Easy methods to Make a DIY Pencil Holder / Make-up Organizer

Is it a DIY pencil holder or a DIY make-up organizer? Idk, however both means, I prefer it.

Group looks like a yr spherical battle proper now, no less than in my home. So something that helps carry just a little order to the chaos is a win imo. Bonus factors when it’s truly cute.

I made (nicely, remade) one thing to assist hold smaller objects (like pens, paint brushes, make-up brushes, eye liner) a bit extra tidy. Admittedly, I’m unsure whether or not to name this venture a DIY pencil holder or a make-up caddy. However both means, it’s so helpful. And cute too.

Right here’s the story… To start with of 2016, I made just a little pen holder / make-up organizer factor with some scraps of wooden. It received the job finished, however wanting again, it wasn’t precisely the cutest factor I’ve ever made. Or probably the most nicely crafted. Lol. I hadn’t been utilizing energy instruments for all that lengthy, at that time. So wooden tasks have been nonetheless fairly new to me and it confirmed. Quick ahead to now and I’m extra assured working with wooden and energy instruments, and so forth. 

So! I made a decision to reimagine that outdated venture from means again, now that I’ve extra expertise.

The thought of remaking one thing of mine from the previous has sparked a brand new sequence referred to as DIY Redo. Immediately’s venture is the primary one. Right here’s the way it will work… I’ll share pictures of the outdated venture, alongside the newly up to date – hopefully extra elevated and expert model (and a tutorial). Wanna see what the older model of this venture regarded like?

Right here’s the make-up brush holder I made again in 2016…

And right here’s the reimagined model…

How does the brand new pencil holder examine to the outdated one?

Other than the 2016 model being of decrease high quality normally, there are only some variations between the 2.

The unique pencil holder was created from 5 items of thinner stacked wooden (I imagine it was pine). The brand new DIY wooden organizer is made up of simply 2 items of wooden (not together with the ft). A lot thicker then the unique DIY and a a lot greater high quality of wooden. This time round I used scrap items of white oak. They have been leftover from one in every of my DIY nightstand tasks.

Aside from the distinction in wooden, the addition of ft to the underside, and the truth that I made a decision to not paint it, remained the identical. It’s nonetheless reversible, just like the outdated DIY. However as an alternative of a sample on one facet, the ft are totally different once you flip it round. One facet has rounded ft and the opposite facet has flat slab ft.

The brand new one looks like one thing I can use in any room of the home with out it feeling misplaced. It’s extra minimal in design, but additionally simply as useful as the unique piece. 

What sort of wooden would you advocate for a small venture like this?

You’ll be able to actually use any sort of wooden for one thing like this. A tough wooden or a softer wooden. You may go along with one thing like widespread board or pine (tender woods), as a extra inexpensive possibility. Or strive one thing within the hardwoods household, like mine (white oak).

It’s actually a finances and choice query greater than anything, I feel.

The place can I discover the wooden you used for the up to date venture?

White oak and different hardwoods, like walnut, beech, alder, and so forth are going to be tougher to search out at nationwide {hardware} shops (like Residence Depot or Lowes). So chances are you’ll must seek for a specialty lumber store. Simply google specialty wooden retailer or specialty lumber store and it’s best to discover some in your space. 

What precisely can you employ this wooden organizer for?

I feel it might be an important artwork provide caddy, like a pen holder / pencil holder. And that’s in all probability what I’ll use it for many. This is able to be cute for child’s artwork provides too. But additionally works nicely as storage for make-up brushes, eye liner, and so forth.

What I like most about this venture is that it’s so customizable to what you want. You’ll be able to basically create holes any measurement to accommodate no matter you need to arrange. And you may make it as tall or as brief, as lengthy or skinny as you need.

Right here’s what you’ll must make your personal…

Pencil Holder Supplies

• wooden – I used thick white oak scrap wooden that we had left over from the DIY nightstands in our bed room. You need to use any sort of wooden you have already got or cheap wooden from a house enchancment retailer. 
• sandpaper block OR energy sander – I used an influence sander, however this may be finished by hand as nicely. The sandpaper grit will probably be decided by the wooden you’ve gotten and the way a lot ending it wants. As a leaping off level, my wooden wanted just a little shaping, so I used 80 or 100 grit sandpaper as soon as the items have been joined collectively. After which used a finer sandpaper (220 for ending to get it tremendous easy).
• wooden glue – I like Titebond and I often use the premium waterproof wooden glue.
• sealant or stain (optionally available) – If you wish to seal or stain the wooden, you’ll try this on the very finish. I didn’t assume it was obligatory for this venture. However I might see it wanting good with sure woods or use instances.

