How To Make Decorative File Folders

(Updated January 1, 2024)

I’m going to show you how to make two sizes of decorative file folders that are both attractive and functional.

One set of folders fits in a cutting board stand. The other set fits in a dish drainer.

Folders To Store In A Cutting Board Organizer:

This size file folders I worked on are called classification folders. And they fit perfectly in a stand for cutting boards I wasn’t using anymore.

These are upcycled items I wanted to serve a purpose other than be in my closet catching dust.

I sat down at my little living room craft nook and began working.

My craft space in my apartment living room is very inviting so it’s fun to work in there. It’s very colorful and there’s lots to look at.

Tracing The Shape Onto The Scrapbook Paper:

I took a pencil and traced around the classification file folders onto scrapbook paper.

Then I cut the scrapbook paper shape out and adhered it to the file folder with adhesive.

This is what I consider a more sophisticated look than the file folders I made for the dish drainer. Years have passed since I made those and now I like a more muted look.

The classification file folders are longer and made of sturdier paper.

Involved instructions for these two projects aren’t necessary as the photos show you what to do.

I made the file folders look more custom made by varying the patterns of paper I used to adhere to them.

I used Washi tape to add a bit of embellishment to the decorated file folders. To distinguish them I guess you could say.

And here is the finished product placed in the cutting board stand on the green sideboard. It has a place of prominence there among my craft things.

File Folders That Fit In A Dish Drainer:

At my old apartment, I had a two drawer filing cabinet in a closet. But there wasn’t room for all my warranties, medical records, pet information, etc.

When I moved to this apartment, I didn’t bring my old file cabinet with me. It was made of cheap metal and basically fell apart.

Then I was going through a closet, and I came across these decorated file folders I made years ago.

Even now having two bedrooms instead of one, I still decided not to purchase a separate filing cabinet. It’s easier, cheaper, and more portable to use the dish drainer idea to file things away.

If you don’t have room for a file cabinet you might consider doing one of these two projects shown here.

Instructions For Decorating File Folders:

What You’ll Need:

• Dish drainer
• File folders
• Printed or purchased clip art
• Scrapbook paper
• Stickers or other embellishments
• Glue/adhesive
• Scissors
• Round paper hole punch
• Ribbon

Print graphics or other items you want to use to decorate your file folders.

Arrange these items on a file folder and decide on placement. If you like the way it looks, then glue everything down. Embellish as desired.

If you want, you can also use paper doilies, ribbon, Washi tape, clip art, and/or stickers.

Upon completion, arrange your decorated file folders in the dish drainer.

How I Decorated My Own File Folders:

For the dish drainer file folders, I used scrapbook paper, clip art, paper doilies, and clippings from old calendars. I also printed out various quotes that had meaning to me.

I added embellishments and used adhesive to glue them to the file folders.

Then I used a round hole punch to punch holes in the sides of the file folders, front to back. I punched one hole close to the top and one close to the bottom.

I put ribbon through both holes to tie the front and the back together. This is how to keep the papers in the file folder from falling out the open sides.

I put plain pencils in the receptacle that was made for cutlery.

The files fit perfectly inside my red dish drainer.

If you plan to purchase a dish drainer, you might want to measure your file folders before you shop. Then you can be sure the dish drainer is a good fit for your files, as they come in varying sizes.

Why I Used A Dish Drainer For A Filing System:

This dish drainer filing system is fun to create and very cheap to make.

I created file folders for holidays so I could slip decorating and craft ideas inside. When I need instructions for a seasonal craft project, I know which month to go to!

The decorative file folder/dish rack idea makes perfect sense for receipts.

Since I store receipts for my blog, I made a file folder for each month of the year. Now I know what month I purchased something that I plan to deduct at tax time.

I like the size of this filing system. It fits on a desk. A filing cabinet takes up more floor space.

And I like the portability, as I can pick up this file system and take it to another room.

Getting Creative:

You can design your own dish drainer/file folder system any way you like. You’re limited only by your imagination.

This would be a fun project for children to keep their papers they bring home from school. Especially their artwork drawings.

I doubt you’ll find a cheaper way to file important documents or simply decorating, craft and gardening ideas.

You might consider making file folders to give away as gifts. Someone you know might appreciate this decorative and portable system for their own filing needs.

You may already have a dish drainer sitting around. That dish drainer can have a second life as a portable file folder system.

And you can get fancy and use one of those vintage European style dish drainers. I used to have one and I don’t know what happened to it. Sure wish I had it now.