New Year Filing

Do you have receipts, pay stubs, insurance papers, bank statements, and a whole pile of papers that need to be filed or organized, but don't know what to do with it?  I never knew a good system for keeping track of important items that I might need to reproduce at some point. I saw this idea in a magazine a few years ago (Better Homes and Gardens I think) for organizing important paperwork a year at a time.  It is VERY simple.  Every January I create a new one for the year.  First, buy an accordion file, it does not have to be fancy, but the amount of tabs on the inside depend on the number of files you want to create.  I label the front of the file with the year.

On the inside, you can create labels for each type of document you wish to keep.  My labels are:

• Income
• Insurance
• Medical
• Receipts
• Banking
• Misc.

You can use these, create your own, or add more as you need them!

Crafting 101

I have NO creativity whatsoever!  So imagine my delight that the website Pinterest exists!  I have found myself addicted and wanting to try so many things!  Being in a metro area now, I have more resources at my fingertips.  I have roamed Michael's endlessly, just imagining all of the possibilities!  I completed my very first project yesterday, and I must say, I am very impressed with myself!  Look out...I have learned how to use a drill!

 

To create this, I used a curtain rod purchased from Target ($13.99).  I bought the frames at Michael's Arts and Crafts and managed to get them for 40% off!  The frames are 8x8 with photos of my family taken by my sister-in-law.  I used white ribbon also from Michael's that I got on clearance for $2! I simply looped the ribbon through the hanger and tied a bow at the top of the curtain rod.  I used ribbon with a wire so that the bows would stand up nicely.  Also, be sure you cut each ribbon the same size if you are OCD like me and want everything to look the same!  This project cost about $40 to create and took only a couple of hours to complete.  I have another project in the works that I will hopefully be able to post soon!