4 Menu Organizer

Since we moved to Maryland, I've been on an organizing kick. Somehow a big move and life transition (from grad student to just one, full time, grown-up job!) was just what I needed to get a little kick in the butt on that one, apparently. This is just one of a few projects I whipped up and I have to say, I am LOVING the organizing and crafty projects. Using them just makes me extra happy - organized and crafty... who could ask for anything more?!

I should also confess that I got a Silhouette Cameo last year for Chrismukkah. I've made tons of projects with it, but I was hoping the first one I'd share here would be extra awesome. But I like this one and it's as good as any and I'm sick of waiting... so enjoy! (Also, I am in NO way getting paid for telling you how awesome the Cameo is, but if anyone from Silhouette wants to pay me, I'm VERY okay with that!)

Supplies

• Expandable file folder + labels
• Silhouette + vinyl (or you could use sticker letters or rub-on letters - I did that before I got the awesome Cameo)
• Markers, pens

Instructions

First, I've been obsessively collecting take-out and delivery menus from anywhere we've gone to eat that had one because I knew I wanted to have a little collection so we could order in and get delivery without ransacking everything everywhere.

Then, I saw this awesomely adorable expandable file folder from greenroom at Target and had to buy it.

I made some labels on my Silhouette Cameo machine. I made a little label for the front cover...

...and one for the front flap (when you open the cover)...

...and the spine.

I used the font "My Own Topher" for the labels. Then I grabbed some sticker labels and cut them down to the size for the file folder tabs and labeled with some colored pens.

I decided to group by type of food:

• American (Chili's, a diner nearby, etc.)
• Bagels & Sandwiches (delis, sub places, etc.)
• Chinese
• Mexican
• Pizza
• Et Cetera (random places that didn't fit with any other category)

I don't know if that's the best way to do things, but it's what fit the menus we really have now and I didn't want to try to guess what we'd come up with in the future. Then I filled in the file folders with the menus I'd been hoarding saving and voila!

I looked at a lot of different versions people have made and that you can buy, but I this was what worked for us for now.

In case you are looking for inspiration, I collected some of the ones I looked at on my DIY organizing pinboard and then made this little link collection. Enjoy and I'd loved to see one if you make it (as always)!

Good Eats from Scrapbook & Cards Today Blog Takeout Menu Organizer from Controlling My Chaos Take Out Menus from Home Made Simple Takeout Menus from Organize-It Coupon and Menu Organizer from Skip to My Lou Menu & Coupon Organizer from the mombot Take Out Organizer from Organize.com Ideas from Live Simply Takeout Menu Organizer from Perpetual Kid Take Out Menus from Uncommon Goods Takeout Menu Organizer from Amazon Menu and Coupon Organizer from Achieving Creative Order Organizer from Gooseberry Patch Takeout Organizer from Tatutina Menu Organizer from Studio Oh! Menu Organizer from Day Runner Good to Go from CR Gibson

InLinkz.com

I'll be linking up to some of my favorite link parties...

Mondays: C.R.A.F.T., Polly Want a Crafter, The DIY ShowOff, Craft-O-Maniac, Making the World Cuter, Skip to My Lou, Mad in Crafts, Sew Can Do, Boogieboard Cottage, Life Made Lovely, Keeping It Simple, Polish the Stars, Pinkapotamus, Singing Three Little Birds, Colours Dekor, DIY Home Sweet Home, Ask Anna, Home Savvy, Be Colorful, The Gunny Sack, Lines Across, The Southern Institute, Get Outta My Head, 3 Mango Seeds, You're Talking Too Much, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Destination: Craft, Cherished Bliss, 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, Sarahndipities, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Marvelously Messy, Between Naps on the Porch, Bringing Beauty, Ninth Street Notions, Southern Hospitality, Sew Chatty, Everything Under the Moon, Thrifty Decor Chick, Reinventing the Ordinary (Pet Party) 

