Transform plain-looking pencils into pretty desk accessories with the help of some decorative paper and a glue stick. These papered pencils are easy and fun to make – craft some for your own use or give them as a gift!



You will need:

* 3 to 6 new pencils
* 3 to 6 strips of lightweight decorative paper or gift wrap, each measuring 7 inches by 1-1/2 inches
* Glue stick
* Mod Podge or some similar sealant
* Ruler
* Pencil for marking
* Scissors

Measure, mark and cut the decorative paper to the specified size. It's important to cut the strips so that the long side is parallel to the grain of the paper; this will make it easier to wrap the pencils. Try loosely rolling the paper into a tube in one direction first, flattening it out, and then rolling in a direction perpendicular to the first. You'll find that it's easier to roll the paper when the tube is parallel to the grain.

Lay one strip face down and apply a thick layer of adhesive to the paper with the glue stick. Position the pencil at the edge of the long side. If your pencil has an eraser, align one short edge with the bottom of the eraser. Carefully roll the pencil so that the paper wraps around it snugly. Use your fingers to smoothen out the paper, and make sure that the edge of the paper lays flat; apply a bit more glue if needed. Set aside to dry. Trim off any excess paper, and then apply a coat of Mod Podge or a similar sealant on the wrapped pencil. Let dry completely.

Repeat the steps for the other pencils.

If you are going to use the pencils yourself, there is no need to make a box. You can already display the pencils in a pen holder on your desk. But if you want to give the pencils as a gift, you may want to present them in their own box. Here's how to make one:

Triangular Gift Box

You will need:

* Decorative cardstock, about 8-1/2 by 11 inches (Letter size)
* Double sided tape or craft glue
* Printed box template (below)
* Plain white paper, 8-1/2 x 11 inches
* Gift tag
* Ribbon, 8 inches
* Pencil
* Ruler
* Scissors
* Hole punch

Download and print the box template on plain paper, cut it out, then trace the template to the back of your decorative paper with a pencil and ruler (Alternatively, you can print out the template directly on the back side of a Letter size sheet of cardstock). Cut out the box, then score and fold along the broken lines. Apply double sided tape on the side tab to join the long sides of the box. Tuck in the tabs on one end of the box. Place the pencils into the box, and then tuck in the tabs on the other end. Punch a hole in the gift tag and thread the ribbon through it. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the box.

Triangular Box Template