How to make a mail sorter with old bread pans. An easy flea market flip!
I found these old bread pans at a flea market a few summers ago. As usual, I bought them without knowing what I was going to do with them… That’s just the way I roll. I buy things I like when I find them at a good price and they sit around my studio until inspiration hits. Not long after that Walnut Hollow asked me to work on a home organization project with some of their products so I turned them into an upcycled bread pan mail sorter for my project.
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Supplies for Upcycled Mail Sorter
- 3 bread pans
- Basswood Country Plank – Extra Large
- 2 sawtooth hangers with nails
- hammer
- 6 screws
- screwdriver or drill
- tape measure
- pencil
- Scrabble tiles
- magnets
- jewelry glue
{{{See a complete list of what’s in my toolbox and supply cabinet.}}}
How to Make a Mail Sorter with Old Bread Pans
This is actually a pretty easy project. You’ll just need a few basic tool skills.
Add hangers. Measure down approximately 1/2″ on both sides of the back of the plank. Nail in a sawtooth hanger on both sides.
Attach bread pans. Turn the plank over and lay the three bread pans on top. Move around until the spacing looks balanced. Mark placement with light pencil lines. Using a hammer and nail, start 2 holes in each pan. Screw the pans into the plank with a drill or screwdriver.
Make magnets. This part is easy! All you have to do is glue the magnets to the backs of the Scrabble tiles. I use my trusty E6000 for this.
Now you’re ready to hang this near the door or set it on top of your desk. I spelled out “IN”, “OUT”, and “FILE” to sort my mail but you could also spell out the names of family members so they could pick up their mail.
More DIY Projects
If you enjoyed this flea market flip, you might also like these upcycled DIY projects:
- Upcycled Casserole Carrier DIY
- 9 Thrift Store Furniture Makeovers You Need to Try
- How to Make a Coffee Table Out of an Old Ammo Box (Video Included)
- How to Personalize Vintage Hangers
- DIY Fairy Garden out of a Gumball Machine
Thanks for reading about our upcycled bread pan mail sorter! I hope it has inspired you to go to your local flea market and find some old bread pans. I’d love to see how your mail organizer turns out! Originally published on December 16, 2016.
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
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Michelle says
This is such a great idea! The mail sorter I have never holds all the mail (because my husband is terrible at going through his). Bread pans would work perfectly. I love the wood plank and the Scrabble tiles, too. Cute!