Do it to both sides.

10. Begin to lift the edges up to form the box.

11. Pinch the edges along the seam to make them sharp.  Do this to all 4 corners.

12. Pinch the edges all along the bottom of the box. This will help the box to keep it's shape.

13. Staple the flaps down along the short end of the box.  This helps the box to keep it's shape and makes it look better.

14. You have a finished box!

15. And Voila! The finished product!

I am VERY  happy with the way these boxes turned out.  They are the perfect size for your standard piece of paper...and I definitely didn't plan it this way.  It just happened!  I actually like the way these boxes look better than the ones I was going to buy.  They 'fit' my personality better and they didn't cost me anything to make!  A win win situation if you ask me.  Let me know what you think and if you are going to try to make one.

***If you are a very crafty person (I have my moments), I am sure you could come up with some wonderfully beautiful creations.  I'd love to see them!