Do-it-yourself pencil holder

Discover with us how to create a practical and original do-it-yourself pencil holder using Quattro Stagioni jars that will add a touch of personality to your desk!

You need

Chalk based paint in red, yellow and blue colors

Colored ribbons

Parchment paper

Solvent

A cotton cloth

Clear wax for paint or a transparent eggshell finish protection

A medium sized flat tipped paint brush

2 Quattro Stagioni 0.5 lt – 17 oz jars

1 Quattro Stagioni 1 lt – 33¾oz

How to create your do-it-yourself pencil holder

Paint the jars

First, wash your Quattro Stagioni jars in hot water and dry carefully, making sure that no residues are left. We recommend that you start painting with the lightest color of paint, in this case yellow, and then to proceed with red, finishing up with the darkest color, blue. Clean the brush in a jar of solvent between one color and another.

To paint the jars, we have chosen to use chalk based paint because, besides adding a vintage touch to the jar, it adheres to the glass without difficulty. Before you begin, open the paint and stir it for a few minutes with the brush and, if it seems too dense, dilute it with a bit of solvent.

Now that it is well blended, we can proceed with the first coat of paint. Take a small amount of paint with the brush and begin spreading it over the 1 lt – 33¾oz Quattro Stagioni jar (the largest jar), on the sides and also on the bottom, making sure not to go over the same area too many times. When you have finished, turn the jar upside down on a sheet of parchment paper to dry for a day. To be sure that your paint doesn’t dry out in the meantime, don’t forget to close the container well.

Clean the brush well in the solvent and repeat the procedure by painting the smaller 0,5 lt – 17 oz jars with the red and blue paints and allow these also to dry on the parchment paper.

Once the three jars are dry, proceed with the second coat of paint, spreading the three colors on the jars following the order of the lightest to the darkest color. Turn over to dry for another day.

Don’t worry if there are some imperfections on the painted jars, they will add to the shabby style that we are trying to create.

You will need a clean piece of cotton cloth to use as a rag for applying the wax; you will be throwing it out later. Spread the wax over the entire jar so that the color sets permanently. In alternative, you could use a transparent eggshell finish protection.

Decorate the jars

Now that you have painted the three jars, decorate them with colored ribbons. Now you can use the Do-It-Yourself Pencil Holders to organize your desk holding pens, pencils and rulers.

Just remember that they cannot be put into the dishwasher and must not be used for food or beverages, because the chalk base paint is not suitable for food use.