Gear / Instruments

• saw- You need to use use just about any sort of noticed to chop the wooden for this. I used a miter noticed, which is nice for reducing longer boards down. I used a a lot thicker wooden for this venture as nicely, which additionally is well minimize on a miter noticed. NOTE: This compact Dremel noticed is a good starter energy software if a few of the larger ones really feel to bigger, too heavy, or too costly. I used a (now discontinued) model of this for a number of years, however this one is nearly similar to the one I used. I beloved how small it was and it felt simpler to handle.
• drill bits, spade bits, and/ or forstner drill bits in a number of sizes – The sizes you select for it will utterly depend upon what measurement holes you need. I did a wide range of sizes, so I might match various things in every gap. 
• clamp(s) – Chances are you’ll want a couple of, relying on how massive your completed piece will probably be. 

Easy methods to Make a DIY Pencil Holder / Make-up Caddy

1. Measure and minimize wooden.

Decide how lengthy and tall you need your pen holder / make-up caddy to be. Then measure and minimize out all of the items of wooden to the identical precise size. I solely want two items of wooden as a result of the items I used have been fairly thick already. However in case you’re utilizing a thinner wooden, it’s your decision extra layers (much like my unique stacked design).

I discovered 8 inches lengthy to be measurement. For those who made this 12 inches or longer, you may have this minimize for you at a house enchancment retailer (the shortest they’ll often minimize is 12 inches). Simply in case you don’t have a noticed at residence.

2. Sand the wooden items and stack them to find out placement.

Subsequent, give each bit a lightweight sanding or a extra heavy responsibility sanding if wanted. Then wipe the wooden clear with a dry rag. I shared some particulars concerning the sandpaper grits I used within the gear / instruments part in case you want a reference level.

I sanded each facet of every of the 2 wooden items to verify every part was easy and would match collectively properly. However there’s extra sanding to do after every part is glued, so that you don’t must go too loopy on sanding for this step, so long as the items match collectively properly.

Talking of which, after sanding, stack the items on prime of one another to find out an order that works, the place the entire items line up. Generally, if a board has a tiny little bit of warping, you’ll solely have the ability to line it up a method, if in any respect, in order that’s the place testing this is useful.

3. Glue and clamp the wooden along with wooden glue.

Subsequent up is glueing the items collectively. For glueing, I love to do a squiggly line all the way in which throughout after which smear it throughout with my finger. I put wooden glue on each bit of wooden the place they’d be a part of collectively.

As soon as the items are touching, sandwich them collectively, line them up, and use clamps to tighten them collectively to actually bond the glue and get a good match. After an hour or two, it’s best to have the ability to take away the clamps with none points.

4. Make the legs and sand the legs.

Whilst you’re ready for the glue to dry, you may make the wood legs. I used a scrap piece of tremendous thick dowel (leftover from my spherical espresso desk DIY) and minimize them right down to measurement after which in half. I minimize them in half in order that the again can be barely totally different from on the bottom, in case I wished to flip it. So it’s nonetheless sort of reversible, just like the older model of this venture.

Sand the legs with a positive grit sandpaper to assist make them easy. And, if wanted, use a coarser sandpaper to verify the legs are precisely the identical top. Shouldn’t be an issue in case you’re reducing them from the identical piece, however simply in case.

5. Drilling holes within the prime of the wooden.

As soon as the glue is totally dry and set, you can begin drilling the holes within the prime. Use an influence drill to create the holes within the prime of the glue collectively block. You need to use massive drill bits, spade bits, and/or forstner drill bits in a number of sizes. The sizes that you just use will probably be decide by what you need to use the organizer for. I imagine the sizes I went with have been: 1 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and three/4 inch.

*You should definitely clamp the bottom right down to your work floor earlier than you begin drilling. It can hold the wooden from shifting round and is far safer.

6. Sanding the bottom of the pen holder.

Sand any imperfections out of the wooden base. If one thing isn’t fairly lined up, chances are you’ll have the option sand it out / easy that space. If it wants lots of work go along with a extra coarse sandpaper (like 80 grit for instance) or if it simply wants just a little positive tuning – 120, 180, and 220 all work nicely.

7. Glue the legs onto the underside of the wooden base.

Lastly, glue the legs onto the underside of the wooden pencil holder base. Use wooden glue. I like to make use of clamps to verify the legs are on tremendous stable. You may additionally use blue painters tape although. I feel that will work simply positive. 

And that’s the way you make a DIY pencil holder (that additionally doubles as a make-up organizer) with only a handful of supplies. If in case you have any questions concerning the course of, gear used, and so forth let me know.

Which venture do you want higher? The unique painted model or the brand new white oak one?