Craft Paper Display Rack with PVC pipes.

Moving to the new house has given a huge boost to my creativity. And part of the reason is that, it is just large enough to “ALMOST” house all my supplies.

Most of the handmade paper, I carry, comes from India, and as such, their dimensions are far from the 12 x 12 traditional design scrapbooking paper. With a paper width of 26 inches ~ I had been struggling for many years but managed to keep them rolled up in baskets and open cartons and occasionally using some of them. However It was very inconvenient, mainly becoz once they were used, it became extremely difficult to put them back in the baskets/cartons. One of my main worries was how to house these papers. I browsed a lot of options on google but sadly none of the wire racks could accommodate the large sheets of thick paper. Being a very “visual” kinda person, I wanted a support system where I could see the different colors, patterns and designs in the sheets. Not somewhere where I’d have to roll them away and rely heavily on my memory.

After letting this matter simmer for nearly 3 months ~ I spotted an idea on Pinterest ( Isn’t Pinterest just the most awesome mini world, there is,  where you just don’t want to leave ever from ?? ) about how someone made an awing for a birthday table with PVC pipes !! Voila ! Still alittle unsure,  I just had to see if the PVC pipes could handle the weight of 109 sheets !! And I wouldn’t really know, until I actually came up with a plan.

Yep !! This IS the plan !

So I drew a blue print and went shopping to Al quoz industrial area. (for those living in Dubai ~ Al quoz was not the best choice ~ I could have gotten better rates in Rashidiya 😦 ~ learnt from my mistake )

We used the manual jig saw coz the electric one could snap the pieces. PVC pipes are sold in very long pieces so you have to have an estimate of how much you might be working with. Again, I also included the T angles and the elbow joints as well.

If you notice the blue print carefully, you’ll notice, I made a lot of changes to the actual construction as per stability and balance needs.

I’ll let the pictures speak from here :-

The thickness of the pvc pipe, I used is 1 inch. I used a rubber hammer to fix them. Luckily, I did not have to use the PVC glue that you can see in one of the earlier pictures.

That’s my cat Pepper who just had to inspect my workmanship !! lol

And finally after years, I am ACTUALLY enjoying just watching all these gorgeous papers !!

Thats sponge on the second level from above ! I use a lot of these for painting/dabbing for stencils, mainly for my art workshops. It can be quite a nuisance to store these otherwise since they are so puffy and large 😦

T 

Just to show how much paper is stacked up on the rack !

The above profile pic, can show you just how many sheets of paper of various thickness, the rack is housing.

So there you have it !!  This was my PVC project but I am so inspired by this success that a lot of more newer ideas are already churning in my brain soup ! It is a labor intensive project but the end result is so awesome and functionally great, that the hours put in are well worth it.  Although, I had planned to keep it initially closer to the stairway, It now adorns my studio’s second exit !! And yes, I keep getting asked, where I “BOUGHT” it from !! Needless to say, I see, jaws dropping as soon as I explain the whole process 🙂  What a joy !!  In so many ways, it has actually turned into a conversational piece in my studio !!

I hope you liked and perhaps even found some inspiration in this project.

I am sharing this post with the following link parties. Do join them as well for newer ideas and creative sparks.

1. 1. Weekend   Wrap Up Party
2. 2.   Spotlight Saturday
3. 3. Junk   Party
4. 4. It’s   Over Flowing Wit
5. 5. Finding   the Pretty and Delicious h Creativity Saturday
6. 6. Seasonal   Inspiration
7. 7. Weekend   Wonders
8. 8. Saturday   Show and Tell
9. 9. Create   and Inspire Party
10. 10. Sweet   Saturday
11. 11.   Saturday Spotlight
12. 12. Show   and Tell Saturday

13. http://www.serenityyou.com/

14. http://too-much-time.com/

15. http://thegirlcreativepartyblog.blogspot.ae/
16. http://www.iheartnaptime.net/
17. http://itssoverycheri.com/
18. http://www.youngandcrafty.com/
19. http://www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.ae/
20. http://www.myturnforus.com/
21. 1. Sunday Showcase
22. 2. Nifty Thrifty Things Sunday
23. 3. Pick of the Bunch Sundays
24. 4.   Scrumptious Sundays
25. 5. Silver Pennies Sundays
26. http://www.onetoughmotherblog.com/
27. http://www.cherishedhandmadetreasures.com/
28. 1. Market   Yourself Monday
29. 2. I Should   Be Mopping the Kitchen Floor
30. 3. The   DIYers
31. 4. Making   The World Cuter
32. 5. Motivate   Me Monday
33. 6. More the   Merrier Monday
34. 7. Much Ado   About Monday
35. 8. The   Chicken Chick
36. 9.   Marvelous Monday
37. 10.   Masterpiece Monday
38. http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/
39. http://www.madincrafts.com/2013/06/mad-skills-link-party-161.html
40. http://www.skiptomylou.org/
41. http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/
42. One Project at a Time at A Bowl Full of Lemons,
43. Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm,
44. The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch,
45. Project Inspired{d}at Cupcakes and Crinoline,
46. You’re Gonna Love It at Kathe with an E,
47. Transformed Tuesdays at PJH Designs,
48.  Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts,
49.  Be Inspired at Elizabeth and Co,
50.  Pretty Things Link Party at twelveOeight,
51. Time to Shine at A Diamond in the Stuff,
52. Show Me What You Got at Not Just a Housewife,
53.  Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles,
54. Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios,
55. Trash 2 Treasure at Kammy’s Korner,
56. Fluster’s Creative Muster Party at Fluster Buster,
57. The Creative Spark at Clean and Scentsible,
58. Tuesdays at Our Home at Our Home Away from Home,
59. Homemade by You at Made to be a Momma,
60. Brag About It Tuesday at Bebetsy,
61. Ginger Jamboree LInk Party at Homemade Ginger