Altered Ikea Magazine File

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Reported By Donna Lannerd

The idea behind altering the Knuff magazine file ($3.99 US) has been with me a long time. In fact, every time I go into that store I find myself drawn to the whole office organization section and this file in particular is always asking to go home with me. I see it basically as a blank canvas just waiting to be transformed into something spectacular.


This particular project was also inspired by the pile of my daughter's school work that she insists cannot be tossed into the trash. I decided this file would be the perfect place to put some of that work and serve as a school memory box. I used a great variety of items including trims and buttons from my sewing leftovers and also some rickrack from my mom's old things I've hung onto. I also used iron-on transfers. These are the white phrases "School Days", "Picture Day", "learning is fun" and "going for the grade".


Before I started cutting and gluing the paper down I first made a template. I used dressmaker's pattern paper but you could use just about any paper that you could fit the file on. I placed each side of the file down on the paper and traced around so I would have an exact shape. I then decided what layout I wanted the paper to be then drew the lines on my pattern and used these to cut my background papers. After gluing on the paper it was just a matter of laying down trims and objects to see how I wanted it to look. You could also do this before gluing down your paper.
As you can see in the photos 3 of the sides are very much in a scrapbook/collage style while a fourth side is much more simplistic. I left this side this way to show you how just a few touches can transform a simple object into a designer piece, plus, I really like it. In fact the only purchased items (besides the file) on this fourth side is the paper. How cool is that? And, you could do this with many objects you can find in your local discount or craft store. A few trims, paper and glue can go a long way.




Materials used:
Sheer Frame by Making Memories (around the graduation picture)
Colorboard Stickers by Making Memories
Making the Grade stickers by Karen Foster Design
Ticket Stickers by EK Success
Iron-On Attitude Sayings by Prym-Dritz
Paper by The Paper Studio and My Mind's Eye
Miscellaneous buttons, ribbons and trims