Use old cereal boxes and toilet paper rolls to create a unique DIY desk organizer! This craft organizer is perfect if you’re on a budget.

Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see a video of how to make a recycled desk organizer of your very own. You’ll also get two bonus projects in the video: a drawer organizer and a magazine holder!

DIY desk organizer

I’ve been saving some cereal boxes and toilet paper/paper towel rolls for a while. I’m not just some weird hoarder – I had a purpose. A decoupage idea with Mod Podge, if you will.

My goal was to recycle these items in a Mod Podge project. I thought, if everyone else can use these items for crafts, I can too. So I challenged myself! It’s kind of fun to do that sometimes to see what you come up with.

Make a Craft Organizer

Based on what I had in my stash, I created this DIY desk organizer, aka the perfect recycled craft. I just used what was on hand so I didn’t even spend one dollar for this. You and your kids should try it for back to school!

I won’t say it’s totally free because you might have to buy some supplies . . . but you should challenge yourself to see how cheaply you can make it by rooting through the recycling bin.

Before we jump into this wood craft, I want to share some things about this desk organizer you should keep in mind while you’re making it. I hope these help!

Paper to Use

I used a few large pieces of scrapbook paper to make my desk organizer. You can use nearly any paper for this project, but you should keep a few things in mind.

You’ll want the paper to be thick enough so that you don’t see the labels from the boxes through the paper. Therefore papers like tissue paper, wrapping paper, and napkins might be too thin.

There is a way around that though. You can always paint the boxes with a white acrylic paint or primer after cutting them into the desired sizes so that the labels don’t show through. It’s an added step to paint, but it will make your craft organizer look so much better when it’s finished.

Wood plaques

Plaques to Buy

The fun thing about this craft organizer is that you can use any size or style of wood plaque to make it! The wood plaque that I chose was an 11″ x 14″ oval that I purchased from Michaels.

I encourage you to try this in a different shape if you want to. I think even the natural wood slice would look cool for this DIY desk organizer – and you could leave it natural if you so choose.

Formula to Use

I used Mod Podge Satin for this project, but you could use Gloss, Matte, or Hard Coat. You can even add glitter here and there with a little Sparkle or Extreme Glitter Mod Podge. Give the craft organizer several coats of whatever decoupage formula you choose so that it is durable.

You want the toilet paper rolls in particular to stand up to constant putting things in and pulling things out – so I’d say use at least three coats of the formula you select.


Are you ready to make this project at home? Here’s how I made my craft organizer using Mod Podge!

Gather These Supplies

Tips and Thoughts for This Project

I had no idea how to measure the cereal box for my bins, I’m going to be honest with you. So I just cut 1/4th of the box off of the bottom and then proceeded to cut the rest of the boxes in that same manner. I knew I would have a front row and a back row, so I made the “back row” of boxes taller than the front row.

Now this is an optional step . . . but I used some white paint on the edges of my cereal boxes and tubes.

Sometimes my paper doesn’t match EXACTLY and I didn’t want the brown of the tubes or the colors of the box to show (since they didn’t match). If you are particular, you might want to do this. If not, don’t worry about it.

DIY desk organizer

What do you think – are you up for making a DIY desk organizer of your own? Let me know in the comments! There’s also a printable how-to card here:

DIY desk organizer
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4.84 from 480 votes

DIY Desk Organizer

Make a desk organizer using recycled materials, and customize it any way you like using this tutorial.
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time3 hours
Dry Time2 hours
Total Time5 hours 10 minutes
Yield: 1 organizer
Cost: $13

Materials

Instructions

  • Lay out the boxes and paper rolls to create the compartments for your organizer.
    Wood plaque, cereal box, and paper towel and toilet paper rolls
  • Make the compartments by cutting the cereal boxes down and taping them on the outside. The tape will be covered by paper.
    Finished bin made from cereal boxes
  • Trim the paper tubes to different heights to add interest.
    Cereal box pieces and toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls sitting on the top of a wood plaque
  • Paint the plaque using the colors of your choice and let dry.
    Painting a plaque with pink acrylic craft paint
  • Use a pencil or pen to trace each compartment on your scrapbook paper. For the larger compartments you might need to cut multiple sheets of paper to completely cover them.
    Tracing toilet paper rolls on paper
  • Cut everything out using a craft knife and mat or scissors.
    Measuring and cutting paper with an X-Acto knife
  • Add Mod Podge to the backs of the paper – then proceed to decoupage your compartments with paper and Mod Podge. Work one piece at a time. Hold everything down until it sticks, smooth, and let dry 15 – 20 minutes.
    Painting Mod Podge on a cereal box to fold down the paper
  • Give all compartments a top coat of Mod Podge, including the plaque.
    Adding Mod Podge to a painted wood plaque
  • Add ribbon to the top edge of each compartment using craft glue.
    Adding ribbon trim to craft organizer compartments
  • Glue each compartment down to the plaque using craft glue. It will dry clear. Let dry 24 hours before using.
    Add glue to the edges of the toilet paper rolls

Video


If you want to check out more recycled crafts, here are other posts that might interest you!

