Wednesday, January 16, 2008

{ Sticker-Gripper }

Hi Girls, Natalie again.
You’ve probably heard of the “Clip it Up”.
What if your Clip it Up didn’t spin or take up desk space? What if it just hung under a shelf?

I’ve seen online where people have constructed their own Clip it Up to save money, and I’ve made one too! I’ve done it so cheaply, you won’t believe it, AND I’ve made it fit MY space. (I can even slide things under it like my paper trimmer, my pink tidy tray, or the current layout I’m building.)



History:
I put up some shelves on the wall in front of my scrappy desk last summer to keep more things in front of me and not put away in my closet. (I have to walk to the closet, 4 whole steps!!) When I decided I wasn’t getting enough on the shelves, I went to the dollar store and bought some containers I could stack in 2’s. They were $1 for three!!!

I built the 1st shelf shorter than my 2nd shelf because I had something sitting on my desk. This turned out to be the best thing I could have done because I’ve moved it and have a perfect spot for my own Clip it up, which I’m calling my Sticker-Gripper.

Here’s what I bought, and where:
$0.60 Two rubber grommets (hardware store)
$0.75 Three screw hooks (hardware store)


$1.00 One pack of 200 paperclips (Kmart)


$1.15 Half a pound of spring washers (hardware store)


$3.98 Two packs {50 count} tiny clothespins (JoAnn’s)


$2.00 One ¼” dowel (this is approximate cost, I already had it, but they’re cheap and tend to be 3 ft. lengths.)

When I include tax, my total is: $10.09!

I’d better give you some instructions.

GRIPPERS:
Side note: The clips on the Clip it Up come off, mine don’t, but I will show you how to make ones that will if you prefer them removable. I think the washers are just a little more hard core. Nothing is going to become tangled this way.

*Push a paperclip onto a washer. (If you are wondering why I didn’t use flat washers… the hardware store I went to didn’t have flat washers with a hole big enough for a dowel. They had all sizes of spring washers though, so I bought them.


*Encourage the slight bending of the paperclip back into paperclip shape.

*Straddle a clothespin on the paper clip on the side where the paperclip has an end.


*Thread the paperclip through the spring on the clothespin and slide the pin to the first bend.



*That’s all.

Now for the removeable one. This would be even cheaper, cause 1 pack of large paper clips, qty 75, cost me $1.29 (w/o tax). Add that to the pieces you would still use, clothes pins, dowel, hooks, grommets, and tax… you get $7.80. Just remember, these are not so hard core, and don’t slide as well, but they lift on and off.

*Open a paperclip completely and the smaller section will snap off. If it doesn’t immediately, you could just cut it off with pliers.
*Disregard the small piece.
*Using pliers, cut off ½” from the straight side, and curl the already bent end even further.
*Slide the clothes pin on the straight side and down to the bend.



*Hang it up. This one is perfectly perpendicular to the wall. Because the others weren't they were forced to sit on an angle once stacked next to one another. I'm happy with the angle.


ROD:
*Cut a length of dowel to size and spray paint it to coordinate with the shelf it will hang on.

*Drill pilot holes for the screw hooks under the shelf and near the front. Ensure they are the same distance from the front edge of the shelf.

*Screw in the hooks.


*Slide the painted dowel through the left and middle hook. Thread on ½ of the Grippers you made, slide it through the right hook and place a rubber grommet on the end.

*Slide the painted dowel further right, releasing it from the left hook, and thread the other ½ of the Grippers.

*Slide it back into the left hook and place a rubber grommet at the left end.
These rubber grommets will stop the dowel from moving anywhere. Push them right up against the outside edges of the hooks.


Yes, it’s that easy!

If you don’t have a shelf to hang a Sticker-Gripper from, make one! I made mine by screwing blocks of 2 x 3 to the wall and then screwing a 2 x 5 into the tops of the blocks. (the 2” measurement on wood is really 1 ½”. Must be a guy thing) I spray painted my wood black before putting everything up. (My favorite shortcut… spray paint!!) Notice how I screwed to my wall on one side of the block, this made it easy to screw the shelf down into the other side of the block. Nothing heavy is going to live on mine. Maybe if you had heavy stuff, you’d want more than one block at each end of the shelf.


