Craft a Pen Stand
Make a sturdy pen stand from recycled cardboard, tubes, and glue; measure, cut safely with scissors, then paint and decorate creatively.
Step-by-step guide to make a pen stand from recycled cardboard and tubes
Step 1
Gather all the materials and set them on a clear workspace.
Step 2
Use the ruler and pencil to draw a rectangle for the base on the cardboard about the size of a small book.
Step 3
Cut out the cardboard rectangle with scissors along the pencil lines.
Step 4
Use the ruler and pencil to mark where each tube will stand on the base with small circles.
Step 5
Measure and draw lines on each cardboard tube to choose different heights for pens and pencils.
Step 6
Cut each tube at the marked lines to make tubes of different heights using the scissors.
Step 7
Slightly press the bottom edge of each tube flat to create a small gluing surface.
Step 8
Glue each tube onto its marked spot on the base one at a time and hold it steady for a few seconds.
Step 9
Wrap clear tape around the bottom of each tube where it meets the base to make the joins stronger.
Step 10
Fill the bottom of taller tubes with a few pebbles or crumpled paper to make the stand sturdy.
Step 11
Paint and decorate the tubes and base however you like using your colouring materials.
Step 12
Let all glue and paint dry completely before touching the stand.
Step 13
Put your pens and pencils in the tubes and then share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of cardboard tubes, clear tape, or pebbles if I don't have them?
If you don't have cardboard tubes use toilet-paper or paper-towel rolls or tightly rolled scrap cardboard, swap clear tape for masking or duct tape when strengthening the joins, and use crumpled paper instead of pebbles to weigh taller tubes.
My tubes keep wobbling or the glue won't hold—what should I do?
Make sure you slightly press the bottom edge of each tube flat before gluing, hold each glued tube steady for several seconds, wrap tape around the tube-to-base join as instructed, and add a few pebbles or crumpled paper into taller tubes for stability.
How can I adapt this craft for younger children or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger kids pre-cut the cardboard rectangle and tubes and supervise the cutting and gluing steps, while older kids can precisely measure and draw different tube heights, cut custom shapes into the base for extra compartments, and experiment with stronger adhesives under supervision.
How can we make the pen stand more unique or useful after decorating?
After you paint and decorate the tubes and base, personalize by wrapping tubes with patterned paper or fabric, gluing on buttons or stickers, labeling each tube for different supplies, and adding a felt pad under the base to protect your desk.
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Facts about recycling and cardboard crafts for kids
♻️ Cardboard fibers can usually be recycled around 5–7 times before they become too short to reuse.
✂️ Scissors are ancient — early spring scissors appeared over 3,000 years ago in the Bronze Age.
📦 Corrugated cardboard gets its strength from a fluted inner layer sandwiched between flat liners — perfect for sturdy DIY pen stands!
🖌️ Even a thin coat of paint can transform cardboard into a colorful, durable finish; washable paints make cleanup easy for kids.
🧠 Making with recycled tubes and boxes teaches measuring, safe cutting, and basic engineering — and helps the planet at the same time!
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