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283 Comments

  1. I’m reading this at work and see a beautiful deskorganiser coming 🙂 with newspaper as deco (i work at a newspaperprintplant (is that an english term) It’s really cool!!!

  2. So cute! I didn’t know they made kids modge podge. Putting my little guy to work to corral his art supplies 🙂

  3. My friends birthday is Saturday and she is all about the recycle repurpose, and reuse so this will make a super gift for office in her new home!!! Thanks for sharing!

  4. Cool project! I made one similar for my scrapbook room using all different sizes of soup cans.

    Sharon

  5. This is one of my favorite projects that I have seen in a long time! It would be perfect for office gifts, graduation gifts, or for Administrative Assistants Day!

  6. I am going to make the desk organizer. I need one and this not only meets my needs but it’s pretty too! So here’s a chance to use what I have on hand instead of what the office supply has. Thank you!

  7. I am making one now but am just waiting on some toilet paper rolls. I had to do some patchwork with the cardboard because I ran out of actual boxes so I was taping and gluing small pieces of cardboard together. This is a great tutorial and it’s pretty simple to follow too, Thanks Amy, your design is helping me de-clutter my desk

  8. This is wonderful! Thinking of decorating with masking tape as it comes in so many colors and no muss no fuss.
    Thanks for sharing!!!!

  9. 5 stars
    Great idea. There are so many fantastic ideas to recycle.
    Mod Podge is so versatile and can be used for so many things.
    I’m gonna do this in bright colors for my grand babies craft table.;)

  10. 5 stars
    This is such a cute organizer. Finally I have something to do with the large bag of toilet paper rolls I’ve been saving forever! ?

  11. 5 stars
    I really love this idea. It is a great way to recylce some of the objects around your home and create a beautiful desktop organizer that matches your decor.

  12. 5 stars
    What a way to upsycle! I love the idea of using regular items and turning them into something else. I also love the idea of saving money by using your creativity. Well done!

  13. 5 stars
    So much fun upcyling things I was going to throw away. Brilliant and great fun. Great idea for art project in schools

  14. 5 stars
    Great project… I have made these and they are great… I used a charger plate from dollar tree.. they are much less expensive than wood plaques and can be painted or use mos pudge with them also.

  15. 5 stars
    I am going to try to make one of these! I never have quite the right holders for my pens and highlighters at work. So I will make my own!

  16. 5 stars
    I do this all the time, especially like tissue boxes too pretty to throw away. Don’t need paper sometimes, just mod podge and go!

  17. 4 stars
    That’s a cute idea it is just a little too much work for me or more than I want to do. I love the ideas for recycling, so I may do something on a smaller scale

  18. 5 stars
    I really like the fact that you repurposed cereal boxes toilet paper rolls that was a really good idea instead of trashing them

  19. 4 stars
    Very, very cleaver idea! I am going to make one and take just a few minutes more and paint the inside of the cut boxes, with color in paper, and down the inside of tubes. Just a thought

  20. 5 stars
    I used an old shoebox, covered it with metallic wrapping paper, using Gloss Mod Podge. It’s perfect for store/display my crafting Con-Tac paper.

  21. 5 stars
    OMG! A perfect way to use up that favorite paper I’ve been hoarding! It’s a triple whammy! I get to make space in my storage, keep the paper AND see it and enjoy it every day! I love this project so much!

  22. 4 stars
    Great use for items that would be thrown away! It looks like a useful storage idea, but I would simplify it.

  23. 5 stars
    I made many of desk organizers but without the piece of wood, I just used a firm piece of cardboard doubled. I made one for my make-up as well.

  24. 5 stars
    I definitely loved making one of these for my daughters desk. It was simple and easier than it sounded. We also made standing file holders out of old cereal boxes and Mtn Dew cube boxes. Her friends just go on and on wanting to know where she bought that stuff cause it’s so cool and colorful. She just grins and says, “we made it”. Nobody believes her and she’s not about to take it apart to show then, so she sends them here.