Just a short recap. The Sticker-Gripper I made was $10.09 including tax. The Clip it Up, costs $59.95 for the bottom tier, $34.95 for the top tier, and the clips are $6.95 for a bag of 25. That is not including any tax if it’s applicable.

I say, when there’s a great idea out there, and you have the ability to make your own and save money, DO IT!!

Have fun Girls!!!

108 comments:

  1. Nat, you are so freaken creative. I wonder if I would have enough space on my shelf hutch to do this, I have been stacking and throwing stuff in a basket on my desk, and rifling thru it, this would be so much better! love ya, great job!

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  2. I love your storage unit idea! I have something similar but I used the metal shower curtain hooks that open and close. I like the mini clothespin idea.

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  3. NAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You are so clever and ingenious!
    I love how you created your own version with little money and so much cuteness! Love the little clothepins!

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  4. First of all, didn't know you had a blog. Woohoo! And second of all: I told you that you were a freaky genius. ;) AMAZING!!! You should show this to the WORLD!

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  5. I really like this idea, I may have to incorporate it somehow into my scrappy room. Thanks so much for sharing all the "how to's"

    Happy Scrappin'

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  6. HOLY COW NAT! This is amazing! Oh my word, I am sooooooooooooo going to do this. I'm moving my scrappy room to the basement so what better timing than to figure out incorporating this idea with the move!

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  7. Wow! Wow! Wow! This turned out amazing! Love it!

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  8. Amazing Nat. I have GOT to find somewhere to put one of these! You may have to help me when you come up here!

    WTG Sister!

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  9. OHHHHHMYSTARS NAT!!!... I KNEW YOU Were a CREATIVE GENIUS BUT Now I HAVE MORE PROOF. THIS IS An AWESOME Idea, I am SENDIng the LINK to several friends! Looks like you gave some very Detailed instructions too. :)AnnaD

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  10. What a clever idea, I so love it! Thanks for sharing, I would have never thought to do that!

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  11. What a cool project-definitely will put this one on my honey-do list! Love it! Thanks for sharing. Lana

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  12. OMGoodness! You are some kind of super-amazing-creative person or something!! Martha Stewart better watch out cause you're right on her tail!! You are AMAZING!!!

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  13. my word woman, does it get any better than this? This is so cool!

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  14. WOW!!! Nat you are amazing!!!
    This is so fabulous!!!
    Love all the photos to go along with instructions. How great is that?

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  15. Oh.. my... stinkin' brilliant! Seriously, you are, Nat!

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  16. Wow!! What a great idea!!! Now I just wish I had a shelf to hang one on!LOL

    ***I have an idea. I wonder if those I.D. clips would work around the washer. I bought a pack at Goodwill!Super Cheap. It's got the clip and then a clear strap that snaps. Just an idea!!LOL

    So happy I found your blog! Love it!

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  17. wow, this is amazing. way to go! i love it, if only i would have a place to put one of these. i love your idea. even better than the actual clip it up!

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  18. What a great idea! And you gave awesome instructions. Thank you for sharing your creativity. :)

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  19. Your tutorial is FAB!! Thanks for sharing it with all of us who love your blog. I am all about saving money--especially on storage.

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  20. Cool idea!!!

    bts, was there a winner chosen for this?
    http://outtathisfunk.blogspot.com/2007/12/love-look-of-stamped-imagesbut-hate.html

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  21. That is so cool and I love how easy and cheap it is! Thank you! Now I can do this myself and not have to wait months on DH to do it for me! Very cool!!

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  22. This is so cool!!! Thanks for the great explanation!

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  23. OMW! Another project to lift from you girl! I LOVE this idea and am going to use it myself too!!!

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  24. Pure genius!!! Can't wait to make one! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  25. Nat Nat Nat, girl you are way too freakin' clever!!! THIS is one of the more amazing ideas EVER!!! LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! Hey -thanks for all the photos too because they help people like me SO very much! YOU ROCK!!!

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  26. Seriously you are super cool. I LOVE that.

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  27. Just Amazing!! Love it so much! Thank you for sharing it - Will be making one this weekend! I don't have room in my tiny scrapbooking room (use to be the laundry room) but I have the shelf above my desk that was orginally for laundry soap and to hang clothes! This will be so perfect!!!

