DIY Network

Gift Wrap Center Keep wrapping materials handy – and tidy. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-613

Package up a great work area.

If you've ever thought gift-wrapping supplies were taking over the house – or spent hours hunting for a favorite ribbon or bow – it's time to get organized with Michele Beschen's portable gift wrap center. It goes together in a snap, stores a ton of materials and even disassembles for out-of-season storage.

This "project for all seasons" doesn't just organize wrapping supplies, though: You'll want to adapt it for scrapbooking, beading or other projects. Simply pick up some extra three-drawer organizers for different types of craft supplies, and swap out your workplace storage. Remember, it's a lot easier to B. Original when you can find all of your stuff.

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Gift Wrap Center

Materials:

melamine shelf, 48" long by 15-1/2" deep
2 rolling 3-drawer organizers (Michele Beschen's were 24" tall)
self-adhesive hook-and-loop strips
heavy-duty hand stapler and staples
hammer
flexible measuring tape
pencil
straight edge
3/8" dowel, about 8" long
drill
safety glasses
3/8" Forstner drill bit
paper cement

	Figure A
	Figure B

• Determine which side of the shelf will be the top and which will be the bottom. On the bottom side of the shelf, measure and draw a straight line 2" from each end of the shelf (figure A). The shelf will hang out over the organizers by about 2" at the front and sides.

• Peel the backing from the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape and attach it to the shelf. Position two small tapes along the lines at the sides of the shelf – one at the back of the shelf, the other 2" in from the front of the shelf. Also attach two tapes along the back of the shelf, positioned so they will be over the organizers when the final piece is assembled.

• The adhesive on the hook-and-loop tape won't be strong enough to keep the shelf in place. To reinforce it, use a heavy-duty hand stapler to staple the hook tape to the shelf (figure B). If the staples don't go all the way into the shelf, give them a few taps with a hammer.

• Flip the shelf right-side up and position a flexible measuring tape across the shelf. Cut the tape to size and use paper cement to dry-mount it to at the front edge of the shelf. To do this, brush the cement on the back side of the measuring tape and on the shelf where the tape will adhere (figure C). Let both surfaces dry, then position the tape and burnish it down. This mounting technique gives the strongest hold.
  

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  	Figure E
  	Figure F

• Michele Beschen installed a dowel to hold ribbon spools in her gift wrap center. Determine where to place the dowel, put on some safety glasses and use a 3/8" Forstner bit to drill about halfway into the shelf (figure D). If one dowel isn't enough to handle your must-have ribbons, add a second one.

• Position the shelf on top of the organizers, with the outside edges of the organizers lined up with the marks on the bottom of the shelf. The back of the shelf should sit flush with the backs of the organizers.

• Make a light pencil mark on the organizers to show the position of the hook tapes.

• Remove the shelf and install the loop sides of the hook-and-loop tape at the marks. Reinforce these tapes with staples in the same manner as the shelves (figure E).

• Add hooks or other storage extras as desired and fill the drawers with gift-wrapping or other craft materials. You can even install a power strip for your tools (figure F).

• Leave the center assembled, or remove the top and tuck it away until it's needed. Add a collapsible stool, and you have a perfectly portable place to wrap gifts or B. Original in a million other ways!