Popsicle Stick Desk Organizer

Is your desk or bedside table unorganized? Don’t feel bad! In this activity, I will show you how to create a desk organizer that you can use for a variety of things such as pencils, pens, chargers, jewelry, and more!

Supplies:

• 150 jumbo popsicle sticks (1 pack of 150ct)

• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

• (Tip: You can use school glue but it may not stick as well and take longer to dry)

• Decorations for your desk organizer (optional)

• (Tip: I’m going to use pink and blue paint and pearls but you can use anything such as glitter, stickers, pipe cleaners, etc)

• Two sheets of construction paper in any color

• Something that can act as a handle for the box (I am using a cotton ball but you can use anything!)

Before you begin, make sure you are doing this activity on a clean and flat surface. Place the construction paper down on the surface. Since I am doing this on a table, I will use the paper to keep glue from sticking to the table as it will be difficult to remove. Hot glue can be tricky to work with so get help if you need it! Also, this is a timely activity. Take breaks if you need to.

Step 1: First we are going to paint our popsicle sticks. Painting your desk organizer is optional but if you would like to, follow this step! I am using pink and blue paint because it reminds me of cotton candy but you can use whatever colors you like! To create the foundation for the desk organizer you will need to get one of your sheets of construction paper. Using this, line up the popsicle sticks so that the long ends are touching. It takes 16 sticks to cover my paper but your number may be different. Since my paper is taller than the popsicle sticks, I will cut off the excess paper. Because I am using two colors, I will paint 8 pink and 8 blue but you can paint however you want! Express yourself!

Step 2: Now that the painting for the foundation is done, we will move on to painting for the pencil holder. The pencil holder will be made using the second sheet of construction paper so you will need the same amount of sticks as you used in Step 1. So for this step, I will use 16 sticks and paint 8 of them blue and 8 of them pink. I will also go back and cut off the excess paper again.

Step 3: Next, we will paint for the box. To determine how many sticks your box will need you can stack them without gluing to get an idea of how tall you want it to be. First, you will need to prepare for the base. To do this hold a popsicle stick so that it is standing up vertically on the surface. Using this, line up the sticks vertically with the long ends touching so that it is the length of the popsicle stick that is being held up. Once you have the number, take two popsicle sticks and place them on the left and right side of the sticks that you lined up so that the tips of the short ends are slightly visible.

Step 4: Next, take two popsicle sticks and place one on the top and bottom. Next, you will place a popsicle stick on the top and bottom as you did in the previous step. Then, place a popsicle stick on the top and bottom. You should have a square with the foundation sticks that you lined up under it. Repeat this process until you have the box stacked to the height you want. Now you know how many popsicle sticks you need to paint but do not begin painting yet! Gather some popsicle sticks and prepare to create the lid.

Step 5: Now, we need to determine how many popsicle sticks we need for the lid so that we can paint this and the box at the same time. This is the last part of this craft that needs to be painted. To determine how many popsicle sticks you need for the lid, line up the popsicle sticks horizontally with the long ends facing the on top of the box you just stacked. Then, place a popsicle stick on the left and right of the sticks you just lined up. Once you have the number you need for the lid, you can begin painting for the lid and box.

Step 6: Now that everything is painted, you can put the paint away and prepare to start gluing. Hot glue burns if it touches your skin, so be careful and ask for help if needed! You can also use school glue instead but it will take longer to dry and may not hold the sticks together as strong as hot glue. First we will glue one set of the 16 popsicle sticks to one of the sheets of the cut construction paper. To do this, place hot glue on the side of the popsicle stick that is not painted and press it down onto the paper. Remember, hot glue dries fast so you have to be quick! Since I used two colors, I will glue them down to create a cotton candy-colored pattern. Repeat this until all 16 sticks are glued together with the long ends touching. Your foundation is now done!

Step 7: Now, we will create our pencil holder. Get your second set of 16 popsicle sticks and glue them down onto the paper the same way you did for step 4.

Step 8: Next, flip the paper over. Then, fold the paper so that it creates a cylinder. Next, place glue on the popsicle stick that lines up with the end of the paper to create the cylinder and press the paper so that it sticks. I held it for ten seconds to ensure it was secure. The pencil holder is now done.

Step 9: Now, we will create the box. Since we already practiced stacking earlier it will be easier to glue. I used 9 sticks to create the base for the box so I will glue these 9 sticks together by the long ends. Once that is done, lay the base down so that the short ends face the left and right. Next, glue down a popsicle stick on the left and right side. Then, glue down a popsicle stick on the top and bottom. Repeat this process until all of your layers for your box are glued down.

Step 10: Now, glue the sticks together that you need for your lid so that the long sides are touching and the shorts ends are on the left and right. Next, glue a stick to the left and right of the lid. Now using the object of your choice for the handle, glue that onto the lid. I am using a cotton ball to continue the cotton candy theme for my desk organizer but you can use anything just make sure you can pull it. Place the lid to the side since you won’t be gluing it down. The lid is now done!

Step 11: Now, get your foundation and pencil holder. Place glue on the bottom of the cylinder and press it down onto the foundation so that it sticks. I held it in place for about ten seconds to ensure that it was secure.

Step 12: Next, place glue onto the bottom of the box and press it down onto the foundation so that it sticks. I held it in place for about ten seconds to ensure that it was secure. Now, grab your lid and place the lid on top of the box. Do not glue the lid to the box! You want to be able to take the lid off of the box and put it back. We’re almost done!

Step 13: Now it is time to decorate! Decorating is optional but if you would like to, follow this step! I am using adhesive pearls but you can use whatever decorations you have! Once you’ve finished decorating, you’re done!

Your desk organizer is now done! I hope you had fun making your organizer, like I did! Now you have a unique and convenient craft you can show your friends and family! Be sure to clean up your area and put away all materials. If you notice that your space is becoming unorganized again, you can always make another organizer.

~ Made By: Danasia M.