Organize that plethora of pencils and art supplies once and for all with this upcycled art supply organizer.
Yarn-Wrapped Pencil Holder and DIY Art Supply Organizer
Between school parties, student prizes and classmate birthdays, sometimes it seems like my kids come home with an unending supply of pencils and pens. I really do appreciate useful gifts and favors that don’t head straight for the landfill after their initial interest wears off—but recently I have been finding these writing instruments all over the house, along with every other art supply we own. (I blame myself for the endless crafting.)
In order to manage our pencil problem and practice a sustainable mindset, I looked around the house for inspiration. I love how with a little creative thinking, the recycling bin always seems to lend itself well to supplying materials and new ideas. For this project, a couple of aluminum cans fit the bill as the perfect vessels for useful new pencil holders.
While any assortment of odds and ends could work to spruce up the exterior of the cans based on your own sense of creativity— yarn was my material of choice and convenience, and it allowed me to incorporate my kids’ design preferences.
Because I also wanted the kids to be able to store more than just pencils, I put some too-good-to-toss Melissa & Doug boxes to use to help us organize other art supplies. With a plain coat of white paint, they are a great base for my kids to later decorate however they choose and they offer a one-stop-spot for all of their art supplies right on their bedroom desks.
Though this handmade look is not for everyone, what I love about these simple organizers is that they were made from all upcycled materials, they cost nothing to make and were a fun activity to involve my kids.
Supplies Needed:
Aluminum can(s) free of sharp edges
Yarn
Hot glue
Scissors
Paint
Melissa & Doug boxes or similar container
Simple Steps to Create a DIY Art Supply Organizer:
Find the glue seam on the back of the can where the label was originally attached. Use this as a starting point by putting a drop of hot glue there to secure your first piece of yarn.
Wrap the yarn and switch colors as you desire, occasionally adding drops of glue along the back to help keep everything secure.
Enlist the kids to paint and decorate boxes.
A simple project that was completed within an hour. Have you ever upcycled aluminum cans into something new or found a new use for Melissa & Doug boxes? I would love to see your ideas! Please share with me here.
–Jill Span Hofbauer
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