Write an article based on this "Recycle aluminum cans. Use a toilet paper roll. Find an old mason jar. Use a piece of wood. Reuse a crystal light container. Recycle an old shampoo bottle."
These items are perfect for pencil holders because they are a good shape and can usually be found around the house. Next time you make a cup of soup, cook vegetables, or make beans, save your can. Simply rinse it out and set it aside so that you can later reuse it. Almost everyone has these and they are great pencil cans, and can be grouped together to form cool designs. You'll need to create a bottom for your holder but that is simple. Simply trace the circumference of your toilet paper roll onto thick cardboard. Then, cut out that cardboard and tape it to the toilet paper roll until it is secure. It won't look pretty, but it doesn't matter because you will decorate the roll. To create a cool grouping with your pencil holders, take each toilet paper roll and add a bottom to it. Then, group them together by using three, four or five rolls (depending on how many holders you want). Place the rolls side by side, or in a circular grouping. You can also cut some of the rolls to be shorter so that you have different heights for your holders. Mason jars can create the perfect, rustic look for a pencil holder, but can also be decorated to be a very pretty, simple holder. If you don't have an old mason jar you can purchase them at the store for an inexpensive price. You can also use a glass jar leftover from salsa or another product, or you can simply use a regular glass. If your jar has a label on it you'll need to soak the label to remove it. Fill up a large bowl with hot water and place your jar in the water. After an hour, check the label and see if it can be easily peeled off. If it is still difficult, place it back in the water and allow it to sit for another hour or so. It's beneficial to soak a label rather than pulling it straight off, because many labels leave a sticky residue. Soaking your label will remove any residue and give you a clean jar once you remove it. For this type of pencil holder you'll need a piece of wood that has enough depth to hold a third of your pencil, so about two to three inches. A log or thick branch can be a good a choice for this holder. Saw off the excess wood so you have your desired height. Then, take a drill bit (7/16 inch is a good size) and drill holes into your wood. Then, finish it off by sanding your piece until it has a smooth finish. You can drill the holes in your wood in any pattern that you'd like. You can drill 15 holes placed symmetrically in the wood or you can do a random pattern. These aren't the small cardboard boxes, but the taller plastic boxes that are circular or oval shaped. Simply peel off the label of the can once you have emptied out its contents and you are ready to decorate! Once you have finished using a shampoo or conditioner bottle, don't throw it away. Rinse it out and cut it to use as a pencil holder. Take off the lid and then cut off the top quarter of the bottle. If your bottle is taller or shorter you may need to cut a different amount. You can use an X-Acto knife or scissors to cut your bottle. It is now ready to be decorated! A bottle like this doesn't always stand up easily, especially if it isn't completely round. However, these bottles work great if you want to hang your pencil holder on a wall. Simply place a piece of velcro on the flat side of the back of the bottle, and then place the other side of the velcro on the wall. You can now hang it up above your desk.