A Simple, but Rewarding Craft! Easy DIY Desk Organizer

What do you do when your 11-year-old little sister visits for two weeks in the summer? Crafts! And how do you decide what crafts to do? Look through that pile of stuff you’ve been hoarding (or “purposefully saving for some future project,” as you so defensively argue to your husband). I’ve been saving over 50 or so rolls of tulle spools, ribbon spools, and paper towel spools.

Ambitiously, we (little sis and I) vowed to do at least one craft every two or three days over the span of 2 weeks! I know. What was I thinking? That if I tried hard enough, I could magically find more time in my day! Suffice it to say, we did about a total of about 3 crafts, 3 and a half maybe. But hey, quality over quantity!  

We chose to tackle a DIY desk organizer, which was a great idea for the new school year! Hers is the super fun pink accented one. Mine is the teal and yellow one! After her visit, I sent both home with her, so that she could give mine to my niece, Jayla, who wished so badly to stay with us for 2 weeks.

 

Make Your Own!

There are several different ways of doing this. We made ours simple, but you can add ribbon, flowers, and anything else you’d like!

Gather these materials:

1.      Paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, or any other rolls. (I had a lot of ribbon and tulle fabric spools left over from my online tutu dress shop. The more variety in sizes the better)

2.      Cereal box side (for base) OR wooden plaque from any craft store or dollar store

3.      Mod Podge Satin Finish

4.      Acrylic Paint (preferred colors)

5.      Sponge Brush (Get a Pack of 4 for a $1 at dollar store or Walmart)

6.      Scrap book paper to cover rolls and boxes.

7.      Scissors (or craft or X-Acto knife)

8.      Coordinating ribbon (Optional)

9.      Pen or pencil

10.  Craft glue or hot glue gun

11.  Ruler (Optional)

 

How to make your organizer:

1.      Choose Your Structure

Grab your rolls and spools and arrange them any way you’d like. Make the structure by trimming your rolls into different heights with your scissors or knife. Set aside in this order or take a picture to remember how you structured it.

2.      Paint Insides (optional)

With your preferred color (coordinates with scrap book paper) of acrylic paint, paint the insides (as deep inside the roll as possible) of your rolls with your sponge brush. This provides a more finished look, but if you don’t mind the brown color of the rolls in the inside of your tubes showing, then you can skip this step.  

 

3.      Paint Base (IF USING WOODEN PLAQUE AS BASE, SEE THIS STEP. IF USING CEREAL BOX BASE, SKIP THIS STEP)

Choose an acrylic color that coordinates well with your scrap book paper, and paint the wooden plaque with your sponge brush.  Set aside to dry.

4.      Measure & Trace Rolls

One at a time, put each tube on your scrap book paper of choice, and mark the height of the tube. You may wrap the paper around it to figure out how much (length wise) you’ll need. Mark the length on the paper with your pen or pencil. If they’re all the same width, then you only have to do this once. With your ruler, trace a line from the edge of the paper to the marked length, and down to the other edge for the height.

Do this for all compartments.

5.      Cut Out Paper

Cut out all of your scrap book paper pieces with scissors or craft knife.

6.      Mod Podge & Stick

With your sponge brush, brush Mod Podge onto the back of your scrap book paper piece, and proceed to stick to your roll. Hold everything down and smooth out your paper to avoid wrinkles. Do this for each compartment. Let dry 15-20 minutes. Then give each piece a top coat of Mod Podge.

FOR WOODEN PLAQUE BASE (SKIP IF USING CEREAL BOX) add a coat of Mod Podge to your wooden plaque to seal it. Set aside to dry.

7.      Add Ribbon

Glue a strip of ribbon to the top of each compartment with craft glue or hot glue gun. Or (like I did) add a strip of coordinating scrap book paper.

8.      Glue to Base

Arrange each compartment on the cereal box board piece (base) by adding a ring of glue to the bottom rim of the roll and attaching it to the base. If using craft glue, you’ll see white around the edges, but it will dry clear.

FOR WOODEN PLAQUE BASE, the same step applies: Arrange each compartment on the wooden plaque (base) by adding a ring of glue to the bottom rim of the roll and attaching it to the base. If using craft glue, you’ll see white around the edges, but it will dry clear.

9.      FOR CEREAL BOX BASE: Trim base

After each compartment is glued onto the CEREAL BOX base in the structured form you created earlier, you can trim the excess board around the bottom of the rolls with your X-Acto knife, craft knife, or scissors. Cut as close to the rolls as possible.

Here's an organizer made by Amy, at modpodgerocksblog.com! She integrates the wooden plaque base and boxes for compartments! Doesn't it look amazing?

Well, what do you think? Is this an easy enough project? Are you up for making your own? Maybe for you little one? I think it’s a great craft for this new school year! I think it’s a great way to get your little one to embrace organization!

What craft would you do with paper towel and toilet paper rolls? I have so many! I need some new ideas. Comment or share below (:

Thanks for visiting Frou Frou Frugal!