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  28. What a brilliant idea! Thanks so much for sharing it along with your incredible pictorial - it's very easy to understand.

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  29. Oh....and I hope you don't mind -- I've linked from my blog to your blog with this info. Thanks again.

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  30. FANTASTIC! You are brilliant :) Thanks for the step by steps!

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  31. Unbelievable! You are a genius! I can't thank you enough for the low-cost tutorial. I need all the help saving money I can get!

    Corinna
    read my blog www.myscrapbooklife.com

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  32. Speachless !! Just Speachless! and that is not often.

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  33. This is a perfect storage solution for me. Thank you so much for sharing your idea.

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  34. This is the most clever thing I've seen in a long time. It's awesome!

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  35. This is so creative and was amazingly inexpensive! Thank you for sharing your kewl scrappy "invention!" :-)

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  36. Thank you sooo much for sharing your brilliant idea. One of my friends just got the Clip it up and I was jealous, but now way could pay the $60 some odd for it. Now I can do this so cheaply! Wish you were in Phoenix so you could share all your tallents in person!!!!

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  37. This is very cool!

    Being basically lazy, I'd probably use something like http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/20075947 those curtain rings from Ikea, instead of putting together the washers, clips and pegs :)

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  38. This is so awesome! I have a spot just waiting for this! You did an awesome job! I'm so going to be doing this!

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  39. I love seeing a resourceful person put their mind to work!

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  40. WOW! This is amazing! So creative, cheap, and perfect for organizing stuff! And thanks for sharing it too!! :)

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  41. I'm totally in AWE of this great idea. I've seen other ideas, but I love your "clips" made with the washers, paperclips and clothespins. Love the rest of your site too.

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  42. Great idea! Thanks for sharing your genious!

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  43. thank you so much for this fantastic idea! I have made one to ;)

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  44. I'm thinking you are one of the smartest people I've ever seen! Excellent alternative!

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  45. ok now this has got to be the most fabu inventions, i have yet to have a little stamping room but let me tell you when i get it, i will definitely refer back to this and create my own. I am definitely placing you in my fav lists..... thanks for the show, im gonna surf around your place now....

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  46. Thanks for sharing!! this is so neat!!

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  47. Just found this, this is freakin' awesome!!!! Thank you so much your brilliant! Now I don't have to spend $100 on a clip it up!

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  48. I hope you don't mind but your clip it all rocks so hard that I am going to feature you on my blog today! This is an awesome idea! I am happy I have everything here I need! Off to make one!

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  49. This is a wonderful idea! I have used this idea with my ribbon spools. The hooks under the cabinet and the dowel to go through my ribbon spools. Then I just cut off what I need. It is wonderful, easy to use and storage saver. I am going to have to try out your paperclip and clothespins. I love it! Creative in more then just paper!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  50. Amazing!!! My husband loves to make me stuff so I am sending him your blog. But you know men... he won't even read the instructions! *giggle* Thanks for a wonderful idea!

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  51. what an incredible idea! i can't even stand the thought of spending like $100 bucks to store my stickers and stuff...the clip it up is soooo expensive!
    thanks for sharing this...so great!

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  52. Very inventive! I love it. That would also make a great ribbon holder with the rubber on the ends to hold the spools on.
    I always thought that the dimension thing was odd, too. A 2x4 (nominal dimension) is really 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" (actual dimension)...it's like that up to a certain size and then it changes....I agree, a guy must have done that!

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  53. That is great thanks for taking the time to instruct us all on how to get this done!!

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  54. LOVE this! So clever!

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  55. This is pure genius! I knew there was a reason that I had not taken the plunge and purchased the Clip-It-Up! Now just to decide- to remove or not to remove, and I'll be good to go! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  56. I wanted to laugh my head off when I read your whole description of your Sticker Gripper. When I was CHA they said they were coming out with an under the counter mount for their holders. You are brilliant for creating this great holder and especially kind to share your idea with everyone. I LOVE IT!!!

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  57. wow so cool, you know I was thinkin that I could use those cafe clips for curtains and do something like that, I bought the clips and that was as far as I got!
    You are so smart..I bow down to you!!

