Top 5 Instructables For Pencils

Winter is coming, and with it, weather that makes you want to stay indoors. Very soon you’re going to need a way to combat the boredom and keep the kids occupied. One of my favorite foul-weather pastimes is doing craft projects. These five Instructables for pencils will keep you entertained and give you some really cool finished products. Bonus points if you invite some friends over and get some hot cocoa involved!

1. Giant Pencil

This giant pencil is not only really cool-looking, it’s also functional! I love the idea of this project as a jumping-off point. Make huge pencils with your friends, then lay down big sheets of paper (or tape a few together) and play tic-tac-toe, hangman, and other pencil-and-paper classics on a rainy afternoon.

2. Pencil Crossbow

If you’ve read my other posts, you might’ve noticed a trend in that I am a fan of the pencil crossbow. There are lots of variations out there, but I enjoy this one for its simple yet effective design, and the fact that it doesn’t use tape (which doesn’t hold as tightly and can throw off your aim if it wobbles). This is another one you can make with friends and then draw out a target and hold a friendly competition.

3. Flower Topper

With all the brightly-colored and patterned duct tape floating around these days, you can create a whole garden of flower-topped pencils. Metallic, leopard-print, Hello Kitty… the possibilities truly are endless. These also make great end-of-semester thank-you presents for teachers.

4. Pencil Cup

Have you ever had a pencil that was so pretty you hated the thought of using it up? Or do you just have so many pens and pencils that they defy attempts at organization? If so, this is a great project for you! You can round up all your writing implements and custom-make a container that is the perfect size for them.

5. Pencil Hair Clip

For the fashion-forward and function-focused, this hair clip is the perfect project for a snow day. You can go for the rainbow look (pictured) or make multiple clips in different color palettes to coordinate with different outfits. You can even make them in different widths and lengths to suit your unique style.

Are there any pencil Instrctables you’re dying to try? Are there any you’d like to see me attempt (and post about)? Let me know how I should spend my first snow day of the season in the comments!