Tuesdays: Embellishing Life, New Nostalgia, Hope Studios, Vintage Wanna Bee, Tip Junkie, Ladybug Blessings, Sassy Sites, Topsy Turvy, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Giggles Glitz & Glam, Rook No. 17, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Coastal Charm, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a Housewife, A Diamond in the Stuff, The Ivy Cottage, homework, Crayon Freckles, Crafty Confessions, Me and My Boys, The Kurtz Corner, Sugar Bee, At Home With K, Sweet Little Gals, Chef in Training, Raising 4 Princesses, A to Zebra Celebrations, Jillify It, Natural Nesters, Today's Creative Blog, Home Stories A to Z, DIY by Design, Tales of a Trophy Wife, Our Delightful Home

Wednesdays: Creations By Kara, Blue Cricket Design, Seven Thirty Three, Sugar and Dots, Someday Crafts, Night Owl Crafting, Lil Luna, Sew Much Ado, We Are That Family, Type A, A Little Tipsy, My Girlish Whims, Eisy Morgan, Polka Dots on Parade, Passionately Artistic, Ginger Snap Crafts, Laugh Love & Craft, Not So Simple Housewife, Frugally Sustainable, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Faded Charm, let birds fly, The Sasse Life, Clean & Scentsible, Junk in their Trunk, Uncommon, Pincushion Creations, It's Just Called Spicy, Sew Woodsy, Primp Junktion, Organize and Decorate Everything, Savvy Southern Style, A Beach Cottage, JAQS Studio, The DIY Dreamer

Thursdays: Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage, A Glimpse Inside, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Gluesticks, Momnivore's Dilemma, Yesterday on Thursday & Katie's Nesting Spot, Beyond the Picket Fence, Making It With Allie, Rhinestone Beagle, Suzy's Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom, Tales From Bloggeritaville, Christina's Adventures, Saved By Love Creations, Thrifty Decorating, Seven Alive, The 36th Avenue, Southern Lovely, The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kissed by a Frog, Bear Rabbit Bear, Crafty Scrappy Happy, 52 Mantels, live. laugh. rowe., Delightful Order, The Train to Crazy, Mine for the Making, The Taylor House, Just a Little Creativity, Hating Martha, The Frugal Girls, No Minimalist Here, Artsy Corner

Fridays: Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Shabby Nest, Tatertots & Jello, Simply Sweet Home, 30 Handmade Days, WhipperBerry, Sassy Sites, Lovely Crafty Home, Catch As Catch Can, Nap Time Crafters, 504 Main, My Simple Home Life, Simply Designing, The Picket Fence, Chic on a Shoestring, The Hungry Hypo, French Country Cottage, Ladybird Lane, The Answer is Chocolate, Truly Lovely, Bubbly Nature Creations, Pocket Full of Pink, Little Becky Homecky, Delicate Construction, Serenity Now, See Vanessa Craft, Happy Hour Projects, Making Lemonade, One Artsy Mama,  Mom 4 Real, So You Think You're Crafty, Faith Trust & a Little Pixie Dust, Finding Fabulous For Less, It's a Hodgepodge Life, Tidy Mom, Remodelaholic, Just a Girl, Scissors & Spatulas, While He Was Napping, Release Me Creations, Hello Hue, Love Notes By Lauryn, Craftionary, Five Days... Five Ways, The Creative Paige, Blissful Bucketlist

Saturdays: Tutus & Tea Parties, Here's to Handy Andy, Craft Envy, Funky Junk Interiors, Young & Crafty, Be Different Act Normal, To Sew With Love, Six Sisters' Stuff, Gingerbread, Lolly Jane, Homemaker in Heels, A Vision to Remember, Positively Splendid, Too Much Time, Crafty Moms Share, Polkadot Pretties, Candace Creations, Serenity You, Shaken Together

Sundays: I Heart Nap Time, Under the Table and Dreaming, LambAround, Flamingo Toes, Petite Hermine, Homemaker on a Dime, The Foley Fam, The SweetTalk Shop, Nifty Thrifty Things, The Tablescaper, My 1929 Charmer, It's Overflowing

Miscellaneous: The Girl Creative, Every Crafty Endeavor, My House of Giggles, My Lil Pumpkin Patch, Vintage Gwen