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  58. Amazing! Now all I have to do is find some wall space (almost as limited as desk space) to hang it! I'm certainly going to subscribe to your BLOG if this is the kind of stuff you come up with. Thanks so much for sharing your genius!

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  59. All hail your creative genius! What a fan-tab-u-lous idea. Thank you so much for sharing the idea with us AND for giving the instructions on how to put it all together. You ROCK!

    Hugs,
    Suz

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  60. I just got my own stamping room and want/need shelves still. This will be a perfect edition. When things are easily accessible they get used. In a file folder, they are forgotten. As you can see you have made a huge inpact of dozens of other creative people. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  61. Pure genious!! Thank you so much for explaining how you did this.

    Regina Davis

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  62. This is just phenomenal. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity! I can't wait to make one of my own now!

    Lissa B

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  63. love this!! i have to make one of these!

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  64. LOVE IT! I found the little clips like the clip it up uses at Michael's and used a coupon. I have closet maid open shelving above my stamp desk and WHADDYA KNOW??? Those little hooks fit RIGHT ON THE WIRE! LOL! Those mini clothespins are way cute though and won't leave marks on your stuff like the metal clips can!

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  65. Wowowow its a great idea!!!!!! Love it!!!! Kisses from México!

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  66. You are genious!! I made my own in my closet (where I keep my storage scrap supplies and my only hanging area left). It turned out beautifully! Thank you for your innovative thinking!!

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  67. Love it, love it, love it! You rock!

    I'd love to put a link to your blog, on my blog. Would that be ok with you?

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  68. Great idea :) You're so organized.

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  69. I commented already, but wanted you to know you inspired me to make my own 'clip it' version that works in my space...
    It's posted here:
    http://denisehill.typepad.com/neecesplace/2008/03/33808-fridays-f.html

    Thank you again for sharing your ideas! :-)

    ~Neece

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  70. Sorry the link didn't work in the message above... click on my "name" in this post and it will take you directly to my 'clip it' blog post.

    ~Neece

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  71. That is just too awesome for words. Thanks so much for sharing your very creative idea and especially thanks for all the great photos so that visual folks like me will get it!

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  72. Sorry to be so late posting, but I just made my version of your clip it. I don't have any shelving over my desk (using a kids corner unit with hutches), but do have a plastic organizer from the tool section at Wal-Mart hanging there. I used 3-M Command hooks to hang my dowel. Other than that, I stole the whole wonderful idea. Gonna use it for non-su eyelets and brads. Also bought some tiny zip bags to use with this "system". Thanks for sharing with al of us!

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  73. Love this and love your blog. You are one talented lady!

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  74. This is REALLY cool!
    Thankyou for sharing:D Im gonna see if i have room for one now:)
    xox

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  75. Wow!!! Your idea is brilliant!!!! Would like to share this link on my blog!!

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  76. I knew someone could see in my head and give me the answer I could not solve

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  77. This is a thing of beauty. And so well thought out and described. People like you should be millionaires.. what a fantastic thing. I was actually googling storage solutions and couldn't remember the name of the clipitup and then lo and behold.. one link lead to another and I found this little gem. I'm very lucky to have a cabinet maker come in to fit out one side of my laundry just for my scrapping and when it came to the stickers, I couldn't work out how to store them.. you're a marvel, a real marve. Thanks so very much.

    Kareb

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  78. I just want to say this is a fantastic idea. I took your idea and ran with it. I altered it a little and made my own version. I posted my version on scrapbook.com and I gave your blog credit. I hope you don't mind. It is just an awesome idea that everyone should know about it. Brilliant!!!

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  79. WAHOO... way to go! Thank you so very much for sharing this! I LOVE it! Going to be able to utilize my space better now thanks to you!

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  80. I love it!!! Thanks for such good instructions, I made mine this afternoon and, with my sister's help it didn't take us more than an hour!!! I LOVE IT!!!! Thanks, .marta.

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  81. What a smarty-pants you are! Well Done!

