Quick & Easy DIY Desk Organizer

Hi, my name is Tiffany, and I have a problem with pens. And pencils. And markers. And Sharpies. And highlighters.

If I see one {or 20} that I like, I can’t NOT buy them. Yes, that’s a double negative. In soooo many ways.

But rather than fight it, I have decided to embrace my problem. Which has created another problem…

Too many pens and pencils and highlighters and markers, and no place to corral them.

Creativity and ingenuity to the rescue! #WellNotReally

As part of my home office redo, I knew I needed a better way to organize my many writing utensils. First, I sorted them into two categories: ones I use daily and ones I use less often. For my birthday last year my parents gave me this great, vintage crate. Is it a crate? What would you call this thing? I don’t care what it’s name is, I love it!

I found six Mason Jars that fit inside each cubby and filled them with all of the great writing utensils that I use everyday. It will have a special spot on my desk.

The second group was more of a challenge, though, because there are a ton of them, in all different shapes and styles {and I like to keep each style separate from the others}. Plus, I only had a few pennies of my home office redo budget left.

So, I needed an organizer that:

• was cheap {or FREE}
• was compartmentalized for storage based on pen style #ImaFreak
• matched my office color scheme. #OfCourse

Inspiration often hits me at strange times and this was no exception. I was hauling stuff to the recycling bin in the garage after Hubs’ freezer cooking day when the light bulb came on. I hid away in my partially-completed office for the next couple of hours, then emerged victorious!

I had created the perfect way to organize my remaining pens and pencils and markers, and it didn’t cost me a dime or a nickel or even a penny!

Duh-dah-duh-duh-dah!!!!

Introducing, the DIY Desk Organizer!

Are you feeling let down? I can understand why. That was a lot of build up for this very basic project. #ThatsLifeKids

This project was so simple and it’s working great for my pens.

All you have to do is:

1. Measure the height and circumference of the cans.
2. Using your measurements and scrapbook paper, cut “wrappers” for the cans.
3. Wrap each can with a piece of scrapbook paper and adhere it in the back. I used Sticky Strip.

That’s it! Super simple! They are now in one of the bureau compartments in my office. I arranged them in a circle and put the middle one on an embellishment storage case that I had lying around. I didn’t attach them to each other {although you could}, because I wanted to be able to grab, say, the Sharpie can if I needed to take them to another room for a project.

It works well and looks great. What more could you ask for from a few recyclables and scrapbook paper?

This post is part of my “A New Look for My Home Office” series. If you missed the others, you can check them out here:

A New Look for My Home Office ~ The Plan

A New Look for My Home Office ~ Paint Color Sneak Peek

DIY Home Office Command Center

Your turn! What creative {and cheap} ideas have you come up with lately?

Thanks for joining me!