  25. 5 stars
    Cute easy craft you can make with almost entirely household recyclables. Clear instructions for a successful project.

  26. 5 stars
    This is a great way to make a customizable organizer with leftover items from other crafts and things one might otherwise throw away. Glam it up to your heart’s content!

  27. 5 stars
    The colors in the paper that you used were great! The organizer will be very useful in my sewing room , office, and sccrapbooking room.

  28. 5 stars
    What a great idea. This is sustainable and adorable. I like that you can customize this to the person who will use this.

  29. 5 stars
    I love anything to do with office supplies, this organizer is right up my alley. I made a small one a few years back, and yes I did use mod podge. Now I can use up all those boxes etc I keep saving. Thanks

  30. 5 stars
    Old cereal boxes toliet paper rolls wooden design paint it. Cover with paper on the old cereal boxes and toilet used .use Matt or glaze to cover.

  31. 5 stars
    This was one of my first projects I ever made with my new bottle of Mod Podge. How exciting as this was about 10 years ago!! My grand-daughter loved it so much she was happy to inherit it. It is still sturdy, useful and very much in use. I think the paper needs some refreshing after 10 years! Great idea for a surprise gift

  32. 5 stars
    Love this, simple cheap and effective.One could even got to town and properly mix media this!?

  33. 4 stars
    I am always savings boxes and tissue holders for grandkids, so borrowed some of them and made my own little organizers. Cute cute. Thank you

  34. 5 stars
    So cute! I’m a teacher, so I’m always looking for thrifty ways to spruce up my room. Definitely going to make one of these this summer.

  35. 5 stars
    Hope everything is better with your troubles. The desk organizer idea is awesome for us with OCD. Thank you.

  36. 5 stars
    Great idea, ’cause you can configure it to your personal needs, w/ the the tubes/containers, AND this is a VERY inexpensive craft DIY.

  37. 5 stars
    I love upcycling. You could even use a hard piece of cardboard that is 1/2 inch thick. I found one and covered it and use as a portable desk top.

  38. 4 stars
    These are fun and practical ways to upcycle items that would normally end up in landfills. I like to also use the rolls from aluminum foil, wax paper and plastic wrap. They are a little narrower and much thicker than TP rolls. They are great for holding spools if ribbon, cut in half or thirds to hold paint brushes, pens etc….

  39. 5 stars
    What a great use of cereal boxes and toilet paper/paper towel rolls! This is adorable. The instructions are easy to follow too. Sounds like a great idea.

  40. 4 stars
    Very cute and looks to be an easy project. I have done something similar before The cost on this is very low so minimum $$. Thanks!

  41. 5 stars
    I love the fact that the end product gives no indication that it all started with cereal boxes and toilet rolls.

  42. 5 stars
    Really like this idea. I have a smaller one in the back of my desk that my kids made me years ago – not as pretty as this one 🙂 I will make one of these for my craft things when I get space organised for that.
    LOVE the colours as well.
    Great job Amy.

  43. 4 stars
    A great way to recycle and make something useful. I might make a few of these…one for my clay tools and another for desk

  44. 5 stars
    We are watching our pennies and this is a perfect idea and love the finished product! Also an excellent way to recycle

  45. 5 stars
    Great idea! A nice touch would be to put your name on it to personalize it. I made a similar one with my cricut but yours is larger. The cardboard boxes are a plus.

  46. 5 stars
    I made my own organizer following these steps and if it weren’t for the mod podge, it would’ve never got finished lol. I love this stuff.

  47. 5 stars
    This is a ultimate creative use of recycled materials and the best of all this is a very useful item that won’t sit around and collect dust and add clutter

  48. 5 stars
    I love that it can be craft organiser as well

    The recycling is a fun part as well… Easy for older kids to make..

  49. 5 stars
    Such a cute organizer, and definitely worthy to give as a gift, also great to sell at garage sales or craft fairs. Thank you for the easy instructions.

