The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Variety

Media Credit: WAITES LASETER [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: WAITES LASETER [Click to enlarge]

How To:
Make a recycled
mail sorter

Editor's note: Each month, writer Courtney Smith will provide instructions for creating crafts from recycled materials. This is the third installment.

Difficulty: Easy

Time: About an hour

Supplies:
- Three old CDs or DVDs
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Scissors
- 6-inch by 5-inch piece of foam or Styrofoam
- Glitter, ribbons, photos and anything else you want to decorate it with

1. Place all of the CDs or DVDs on a piece of old newspaper or a paper bag and apply a thick layer of paint. Also paint all sides of the foam and let dry for about 30 minutes. Any colors of paint will work, but I chose to paint the foam green like grass and to paint flowers on the CDs so it would look like a garden. I also put red glitter on the backs so they sparkle. But, the foam could also be blue like clouds and the CDs could have birds on them. Really, anything works.

2. After the paint has dried completely, cut three four-inch slits in the foam starting at one of the long sides and stretching to the other. These slits should be about two inches apart to allow room for mail to fit in between them.

3. Slide the decorated discs into the slits until the edges are flat with the bottom of the foam square and they fit snuggly in the slits. If they seem a little wobbly, secure them with a bit of hot glue, Elmer's glue or any adhesive you have lying around.

4. Now, your craft is ready to house and organize all of the mail that - if you are like me - usually just sits in a heap on the counter. Try different ways of dividing it up, such as separating bills from junk mail or giving each roommate a personalized cubby with his or her name and picture on it. Use your imagination!

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