Make a Desk Set

Decorate a Pen, Pencil, and Holder with Yarn

Jul 22, 2009 Susan Caplan

Gear up for back-to-school or a gift-giving holiday with a yarn-wrapped cup, pencil, and pen.

Personalize a pencil and pen with decorative accents made from yarn and beads. Children can also wrap yarn around a jar to provide the perfect place to display the pens. Kids can create a writing set for their desk as they get ready for school or they can accent items that they’ll give as Mother’s or Father’s Day gifts, teacher appreciation presents, or winter holiday gifts.

Materials for a Personalized Writing Set

Before starting the project, gather clean, empty glass jars for the pencil/pen holder. Small jars, such as baby food jars, work well. Get new pencils and pens. Gather scraps of yarn from a yarn stash. Smooth yarns without a fuzzy or bumpy texture are easiest to work with. Finally, get a few pony beads and some all-purpose white glue. Avoid washable glue.

Although directions are given for a set, children could decorate pencils to give as party favors, a pen to pair with a journal, or numerous holders made from small jars to hold paper clips, push pins, elastics, and other items used at a desk.

Decorate a Pencil

1. Cut two six-inch pieces of yarn.
2. Apply a layer of glue to the top three-inches of the pencil (the eraser end).
3. Set the two pieces of yarn along the side of the pencil so loose ends of yarn hang beyond the eraser.
4. Take another piece of yarn and wrap it around the pencil. It is easier to roll the pencil and have yarn coil around the pencil than to wind the yarn around the pencil. Add more glue to anchor the yarn in place.
5. Allow the glue to dry.
6. Tie three pony beads to the dangling ends of yarn. After slipping the last bead onto the yarn, tie the yarn around the bead and knot.

Personalize a Pen

1. Remove the cover from the pen. Apply a layer of glue along the pen, avoiding where the cover will go back onto the pen. (The cover is removed so it isn’t accidentally glued onto the pen.
2. Press the end of a piece of yarn into the glue. Roll the pen so the yarn coils around the pen.
3. Allow the glue to dry before setting the cap onto the pen.

Decorate a Yarn Wrapped Pencil Cup

1. Remove any loose labels from the jar and discard the cover. If glue or some paper is stuck on the glass, don’t go crazy trying to remove it. It will be covered with yarn.
2. Apply a layer of glue around a quarter inch of the jar (working either top to bottom or bottom to top. If the glue drips off the jar, too much glue has been applied. Spread it with fingertips, and then have the children wash their hands so the yarn doesn’t stick to their hands.
3. Carefully, wrap the yarn around the jar. Children can place their fingers inside the jar in order to turn the container so the area the child is applying the yarn is facing the child.
4. Add a little bit of glue at a time, and then wrap the yarn around the jar. Keep the rows of yarn tight to one another so the glass jar doesn’t show through.
5. To create stripes, cut the yarn and then line up the new color right beside the end of the other color.
6. Avoid putting yarn on the bottom of the jar.
7. Set some place where the glue can dry (this could take a few hours or a day depending on the temperature and humidity).

Children can create a yarn-wrapped pencil cup along with decorated pencils and pens to gear up for school or to give as a gift.

The copyright of the article Make a Desk Set in Kids Crafts is owned by Susan Caplan. Permission to republish Make a Desk Set in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Pen and Pencil Cup Craft

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