Storing Postcards: How to make a ring-bound booklet

 

I've been wondering for awhile now about what to do with all the Postcrossing postcards I've had stashed away in the cupboard.

 

I really didn't want to lose any, but I am beyond wanting a "postcard wall" or anything along those lines. What I wanted was a means by which I could store the cards without having to worry about them getting lost or damaged, ensuring their longevity, but still allowed them to be viewed.

 

Initially, I thought a solution may be to put them into a photo album or journal, but upon investigating this option, I realised that photo albums can be quite expensive, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on this project, nor was I overly keen on the album designs. It soon dawned on me that if I were to use albums, the backside of the postcards, where the senders have written their messages, wouldn't be visible.

 

Then last weekend I was cleaning out some drawers when I came across an abundance of old curtain rings. These were left here by the previous owners (perhaps even the owners before them) for the large, heavy drapes they had at the windows. But since we have removed and replaced those with simple lace curtains, we've not had a need for the rings.

 

That is, until now!

 

I realised pretty much immediately that I could put those rings to use and make booklets out of my Postcrossing postcards, binding them together in a way that will prevent any from getting lost, whilst still displaying both sides of the cards.

 

It's so quick, easy and inexpensive (even if I'd had to purchase the rings, it would still have been cheaper than photo albums) that I thought I'd share the process, in the event that anyone wants to do the same thing.

 

 

First, collate your cards and put them in order. I found that 30 cards per booklet was a good number, as it makes it comfortable to flip through the cards once they've been bound.

 

Then using a two-ring hole-punch, punch your cards. I like to stagger the positioning of the holes, so the cards are in a slightly different place within the booklet. This makes the booklet feel sturdy.

 

 

Once you've punched holes in all your cards, feed the rings through the holes, one card at a time (as pictured above), starting with the last/bottom card first and working your way to the first/top card (one placed on top of the other).

 

 

Once all cards are on the rings, you should have a neat little booklet that hasn't cost a fortune to make, and allows yourself (and others) to browse at leisure, without having to worry about losing or damaging the cards.

 

A hoarder of books...

I read a lot. On average I probably get through one to two books a month, but due to lack of space I am unable to keep them all. One day I hope to have somewhere to keep all my books, when we finally finish the renovations and I get my long-hoped-for floor to ceiling bookshelves.

 



 

In the meantime, however, I have one bookshelf (which I've had since childhood) and all the books that didn't fit have been randomly piled and placed wherever I could get away with putting them. Far too many recipe books have been mixed in with gardening books, magazines and novels. Nothing made any sense, and trying to find a particular book and/or magazine was a frustrating exercise.

In addition to the random piles of books about the place, there are boxes of books in storage, most of which I have read, but many which I'd be quite content to browse again at leisure (such as my copy of The Norton's Anthology of Poetry - love it!).

 

So, since the weather has been absolutely atrocious today (not even the Bailey-dog could stand to be out in it), I figured it was the perfect opportunity to satisfy my OCD cravings and re-organise my books (well, most of them, anyhow), and to make room for the selection of new ones that will be arriving in the post over the coming weeks (Yes, I have ordered more. I was bored and it couldn't be helped!).



All the practical books - recipes, gardening, travel, reference texts - are now altogether on the same shelf.

 

The magazines are stacked and packed neatly away in a cupboard, and the novels and history books are set out (according to size) in the main bookshelf.

 

Easily accessible, ready to browse.

 

It's like having my very own, extremely quaint personal library.

 

Do you like to read, and are you a hoarder of books too?



I think I have too much stuff.

 Ever have those days where you look around your house and wonder how on earth you managed to accumulate so much stuff?

Today was one of those days for me. I cannot explain how it happened, especially since I'm quite the minimalist when it comes to home decor, but my writing desk had been in utter chaos since before Christmas, and the mess taking residence on the display cupboard in the second bedroom seemed to be growing. I couldn't find things. Stuff was getting lost amongst other stuff. It was a nightmare and it was high time I did something about it!

 

So today I got organised!

I cleared everything off the writing desk and moved it, piece by piece, to the dining room table, organising by category as I went. Once everything had been removed I dusted, disinfected and then began the far more enjoyable task of putting everything back onto the desk, but this time everything had its place. Whatever I don't need on a day-to-day basis has been packed away and only those items pertaining to the task of writing remain. Perhaps I'll find myself sending a torrent of letters this week, now that I have the space in which to write them.

