With back to school coming up and Threadbanger and Decor it Yourself devoting an entire week to it, I was asking myself, "How can I contribute?" So I scoured the forums and found a great question from JaymieKarn, asking how to recycle binders. And as much I wanted to use them to rebuild my grandma's fence, make a doghouse, start a compost heap or turn those old binders into an alternative fuel source. Instead I kept it simple, not that I couldn't do any of those things.

So I took an old binder laying around the office that was pretty banged up and I basically just reupholstered it. It ended being a pretty easy project. I tore off the old plastic and covered it in an recycled fabric (the same Corinne used to make her shirred summer dress). I used some modge 3podge alternative, and added a pocket and some little tassels. And in the end I had a really cute binder.

So, take an old binder like one for Material Safety Data Sheets? Everyone has one of those binders right?

And remove the plastic the best you can. The front cover may become detatched but the fabric can reconnect them.

Measure and cut out your fabric. I folded the fabric just like a paper book cover for text books, so it's basically one long piece that folded over all of the edges.

For pasting I used Wheat Glue, which, for some projects, it's perfect because it's super strong, easy to make, cheap, and super kid friendly, but depending on what kind of fabric you use it's very thick and may show through your fabric. Wheat glue is just water and wheat flour, but i recommend either elmer's glue or modge podge.

So I folded the fabric over all the edges, added two sheets to cover the inside covers, re-inforced some things with duct tape, added a pocket, some extra fringe Rob and Corinne had laying around, and voila! A new binder!

Now, I kept it super tame on this one but this project has a TON of potential. The fabric can be embroidered, embossed, embellished, dyed, fringed, pleated- the opportunities are endless. So go crazy and make sure to post a bunch of pictures on the forums- show me up! Please!