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Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 15 mins

Upcycle an old liscense plate into a mail file
Due to an unfortunate incident causing me to feel the full brunt of the Brazil-like world we live in, I have several license plates. At least one of the plates was still current and I felt really frustrated that it would become moot following its replacement with a plate from another state.

At some point I had this idea to use my plates as desktop mail/paper files. This is a simple project that takes less than 15 minutes, makes clever use of old/irrelevant license plate(s), and will help organize your desk.

Posted by jennifer e. from Memphis, Tennessee, United States • Published 19th May 2009 • See jennifer e.'s 14 projects »

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Rebecca P. favorited License Plate Mail File 21 Jun 01:24

Step 1
A US license plate is about 12 inches wide.

Using your ruler, measure across the width of the license plate at 5" and 7". The 2" space in the middle will be the base of the file. I put small marks at the top, center and bottom of my plate so that I get a nice straight edge.
Step 2
Place your ruler or other sturdy edge along the inside (what will be the base of the file) of one set of marks and make sure your ruler is lined up with the marks.
Step 3
A license plate is very easy bend. Using your ruler as a guide, bend one side of the plate about 45 degrees. We're only going to bend halfway so that there will be room to position your hand to bend the other side.
Step 4
Next place your ruler along the inside of the second set of marks and use your fingers as shown above to hold the ruler and bend the other side about 45 degrees.
Step 5
Now you have a "U" shape. To finish the file work the sides to a vertical position so that you create a little file. The bottom corners will have a nice rounded shape.

To finish the file, work the "U" shape into a more refined square shape where the sides are parallel.
Step 6
Ta da! This little file also works well to hold CDs.

(Alternately, you could bend the plates in half at a 90 degree angle and use them as book ends.)