  50. 5 stars
    This would be a fun project to do with kids and teach recycling and who doesn’t need an organizer for their desk? I’m definitely looking forward to making this

  51. 5 stars
    What a great idea. A fun but practical project. The video an step by step instructions make this really easy to follow – I just need to save up some cereal boxes then I can get crafting

  52. 5 stars
    I think this is a great idea in such a way of 1- recycling all sorts of tubs boxes and packaging that we all seem to have and throw away
    2 – I am always looking for storage and organise trinkets in various parts of the house ie toiletries in the bathroom makeup and sprays in the bedroom organizers in your kitchen or or storage for the tool age is! And although you can purchase these things in many shops and suppliers there is never the right size or box or combination that suit you to your needs plus they’re always pretty pricey these items i so this is great inexpensive way to store your individual bits and bobs and decorate it whats pleasing to your eye either as bold quirky statement feature in your room or blend it in with the style decor in whichever room you decided to de clutter so it’s not noticeable to the eye

  53. 5 stars
    Amazing to see how much you can do with stuff lying around the house. Definitely going to try this. Thank you.

  54. 4 stars
    I never would have come up with this on my own. I love how you were able to recycle so many things.

  55. 5 stars
    Organised Chaos! that is what my craft room looks like. This is a wonderful craft idea for me to get organised. thanks

  56. 5 stars
    This is an easy way to accomplish several things at the same time. You not only are recycling in a good way, you are up cycling in a great way to give yourself added storage. It’s a win for everyone. Love the colors and Mod Podge is my go to for everything from covering storage boxes, furniture makeovers, adding decor to frames and the list goes on. And best of all, it costs very little time and money and adds so much storage to just about any space in your home. Love it!

  57. 5 stars
    Perfect for a home office
    If you are like me – I like change . This project is perfect if you redecorate with the seasons.
    Being a crafter-this allowed me to change my office look without a huge investment.

  58. 5 stars
    I love this simple yet beautiful way to organize my home that also helps to keep our planet a little bit cleaner

  59. 5 stars
    This tutorial shows just how much can be done with so little! Who would have known this could be created with cereal boxes and cardboard tubes? So creative.

  60. 4 stars
    Wow! Would never have thought to use cereal boxes. This is a super cute idea. Gonna try one for soon.

  61. 5 stars
    This is a great idea. Who wouldn’t love to be better organized on their desk. I’m going to give this a try, soon. TY

  62. 5 stars
    Love the idea and the upcycling of cereal boxes. Looks really nice. Will definitely make this one for my granddaughter’s craft supplies.

  63. 5 stars
    I loved the easy way this organizer has been made and put together. Definitely going to make one for my desk at work

  64. 5 stars
    Love the finishing good touches. I like things strong and those finishing details really help the overall look

  65. 5 stars
    Since kids in Washington State are off school for 6 weeks this is a great project to help then get their desk organized.

  66. 4 stars
    I have done some these things individually, but together this is beautiful and I like to recycle items.

  67. 5 stars
    What a pretty desk organizer – I love your choice of paper! The instructions are great with all the pictures and options for making it my own.

  68. 5 stars
    I was going to buy a desk organizer but now that I can easily make one with materials I already have at home I will make it! The instructions are detailed and very easy to follow and I can customize the colors and design to blend with my decor! Fabulous project!

  69. 5 stars
    Amazing project looking forward to making with my little granddaughter thankyou for all your ideas and showing us all these projects.

  70. 5 stars
    This is such a fun, creative and great way to use your recyclables. A very useful project to help keep you organized! Love it!!!

  71. 5 stars
    This is a great idea to keep items out of the land fill and at the same time have an inexpensive, very tailored desk organizer!!! I may submit something similar in our county fair’s recycled category!!!

  72. 4 stars
    This is super attractive, and what a bonus when you compare your recycling pennies to the prices of desk organizers.

  73. 5 stars
    I like decorating my cubicle for the different seasons. Making your own allows you to use any color you want.

  74. 5 stars
    This is an awesome reuse of these items. And it’s great that you can customize it to your liking. I am definitely going to make one or two.

  75. 5 stars
    I tried something similar, but this is an even better idea! Thanks so much for sharing! You rock!

  76. 5 stars
    I’m definitely going to make this! Thank you for your consise explanation and efficient way you set things out to make it so simple for everyone. Love your blog!

  77. 5 stars
    Awesome project ! I plan to use this to reinforce the idea of reusing products we already have have home instead of sending them to the landfill. Thanks !!

  78. I don’t get it… it says to “scroll down to the video” but theirs no video whatsoever! I’ve tried this site on 2 different PCs, 1 mobile phone, and 1 laptop. Has it been removed or something? Or was this click-bait? Either way it’s not worth it.

4.84 from 480 votes (216 ratings without comment)

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