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  82. holy smokes.... LOVE the idea thanks for directions. I wasn't sure if I liked the "Clip-It" but they way you have it set up it looks really nice. thanks for sharing!!!!! happy scrappin'

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  83. Nat, I used your directions but changed them to make a desk shelf .. here is the link to it.

    http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l238/shanjohn10mar01/?action=view&current=myshelfthing.jpg

    Feel free to pass along

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  84. I think I can find a lot of the supplies in my husband's shop.. What a great idea... Thanks for sharing with the instructions.

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  85. 7 months later and that post is STILL alive and well! The CLip it Up is not available here, but everything you did is! You worked that all the way OUT! Gina

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  86. The clip it up is a great idea, but as a single mum with 4 kids it's simply beyond my budget.
    Your adaptation of the idea is brilliant and I will be off to the hardware store to get my supplies very soon.
    Thanks so much for sharing!

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  87. Found this idea when I googled clip it up. Love this idea, it workd so well for my scraprook,
    Thank you for sharing this idea

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  88. I love this idea. I had seen the ones for make your own that stood on the table but I don't have alot of table space that I would be willing to share. This was perfect. I aleady had a shelving unit up so I just bought some extra bracket arms and my hubby drilled out a notch for the bar (I did buy a 3 foot steel bar though for extra support) I am in love with this thing and the little clothespin clips are too stinkin' cute! THANKS!!!

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  89. Way way way too cool!
    I'm going to use it to store my individual unmounted stamps!!!!
    Hugs Lainey

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  90. This is great. I have been through at least 6 ways to try and store all my stickers and ended up not liking any of them. My "Clip It Up" fell over the last time I used it :-(
    I'm definitely trying this nifty idea. Everything seems like it would slide so easily to find just the right sticker. Clip It Up was just too tight to move things around.

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  91. Nat,
    I saw this post about a week ago.
    Went out today and purchased the stuff.(Lucky me I work at a hardware store total cost $5.00) Put it up and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

    Thank You,
    ~~Diane~~

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  92. I love this idea. I have often thought about doing my own too. My thought was to get an old bedside lamp, take off the material from the shade, and as most lampshades have two tiers of wire, just hook them over that. If only the bottom tier wire is used, you can also have extra light. Please just make sure that there are no scrapping products near the heat of the lightglobe. We wouldn't want our well earned products burnt.

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  93. i am so gonna try this!
    was searching for the clip it when i chanced upon this DIY.
    Great instructions too!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  94. OMG............... LOVE this idea.
    Pure Genious!

    Thanks sooooo much for the idea. Anything that saves $$$$$$$$$$$$, and space is a winner in my books.

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  95. Thank you Natalie - you've just saved me an absolute fortune! This fantastic idea will definitely be incorporated into my scraproom makeover (currently in the planning stages!). Thanks so much for sharing!

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  96. This is so cool! I love this idea!!

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  97. I LOVE this idea. I have NO space on any table or under anything, so my brain is running with an idea to adapt this to hang from the ceiling, and use chain large enough to run the dowel(s) through. Hang the chain and make TIERS...more than one layer. I have space over a dresser that would be perfect! THANKS so much for sharing this idea!
    -K
    http://crazycricutcutz.blogspot.com/

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  98. BRILLIANT! i will need to do this....thank you, thank you, thank you!

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  99. Oh Nat thank you for this tutorial! I am going to get my dad to help me get the right stuff for this...I have one of those Making Memories Embellishment Centers and would love to hang one of these on the bottom! This is the best faux clip-it-up I have ever seen! Genius! Thanks for sharing your creative brain with us :)

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  100. can you please email me the directions or send them too me. I can't aford, to print out all the paper. I don't have my own comuter. I use a friend;s I really want the directions. I am disabled, and when some one does something, for me they want directions, this is awesome please get to me asap thanks email is homeschool1@gmail.com I am on F or send it too me at my address thanks Diane Disch
    PO Box 291
    Kirkland IL 60146thanks

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  101. I love, Love, LOVE the line at the end about "make your own and save money!!!" We think alike! http://tinkartist.blogspot.com

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  102. The makers of the Clip it Up have wall units for those of you who don't want to make them. They're on sale right now on their website www.clipitup.com. They come with the clips which I have found hold more.

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  103. Usando prendedores plásticos e arruelas de chaveiro, a durabilidade é maior, e sem muita trabalheira.

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