I have always wanted to make my own pencils, but the thought of shaping two pieces of wood to allow a piece of lead to sit perfectly inside made me think it wasn’t worth the effort. For some reason I was looking at some pieces of lead I have (for a drafting pencil) and “pop” there it was.. a solution to my DIY longing. Here is a tutorial to make pencils that is so ridiculously easy I’ve made 10 pencils since the idea came to me yesterday! Enjoy.
TUTORIAL
Note on Supplies:
Paper: I recommend using 6″ origami paper. The paper I used was beautiful washi origami paper made in Japan (see exact product here). I did attempt using other paper I had for card making and scrapbooking, but the paper was too thick and didn’t act like a skin when rolling the pencil.
Lead: The lead I used I originally bought from a craft store in South Africa. I had a bit a of struggle finding it online, but turns out you can get the exact lead I used on Amazon for a steal at $3.90. You can also get a bit creative and use coloured leads! (If you are going to purchase leads to do this craft, make sure you used a HB lead. If you use 2B leads or above, I fear the lead will be too soft to roll without snapping the lead.)
Mod Podge: I used Mod Podge with a gloss finish. Mod Podge with a matt finish is also available.
Here’s a video I made so you can watch me make it from start to finish!
I have to admit I really enjoyed doing this craft. It’s so simple and practical! There are also so many possibilities with this craft! Why not place twine between the layers to make a hook to hook it on something? Or use the ink stick from a pen to wrap! You can also go over board with the size and different layers for the pencil. Check out the picture below where I layered different paper to fade from red to light pink. Need matching pencils for your wedding? Stationary Set? A little something something?
Hope you’re just as excited about this as I am!
leads {here}
paper {here}
mod podge {here}
{If you like pencils, you may also like my toadstool pencil craft!}
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fabulous!
Thanks a lot for sharing this. A fabulous idea. This would be a perfect present for any upcoming birthday and even Christmas because I am a painter and I could use copies of my paintings and turn them into pencils. I love this.
Thanks from Christa
Christia, I just looked at your site.. you’re very talented! I love your site’s banner!
Kimanh
brilliant!
Yes I am!!! Love this idea, brilliant!
Thank you for sharing!
Great fun to be had with my kids! They will love doing this project! Thank you.
I did something similar to this a few weeks ago! We took magazine paper with all the different designs and rolled them up on a ball point pen then stuck a jewel on the end. (works best if you leave a little extra paper at the end so jewel can sit right in the hole). They looked great!
Wow. I love this. I need to make these. I never even thought about making pencils myself. These would make super nice gifts.
Thanks for sharing.
Greetings from Germany
Catrin
You are a creative master…..I LOVE this idea.
That is just amazing, they came out wonderfully! If I ever happen across some lead, I think I’ll give it a try
This is one of the coolest craft tutorials I’ve seen in a long time! So original and creative. You could do so many variations, too. Thanks!
This is really pretty…. nice present!!
Thanks for the tutorial!!
That donkey clip/pencil cup is so adorable! Where did you get it?
Hi Jennifer,
you spotted one of my favourite desktop items! You can get it on Amazon (here) for almost half the price of what I paid! And I just saw that they have different animals (loving the hippo)!!
Kimanh
update: Jennifer, dare I say you have given me an idea for a giveaway! Stay tuned! x
Such a great tutoria! I used to have paper pencils when I was a child, they were chinese, and then I couldn’t find them anymore, since then I have always wondered how they were made! so thanks a lot for the tutorial!
This is so awesome! Definitely going on my to do list, thank you for sharing!
thanks for sharing such a great idea!
You could add scented oil and make your own smencils!
I love this idea! I’m just imagining opening up a pencil case or handbag with a lovely scent wafting out!
I am digging the multiple color pencil. This could make math homework actualllyyyy fun.
I am so going to do this.
I love this tutorial: I just don’t understand how to make it layered. Help?!?
Ahhh… Perhaps I’ll have to do another video. I had 5 pieces of paper. 4 were from light pink to dark red, and 1 piece of brown (wrapping paper that I cut to size). The coloured paper was like a strong tissue paper so wrapped around very easily. I just wrapped them around each other – one layer at a time. It took
longer to dry out. So you might have to get the hair dryer on it if you want it dried faster.
Oh, it’s so pretty!
