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A two-tone cardboard pen pot

Turn a sturdy existing tube into a graphic desktop pot.

Beginner◷ 1 hour active timeUpdated
Illustrated concept for a two-tone cardboard pen pot
Concept illustration · Use the written dimensions for layout
PLAN BEFORE YOU COMMIT

Fit, dimensions & layout

Measure the actual tube diameter and circumference after choosing a sound blank. A roughly 90 mm tube needs a wider base if your intended pencils make it unstable. Create one paper wrap slightly longer than the measured circumference for a neat rear overlap. Place the second color band so it does not build a bulky ridge at the base.

Starting sizeAbout 90 mm diameter × 110 mm high
Active work1 hourAllow additional product-specific drying or curing time.

The illustration is a concept, not a scale drawing or a record of a tested build. Use a full-size template or dry fit to check the written layout with your actual materials.

Gather your materials

Tools to have nearby

Choose materials deliberately

Square cardboard shell

It can use the same palette but needs a separate four-wall net and corner allowances. A circle-based tube template does not convert directly.

Shorter tube

A shorter pot can suit small tools and lower the contents visually. Check that sharp or heavy items are not the intended load.

Make it, step by step

  1. Inspect the tube

    Use a clean thick-walled tube with smooth ends. Choose tools appropriate for any trimming.

  2. Laminate a base

    Trace and glue two matching discs, making them slightly wider if needed for balance.

    Check before moving on

    Trace the actual tube and compare the cut discs against it; leave no sharp card projection.

  3. Join upright

    Attach the tube centrally and allow the glue to set.

  4. Wrap two colors

    Add a paper base color and one contrasting band, with seams at the back.

    Check before moving on

    Align both rear seams on the same line so the front color band remains uninterrupted.

  5. Try a light load

    Add a few pencils after drying. Widen the base if the pot tips easily.

IF SOMETHING DOES NOT FIT

Troubleshoot this project

Why does the paper wrap wrinkle?

What to check. The tube may be tapered or the paper may have been stretched and glued unevenly.

Next move. Test a dry wrap and use a fitted template if the upper and lower circumferences differ.

Why does the pot tilt?

What to check. The base may be too small or the loaded pencils too tall and unevenly distributed.

Next move. Try a wider base and a lighter contents set in the prototype before finishing the outer paper.

The final check

The base holds and the filled pot is stable.

A detail worth keeping

A short broad form is more forgiving than a tall narrow tube.

FROM THE FIELD NOTES

Close both boundaries of a shell

A hollow paper arch has two faces, an outside depth strip, and an inside depth strip around the opening. All visible depth strips share the same width, with tabs added outside that width. Build the whole shell in scrap before moving to your best card.

Read the Craft Buildr notebook ↗

Record your actual sizes, material changes, and the result of your fit check in your project notebook. Keep the product name with any finish or adhesive sample.

Use a stable work surface and tools within your experience. Follow the exact tool and product instructions for preparation, dust control, ventilation, and cure. These decorative concepts have no structural load rating. Stop if the material or existing finish cannot be identified.

CONTINUE THE COLLECTION

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