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You are here: Home / Organization / Faux Book DIY Desk Organizer

January 8, 2016 · 6 Comments

Faux Book DIY Desk Organizer

Organization· Paper Mache

I am a sucker for organizational containers- and if it is cute?! Like this faux book DIY desk organizer? I need to have it. You would never guess that these “books” are actually paper mache. I think they would make a great teacher gift. The colors can be customized according to your taste, or to match the decor in your home or office!

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-1Supplies needed to make your own faux book DIY desk organizer:ClickLinks1

  • Large Paper Mache Book Box (2)
  • Medium Paper Mache Book Box (4)
  • Core’dinations Tim Holtz Kraft Core Silver Metallic Cardstock
  • Patterned Scrapbook Paper (5, 12 x 12 sheets)
  • Darice Rectangle Nesting Craft Die Cuts
  • Darice Custom Craft Die Cut Tags
  • Mod Podge® Matte
  • Silver Hobby Knife Craft Tool
  • Dual Temp Glue Gun

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-2The first thing you will want to do for your DIY desk organizer is decide how you would like your books arranged.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-3I chose to leave one book as a box, to store things small things horizontally. (Paper clips, elastic bands, etc.)

When the books are arranged, you can see that not all of the book covers will be visible when they are adhered together as the final DIY desk organizer. I quickly took a pen and marked the covers that would show. This saved me time Mod Podging areas that I didn’t need to. Take a minute to mark the tops of the books as well. This comes in handy later.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-4The marks will be covered up. Measure and trim your paper to fit the covers of the books.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-5With the same patterned paper that you are working with- also measure and trim paper to fit the spine of the book.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-6Using Mod Podge, adhere the trimmed paper to the cover and spine of the books.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-7I was a little worried about using Mod Podge on paper mache, but it worked like a champ! Even the slightly rounded spine of the book. It stuck well, and dried nicely.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-8Continue with each sheet the of patterned paper. Reassemble your organizer, and make sure that you covered the areas that are visible.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-9Then coat the books entirely with a coat of Mod Podge to seal them.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-10Allow the Mod Podge to fully dry.

Open a book. You should have the top marked. To create the DIy desk organizer, you will remove the tops of the standing books.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-11Using a craft knife, carefully cut the sides of the top of the book.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-12Make sure that when you are cutting the end nearest the spine, you follow the inside line of the box rather than the curve on the outside of the box.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-13When both sides are cut, run your craft knife along the bottom of the top piece on both sides. Then remove the top piece.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-14On the opposite cover of the top of the book, repeat the same process to remove the small inner lid of the box.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-15If the edges of the book are rough where the pieces were removed, you can gently sand it with some sand paper to knock off the jagged edges off of the paper mache.

Run a line of hot glue on the three edges of the book that are still intact.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-16Close the book, and hold it shut until the hot glue dries.

Repeat for each book. When all of the book tops have been removed, and are glued shut, you can glue the books to each other to create your organizer.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-17I used hot glue to adhere the books together. Make sure to use a generous amount of glue around the perimeter of the book.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-18When the books are adhered, you can begin to embellish the books however you like.

I added some “metal accents” with Tim Holtz Metallic Core cardstock. I used a crimping tool to create some metal “bands.” You could also use embossing folders here.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-19I attached the metal bands to the books where the raised areas were.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-20Using the same Metallic cardstock and some craft dies I made some book plates.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-21I adhered these to the books using hot glue. Later, when I decide what I am going to store in my DIY desk organizer (I have lots of ideas!) I will use the book plates to label the books with the contents.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-22Now you just need to decide where you want to put your cute faux book DIY desk organizer!

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-23And you need to decide what to fill it with. Whatever you decide, I know it will make a fun statement piece for your home or office.

Faux-Book-DIY-Desk-Organizer-Crafts-Unleashed-24If you enjoyed this faux book themed tutorial you will love this post on How to Make Your Own Book DIY Lamp.

Shaunte

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Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).

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Comments

  1. Angela - @mnmribbonco says

    October 9, 2019 at 10:53 am

    This is the cutest thing EVER!
    I need one for my craft desk and one for my office!

    Reply
  2. jet says

    January 21, 2016 at 7:53 am

    Such an awesome and fun idea to make faux books into desk organisators.
    I haven’t seen papermache books here, in the Netherlands, but i think i can make one or more myself of cardboard as well, and adding a paper mache layer on it.
    I like this very much.
    Thank you for sharing your idea, and the great tute you’ve made.
    Have a nice crafting week;-D

    Reply
  3. Liv says

    January 10, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    Love this idea so much!! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  4. barb macaskill says

    January 9, 2016 at 9:44 am

    I absolutely LOVE this idea!!! Must order the book boxes once I get some $$ !!!! I am a bibliophile and these ROCK!!! TFS!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Give New Life To Old Dusty Books With These 21 Creative DIY’s says:
    February 13, 2016 at 10:37 am

    […] Tutorial via blog.consumercrafts.com […]

    Reply
  2. Stylish Faux Book DIY Desk Organizer - Shelterness says:
    January 12, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    […] Book-inspired crafts are very popular now, and today we are sharing a faux book desk organizer. You’ll need a large paper mache book box (2), medium paper mache book box (4), cardstock, patterned scrapbook paper (5, 12 x 12 sheets), Darice Rectangle Nesting Craft Die Cuts, Darice Custom Craft Die Cut Tags, Mod Podge Matte, Silver Hobby Knife Craft Tool, a glue gun. The first thing you will want to do for your DIY desk organizer is decide how you would like your books arranged. When the books are arranged, you can see that not all of the book covers will be visible when they are adhered together as the final DIY desk organizer. Take a minute to mark the tops of the books as well. Keep reading what to do here. […]

    Reply

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