Thank you for posting this ^▽^
These are so much fun! My husband thinks I’m crazy, but they are so pretty, and when one of your crafty artsy friends asks where you got them, you just say
“I made ‘em”
I love love your page! You are a creating inspiration! Thank you!
Where did you get the thin pink to red paper?
WOW! thats fantastic! I love it.
What kind of glue can you substitute for the Modge Podge? Well, in our place, they don’t sell the Modge Podge Glue^^
I’m sure any glue that dries clear will have a similar result.. Just use that you feel will make the end pencil very hard/stiff. I wouldn’t use ordinary paper glue, something like PVA should also work. Good luck!
Had to try this when I saw it but had no lead, glue or nice paper so ended up stripping a pencil for the lead, making my own glue and using paper from an old notepad. Have to wait and see how it turns out
Hi Chris,
that’s awesome! Post a pic of your pencil to SPW’s Facebook page when you’re done!
Kimanh
where can i get the pencil lead?
This is really cool…now the hard part is to find lead..
can you use these in a regular pencil sharpener?
Yes! I’ve used a normal pencil sharpener to sharpen them! Just make sure the paper is rolled really tight so once it dries it’s like one single pencil – in other words, don’t leave any air gaps between the layers.
Kimanh
This is so great, my kids can make their own pencils, my daughter loves to draw, and it’s great for a birthday present.
Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
Hi, I love your paper-pencil tutorial, which I got to know about via Pinterest. So I decided to share it on my blog ( http://karboojeh.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/crafty-diy-how-to-make-paper-wrapped-pencils/).
Great work on the video, it’s easy to understand, enjoyable, and makes you want to make tonnes of pencils
Thanx so much for doing this. My home-schooled kids and I are going to try it next week. : )
Hey, i would like to ask a permission if i can share the video to my fellow friends.
and thank you for making for this blog. it helped my project so much.
I loooove this. I’m a teacher to a bunch of forgetful high schoolers and am constantly loaning pencils which are rarely returned (unless I take a cellphone as collateral). I wonder if they’d respect the handmade, special aspect enough to give them back.
Try a giant dorky silk flower taped to the end of your pencils. They might just remember it’s not theirs when they put it in their bag – or remember to bring their own
For pencil lead check the stores places that sell drafting supplies for architects.
Hi, this is a great idea! I’d like to try this over the summer.
Also, I linked this tutorial in a DIY blog that I run…I added the blog’s url to this comment. Hope that’s ok!
Thanks
michip
How awesome! I have a bunch of pencils I bought a few years ago made with reused newspaper instead of wood – I didn’t realize the pencils were so simple to make! I’ll definitely be making this at some point! Thanks for sharing!
These are fantastic! Thanks so much!
Awesome idea
I like the pencils, but I will confess – I want the pencil holder! So cute! Where can I find one?
HI Yvonne,
you can get the donkey holder here
I love it too!
Kimanh
GENIUS! I love this idea!
Found your Paper Pencil Tutorial. Can’t wait to try it by myself. That’s such a nice idea. Thank you for sharing it.
omg! i just love it! your so creative! i’m going to add you to my readings list!
This is the greatest thing I’ve seen today! Bookmarked, and am going to make it soon
Hi, and thanks for the great tutorial!
I’m making a few pencils to go with a matching handmade sketchbook for my sister, but I’m having lots of trouble getting them to roll smoothly so that they don’t turn out wonky and non-cylindrical after I’m done.
I’m using a somewhat delicate decorative paper (http://savoirfaire.com/surfaces/lama-li/decorative-paper/metalic/paradise-metalic.html) so could that be the problem?
The issue is that they’re rolling up with gaps between the layers, no matter how firm I am or slowly I roll it.
Suggestions?
Hmmm.. seems you’ve done everything right. The only things I can suggest is:
1. Let the paper soak in the mod podge to become more pliable. So maybe wait a minute or so and see if it becomes soft.
or
2. Use a thinner paper to make the pencil, and then just use a short strip of the decorative paper as a second layer. Might save on the pricey paper too!
Let me know how you go
Kimanh
I tried but for me it was a little hard at first but then i got the hang of it.
That is such a good idea!!!!!!!!!!!
Really great tutorial!!! Love it so colorful as well
This is absolutely genious! Thank you so much for sharing this. Happy New Year!
Thank you! I was always a pencil lover, and always wondered how could i do my own pencils. I searched at this and found here. It’s fabulous… I could, and i’d like to write more thanks to you but I’m afraid I can’t. I’m soo busy with making my own pencils!