Window Shutter Mail Sorter

by Carleyy

22K20610

Intro: Window Shutter Mail Sorter

Repurpose an old window shutter into a chic mail sorter!  Its a great way to keep your mail organized and it makes great wall decor.

I live with 4 roommates and our mail piles up so quickly.  I made this as a solution to cut back on the clutter.

STEP 1: Supplies

Window Shutter - you can find them a salvage yards, yard sales, on craigslist, freecycle, etc...
Paint - I used acrylic paint
Paint Brushes
Glue - I used Gorilla Glue
Cardboard
Drawer Handle - this was for an embellishment, feel free to get creative with your embellishment
Wire - to mount our shutter 

***There was a bar going down the center of the shutter that I removed so all of the shutter panels could move freely 306 degrees in any direction.  I did this so I would have more space to fit mail, but you will have to fix this later in the project.

STEP 2: Paint Shutters

Paint shutters any color you like!  I mixed the existing colors in the acrylics kit to get these pretty colors.  I think they go together nicely.

STEP 3: Remove Excess Paint

I was a little lazy in painting the shutters and got a good amount of paint on the main frame.  Since the shutter is plastic I used some rubbing alcohol to remove the paint. 

STEP 4: Add Cardboard Backing

I cut two pieces of cardboard and glued them to the back of the shutter (the side that will be up against the wall).  Make sure all your shutter panels are facing the same way before you glue the cardboard down because you won't be able to change the direction they are facing once the backing is on.

STEP 5: Glue Shutter Panels in Place

Glue the bottoms of each panel to the cardboard backing so the panels don't move.  This is a little difficult because its hard to reach the edge of the panels that touches the cardboard backing.  Use this process to make it easy!

1.  Tape the bottoms of the shutter panel to the cardboard backing.  You want the tape to cover the gap between the shutter panel and the cardboard.  You will see why in the next step.  Use masking tape or painters tape so it doesn't ruin the cardboard or paint.
2.  Drop beads of glue down each opening so there is a bead of glue touching the shutter panel and the cardboard.  I used four beads of glue for each panel.  
**Now you can see why you want the tape to cover the gap -- you don't want the glue dripping down the board.

STEP 6: Attach Drawer Handle

I salvaged this handle from a dresser drawer.  It is the perfect embellishment to finish the shutter.  I just used glue to attach it.

STEP 7: Add Wire to Hang

Drill two holes in the top back of the shutter and put screws in holes.  Attach a wire from one screw to the other.  The shutter will hang like a picture.

10 Comments

chinkeyes 12 years ago

I love this! I bought two shutters from a yard sale yeeeaaarrrrsss ago and was almost convinced to get rid of them since they sat in the garage the entire time but I changed my mind when I came upon your instructable! Can't wait to get started; I will now have two Christmas gifts to give away!

Carleyy 12 years ago

Thats awesome and makes me so happy! Make sure you post pictures!!

:)

ginny2221956 12 years ago

Food for Thought-Cup hooks could be added on the white frame to hang your keys.

Mella2013 12 years ago

What a great idea! THx for posting!

jakyo 12 years ago

What a Fab idea! It has got me thinking that I may try it .I have a couple of shutter doors I could utilize.Thanks for this one ****

NaturalCrafter 12 years ago

I have a shutter that was repurposed into a phone directory about 15 years ago. Someone cross stitched across the top "Blessed are the brief, for they have fewer phone bills." The shutter flips up to disclose all those important phone calls (we now carry all that on cell phones..cept me..lol) And to top it off, I mounted an antique reproduction phone next to it. We do answer phone calls on the phone at times , but for the most part, we quit using it about 5 years ago and its more so a decoration. Even though we still use land line phones in our house and I have penciled some more recent phone numbers in there, usually we get a call and its on the ID, so we just call them back. The phone works but has a push button system put in where it looks like a rotary phone, and there is a box for note paper and pencils. We added a 15ft chord to the french style phone hand set.

laxap 12 years ago

Great idea!!!

enrhedando 12 years ago

Muy buena idea fantastico!!