How to make a Simple Pen/Pencil Stand from Waste?
Making a useful thing from waste materials - A Project
The other day, my son came from school and told that his teacher had given a holiday project of making something useful from the waste materials.His school was getting closed for Dushera holidays for 10 days.We started thinking as to what to make. did some research on the internet, referred to some art and craft books and then finalised on making a simple yet beautiful pencil stand cum desk organizer.
Now the next stage was what materials to use. I first thought of doing it using paper mache process. I am a great fan of paper mache technique.But this time I wanted to do something different. We then collected a flat cardboard piece, one used tin of roasted cashewnuts, a discarded card board roll which was the cover of a broom stick.
The card board was cut into a square piece. We pasted another similar piece for extra thickness.The card board roll was cut into two different sizes.Then we soaked some old newspaper bits; which was mashed and mixed with PVA glue and brown acrylic color.This paste was used to fix the tin and the two rolls over the square board. This was ket for drying for two days.
We took some old English magazines and cut out alphabets of different sizes and colours and styles.Oh, that was quite a task.For one moment I cursed the education system which gave work for the parents.
After the card board dried up completely, we pasted the alphabets over the board, tin and the 2 rolls.Again it was kept for drying.The pencil stand looked so colourful, my son was going gaga over it. We coated little varnish over it. And voila.... the pencil stand was ready.
To beautify the organizer, we mage some colour by picking up dried coconut stalks and flower stalks from our farm at our hometown, and painted acrylics on them. These beautiful flowers were put in the longest roll on the organizer/pencil stand.
On the first day of reopening of his school, my son took his project to the class. His friends and teachers liked it and teacher asked if they could keep it in the classroom. My son was happy.Our project was selected among the best projects.