The thing about lockers is everything must be stacked. There are no storage areas for small items; you just have to throw everything in there together. Or do you? Did you know you can easily make all kinds of organizers that cost little, are easy to make, and will help you keep track of homework, writing utensils and much more
Purchase a sheet or a roll of magnetic sheeting and you’ll be able to make many organizers that will easily fit into your locker. The magnetic sheeting is found at most any craft store and will work well to make locker pockets to hold many things. The pockets can be made from things you probably already have around your house.
Take pieces of scrapbook paper, or other stiff paper, and make pockets that will cling to the inside of the locker. The paper can be cut into pocket shapes or you can simply make the pockets the same shape as the paper. Cut strips of the magnetic sheeting to put on the backside. Peel away the adhesive covering and position the strips on the sides and bottoms of the pocket, on the backside. Now you can simply stick the pocket to the locker.
Instead of making pockets from paper you can make them from pockets removed from old garments. Denim pockets look great but you can use most any pocket shape from most any fabric. You can even fold bandanas into pockets. Fold the bandana to make a large triangle, then fold it in half. Glue the bandana so that the triangle shape stays. Place magnetic strips from the top to the bottom on two sides. Leave the top open and trim the magnet to fit the bottom point. This smaller triangle is ideal for holding homework papers, assignments, note pads and more. Instead of using a bandana you can cut the triangular shapes from thick paper or cloth.
Use a bathroom tissue roll to make other magnetic holders for your locker. Stand the roll on one end, draw around it onto thin cardboard, then cut out the circle. Cut a second circle of paper or cloth and glue it onto the disc. Now tape the disc to one open side of the tube. Cover the tube in matching cloth or paper. Stick a long strip of magnetic sheeting, at the seam of the cloth or paper, then stick the tube holder to the inside of the locker. It can hold pencils, pens, rulers and more. If you have a magnet, but no magnetic sheeting, simply hold the tube against the locker, reach inside the tube, and position the magnet to hold the tube against the locker.
Small tins make ideal organizers for lockers. Since they’re metal magnets will easily hold them to the inside of the locker. Use flat, square magnets on one side to stick them to the locker. Or, place the magnets on one side – and one end – and the tin will stick to the corner of the locker. These tins, with or without lids, can hold jewelry, erasers, keys, makeup and so much more. If you don’t need the lids on the tins, glue a picture inside them, and add magnetic sheeting strips to the back. These cute photo holders let you store pictures of friends, family and even pets inside your locker.
Even a slinky can become a locker organizer when you use magnets. For a metal slinky, glue or tape a cardboard bottom to one end. Align flat, square magnets – or even button magnets – along one side of the slinky. Now stick it to the locker and the magnets will hold it in place. The slinky organizer can hold writing instruments, scissors, rulers and more. If you only have a plastic slinky you can still make the organizer. Glue or tape the cardboard bottom to one end. Now align wide strips of magnetic sheeting on one side. The strips will hold the plastic slinky to a side or corner of the locker.
Glue a button magnet or flat, square magnet to each end of a ruler, on the backside. Instead of a ruler you can use a strip of wood. Glue miniature or full-size clothes pins across the wood, spacing the apart, to create a holder that will organize any number of things. Use the clothes pins to hold a hat, gloves, scarf, artwork, photos and more. Wood glue works best for attaching the clothes pins and keeping them secure.
There are many locker organizers you can make by using boxes, empty prescription bottles, plastic spice jars and similar items. Use the magnetic sheeting to hold the organizer, or position button magnets inside to hold the box or container to the locker. You’ll be amazed at how easy any of these organizers are to make and at how neat your locker stays!
Reference:
- Purchase magnetic sheeting here: www.michaels.com
