DIY Craft · School Supplies · Back to School
5 DIY Aesthetic School Supplies You Can Make at Home
Projects
5 DIY Crafts
Estimated Cost
Very Low
Time per Project
5 – 20 min
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ Easy
Overview
This guide covers five DIY school supply craft projects demonstrated in the 123 GO! Galaxy video. Each project uses everyday materials — felt, paper clips, pencils, sequins, and cardboard — to create functional and decorative items for use at school or at a desk.
The five projects are: a felt roll-up pencil and brush holder, a sparkly sequin notebook cover, a colorful pencil heel upgrade for shoes, a pizza box painting easel, and a hot-glue paper clip zipper pull repair. All are designed to be completed quickly with minimal tools.
Reference Video
Source: YouTube · 123 GO! Galaxy · For reference only
Project 1 — Felt Roll-Up Pencil & Brush Holder
A compact, portable roll-up organizer for pencils and brushes made from a single rectangle of felt. No sewing is required — the pencils and brushes slide through cut slits in the felt. The finished roll is secured with a bow and elastic loop and can be unrolled flat for easy access.
Materials
Felt sheet (one rectangle)
Ruler
Chalk or fabric marker
Scissors
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
Small decorative bow
Elastic loop or band
Pencils and brushes to fill
1
Mark the slit lines with chalk
Lay the felt flat on a surface. Using a ruler and chalk, mark a dotted line across the felt at one-inch intervals. Each dot marks the center of a future slit. Fold or double the felt layer to create a second row of slit lines directly below the first — this gives the holder two rows of slots for more capacity.
2
Cut the slits
Use scissors to make a short horizontal cut at each marked point along both rows. Each slit should be just wide enough to slide a pencil or brush through. Keep the cuts consistent in length for a neat appearance.
3
Slide in pencils and brushes
Thread pencils and brushes through the cut slits, inserting one per slot. The slits grip each item individually, keeping them separated and preventing them from sliding together when the holder is rolled up.
4
Roll up and secure
Roll the felt from one end, keeping it tight. Once fully rolled, apply a small bead of hot glue to hold the rolled shape closed. Attach a small decorative bow to the outside surface of the roll, and loop an elastic band around the whole roll to keep it fastened during transport. The elastic slips off easily to unroll the holder at the desk.
Project 2 — Sparkly Sequin Notebook Cover
A decorative notebook cover made by framing a collection of sequins, beads, and colorful bits inside a round lid pressed onto the front cover of a plain notebook. The result is a raised, circular sparkle display that personalizes an otherwise plain notebook.
Materials
Plain notebook
Sequins and beads (assorted colors)
Round lid (e.g. from a chip canister)
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
1
Fill the lid with sequins and beads
Place a round lid face-up on a flat surface. Add sequins, beads, and other small decorative bits inside the lid, selecting as many colors as desired. Pack them densely enough that they won't shift noticeably when the lid is pressed down.
2
Glue the lid to the notebook cover
Apply a line of hot glue around the outer rim of the lid. While the glue is still hot, press the lid firmly onto the front cover of the notebook in the desired position. Hold in place for a few seconds until the glue sets. The lid acts as both a frame and a container, keeping the sequins and beads in place.
Project 3 — Colorful Pencil Heel Upgrade
A decorative craft technique that uses short colored pencils to cover the heel of a shoe. Pencils are glued one at a time around the heel surface, starting from the front edges and working around to the back, using progressively larger pencils to match the curved profile of the heel.
Materials
Colored pencils (assorted sizes)
Craft glue or strong adhesive
A pair of heeled shoes
1
Apply glue to the first pencil
Select a shorter pencil for the front edge of the heel. Run a line of craft glue down one flat side of the pencil — apply it from end to end along the full length. This is the surface that will press against the heel.
2
Press pencils around the heel
Press the glued surface of the first pencil against the front edge of the heel. Hold until the adhesive grips. Continue around the heel, gluing one pencil at a time, using progressively larger pencils as you work toward the back of the heel where the curve is widest. Repeat the process on the second shoe.
Tip
Allow the glue to cure fully before wearing the shoes. The completed heels can be left as natural wood-toned pencils, or the exposed pencil ends can be painted for a more uniform color effect.
Project 4 — Pizza Box Painting Easel
A clean, flat pizza box repurposed as a portable painting or drawing easel. The box lid props open at an angle to create a tilted drawing surface, while the box base provides a stable platform that sits flat on any surface. The result is a freestanding, lightweight easel that requires no assembly.
Materials
Clean, flat pizza box
Drawing or painting paper
Art supplies of choice
1
Open and prop the box lid
Open the pizza box fully. The box base sits flat on the ground or a table surface. Prop the lid open to a comfortable angle — typically around 45–60 degrees — so it creates a tilted writing or drawing surface. The lid hinge holds the angle in place.
2
Place paper against the lid and draw
Lay a sheet of drawing or painting paper flat against the inner surface of the propped lid. The paper rests at a comfortable angle for drawing or painting. The box base can also hold small supplies — brushes, a palette, or paint cups — keeping everything within reach in a single compact setup.
Project 5 — Paper Clip Zipper Pull Repair
A quick repair for a pencil case or bag whose zipper pull has broken off. A standard paper clip is filled with hot glue and threaded through the zipper slider to create a new pull. Glitter glue can be used in place of standard hot glue for a decorative finish.
Materials
Standard paper clip × 1
Hot glue gun + glue (or glitter glue)
Pencil case or bag with broken zipper pull
1
Fill the paper clip with hot glue
Lay a standard paper clip flat on the table. Using a hot glue gun, carefully fill the body of the paper clip with glue. Work in one section at a time. Glitter glue can be substituted for a colorful, decorative effect. Allow the glue to set completely before handling — a fully set pull is more durable and easier to grip.
2
Thread the loop through the zipper slider
Once the glue has fully set, locate the small looped end of the paper clip. Thread this loop through the hole in the existing zipper slider. The paper clip now functions as a new zipper pull — it can be gripped to open and close the pencil case in the usual way.
Tip — Color Options
Using glitter glue instead of plain hot glue adds a decorative element while the glue is still functional. Choose a glitter glue color that complements the pencil case for a cohesive look.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make the felt roll-up pencil holder?
▼
Start with a felt rectangle. Mark dotted lines at one-inch intervals across the width using a ruler and chalk, doubling the felt for a second row. Cut short slits along the lines. Slide pencils or brushes through the slits one per slot, then roll the felt up from one end. Apply hot glue to hold the roll closed and add a bow and elastic loop to fasten it shut.
What materials are needed for the sparkly notebook cover?
▼
A plain notebook, sequins and beads in assorted colors, a round lid (such as from a chip canister), and a hot glue gun. Fill the lid with sequins and beads, apply hot glue around the outer rim of the lid, then press it firmly onto the front cover of the notebook.
How do you fix a pencil case zipper with a paper clip?
▼
Lay the paper clip flat and fill its body with hot glue (or glitter glue for a decorative effect). Allow the glue to set fully. Thread the loop end of the paper clip through the hole in the zipper slider. The paper clip then functions as a replacement zipper pull.
What size pencils should be used for the heel upgrade?
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Start with shorter or narrower pencils at the front edges of the heel where the surface is narrower, and use progressively longer or wider pencils as you work around toward the back of the heel. This allows the pencils to follow the curved profile of the heel surface more naturally.
How does the pizza box work as a painting easel?
▼
Open a clean, flat pizza box fully. The base sits flat on the table and the lid props open at an angle, creating a tilted surface for drawing or painting. Place paper flat against the inside of the propped lid. The box base below can hold brushes, paint, or other supplies within easy reach.
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