It was the same sad state of affairs in the spare room: The display cupboard we keep in there (on account of it not actually fitting anywhere else due to its size) had been lost under paper, loose recipes, books, magazines, paint cards and shop catalogues, paperwork and what is supposed to be our bushfire survival kit  - only half done (there is a list in aforementioned kit of the things currently missing from said kit, so in the event of a bushfire I at least know what it was I was supposed to take with me).

 

The loose recipes were the most time-consuming: I sorted them into categories and then put them into an arch lever file. After that I cleared everything else off the cupboard, dusted and made space for the books and magazines. Anything that didn't have a home now does, and everything is stacked neat and tidy - there should be no excuses for not being able to find anything.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the clutter piles up, especially when you've been stuck inside almost every day for near on a month. But at least the weather provides the perfect excuse for a bit of spring midsummer cleaning. I don't know about you, but decluttering, being organised and having routine and purpose is almost therapeutic.

Wouldn't you agree?

The Week in Pictures...

 

* My Spring Clean/organsation frenzy continues! I've been rearranging my bookshelf this past week. I really need Shane to finish the in-built shelving in the dining room so I can pull some more of my favourites out of storage. A house full of books makes you look learned, you know.

 

* We're looking to start the bathroom renovation before the end of the year. That is, if I ever decide on what I want. I swear I've flipped through the pages of a hundred magazines this past week.

 

* Bailey-dog has found himself a nice spot to sunbathe (dirt bathe?) in the gravel next to the shed. He just loves a bit of sunshine (don't we all?)!

 

* Even though I know next-to-nothing about native plants, I purchased an eremophila and a native daisy from the local show last Sunday. I like the silver-grey of the leaves, but the nights are still a bit too cold and the ground not yet warm enough to plant them. Which is probably a good thing as I've not yet decided where to put them.

 

* The days are warming oh-so-slowly, but the nights remain very chilly indeed. We had super late-in-the-season frosts this week...

 

* Not that the garden seems to mind, though, with everything coming into bloom, including the apricot tree. We planted it Winter 2011 and it did not blossom last year, but this spring it is right on queue. I am so freaking excited: Apricots are my favourite summer fruit and I'll be over the moon to be able to pick just a few.

 

 

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The Week in Pictures...

* I've been in an organising frenzy! Even the office where I work got a spring clean!

* I used what will hopefully be the last of the supermarket leeks to make my favourite soup: Leek and red lentil. Our leeks are just about ready to pick.

* We've discovered that the Bailey-dog has a wheat allergy, so every Saturday morning I get up and make wheat and dairy-free kibble for him, enough to last the coming week.

* The daffodils are finally starting to bloom and I am pleasantly surprised by the bright yellow (I had no idea what colour I'd planted). We put them in more than 18 months ago but did not get any flowers last season.

* Bailey-dog and I have a new Sunday afternoon routine that involves a big walk around town.

* I finished one book and started another. There's no better way to wile away the hours than with a good book!

* Follow me on Instagram: Username = sorchasidhe.

Monday Mail Out: Organising.

This is how I spent my Sunday morning: In the spare room up to my knees in three years worth of mail. I keep every letter, postcard and note I receive and the boxes in which I keep them were in a state of absolute chaos. I figured it was about time to do some organising.

I sorted every piece and put them in appropriate piles. The largest space I had out of Bailey-dog's reach was the bed in the second bedroom, so that became my "organising space".

Each completed pile was then tied off and sorted into boxes, which then got stacked neatly on the upper shelves of the built-in-robe. Out of sight but still in reach if I need.

Once that was completed I wrote a couple postcards and then walked them down to the post office with the Bailey-dog. I'd decided that the weekend was going to be free of letter-writing so that I could focus on other things, this being one of them.

Written correspondence has been a hobby of mine for a long time, & Monday Mail Out is a weekly feature whereby I can share my love for the lost art of letter writing. I hope my experiences will encourage others to send out letters on Monday too, and have them rediscover the joy of sending and receiving mail. If you have a blog, feel free to join in.