Faux Book DIY Desk Organizer

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!

Supplies needed to make your own faux book DIY desk organizer:

• 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

The first thing you will want to do for your DIY desk organizer is decide how you would like your books arranged.

I 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.

The marks will be covered up. Measure and trim your paper to fit the covers of the books.

With the same patterned paper that you are working with- also measure and trim paper to fit the spine of the book.

Using Mod Podge, adhere the trimmed paper to the cover and spine of the books.

I 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.

Continue with each sheet the of patterned paper. Reassemble your organizer, and make sure that you covered the areas that are visible.

Then coat the books entirely with a coat of Mod Podge to seal them.

Allow 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.

Using a craft knife, carefully cut the sides of the top of the book.

Make 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.

When both sides are cut, run your craft knife along the bottom of the top piece on both sides. Then remove the top piece.

On the opposite cover of the top of the book, repeat the same process to remove the small inner lid of the box.

If 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.

Close 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.

I used hot glue to adhere the books together. Make sure to use a generous amount of glue around the perimeter of the book.

When 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.

I attached the metal bands to the books where the raised areas were.

Using the same Metallic cardstock and some craft dies I made some book plates.

I 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.

Now you just need to decide where you want to put your cute faux book DIY desk organizer!

And 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.

If you enjoyed this faux book themed tutorial you will love this post on How to Make Your Own Book DIY Lamp.

About 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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