![Simple-DIY-Wooden-Box-Desk-Organizer.jpg Simple DIY Wooden Box Desk Organizer. A great first time woodworker project or a great building project for kids.](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kNI3SVamfPo/VrhAedLt1tI/AAAAAAABgQM/hNMWrBkiS3U/Simple-DIY-Wooden-Box-Desk-Organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
Today’s project would be a really fun thing to make with kids. They could use it on their desk to keep track of their school supplies, and although I put a little quote on my version, you could personalize it with fun colors and a child’s name if you wanted a more kid-friendly final product.
The build itself involves simple cuts and easily manageable pieces of inexpensive hobby lumber. You could put it together with not much more than a hand saw and drill or you could kick it up a notch and use power tools and even a router to give it a more polished look.
Whatever your skill set (and no matter how small your tool stash) this is a project anyone could handle. I am hoping to feature more of these “get your feet wet” type of projects (vs. major builds) since I know not everyone wants (or needs) large furniture pieces (myself included), but you still want to play around in the shop.
WOODEN BOX DESK ORGANIZER
![Wooden-pencil-holder-and-desk-organizer.jpg Wooden pencil holder and desk organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NiuRWeJfQps/VrhA06pIQUI/AAAAAAABgQg/FpuK81mgurk/Wooden-pencil-holder-and-desk-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
SUPPLY LIST:
One Poplar 1/4 x 6 x 2 Hobby Board (These are only 1/4 inch thick)One 2x6 (smallest length you can find. I used a piece of scrap)
1 inch Finishing brads
Wood Glue (I like Titebond III)
TOOL LIST:
3/8 drill bit (Standard, Spade or Forstner)Hand Drill or Drill Press
Hammer or Nail Gun
Hand Saw or Miter Saw
Optional:
Router and Decorative or Roundover BitCoping Saw
1-1/2 inch Spade or Forstner Bit
Wood Filler
![wood-supplies-for-build.jpg Wood supplies for build](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--3sgegy2yKA/VrhA9hGgOzI/AAAAAAABgQo/iz8vqqNJeZk/wood-supplies-for-build.jpg?imgmax=800)
CUT LIST:
SIDES: (2) - 1/4x6 (Hobby Board) @ 4”FRONT: : (1) - 1/4x6 (Hobby Board) @ 8”
BOTTOM: (1) - 1/4x6 (Hobby Board) @ 8” and then ripped down to 4-1/4” wide
BACK: (1) - 2x6 @ 7-1/2"
![board-cut-list-for-DIY-organizer.jpg Board cut list for DIY organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-67SOHmOZ7CI/VrhA5jBjs_I/AAAAAAABgQk/3JYNP3PjHws/board-cut-list-for-DIY-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
The schematic above shows the front board being notched (you can use a large 1-1/2" round drill bit or a coping saw to make the notch) but if you want this to be simpler you can leave it un-notched, and in that case this is what your pieces will look like:
![Wood-cut-list-for-desk-organizer.jpg Wood cut list for desk organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-woA5310pB4o/VrhAn8dl8CI/AAAAAAABgQU/vn2ivhw8CUc/Wood-cut-list-for-desk-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here is how they will go together. This way you don't have any joint seams showing from the front.
![Wood-pencil-holder-for-desk-plans.jpg Wood pencil holder for desk plans](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-up36AeN75S0/VrhAsdFMXmI/AAAAAAABgQY/N_SO0pE523A/Wood-pencil-holder-for-desk-plans.jpg?imgmax=800)
This is what it looks like in real life:
![Board-layout-for-desk-organizer.jpg Board layout for desk organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P1FzI7vCCig/VrfbaWNd2fI/AAAAAAABgPc/ot7kxCnEihQ/Board-layout-for-desk-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
And this is the final dimensions of the box:
![Desk-organizer-size-schematic.jpg Desk organizer size schematic](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BkMZ8bGuzmM/Vrfbe1yLUhI/AAAAAAABgPg/WiFrZS84jJA/Desk-organizer-size-schematic.jpg?imgmax=800)
Because the boards are so thin, you want to make sure you use wood glue on all the joints:
![Gluing-wooden-box-together.jpg Gluing wooden box together](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ii5_SUyWiJs/VrhAB0AEJII/AAAAAAABgP0/7-CWMupMCPw/Gluing-wooden-box-together.jpg?imgmax=800)
I used a nail gun to put the pieces together, but you should PRACTICE if you are going to use a nail gun. You have to hit boards that are only 1/4 inch thick and so if your gun isn’t perfectly straight the nails will blow out the side. I would recommend hand nailing if I had to do it again
![Nailing-wooden-box-together-with-nail-gun.jpg Nailing wooden box together with nail gun](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7GWIaVz6lCs/VrhAK-7TsEI/AAAAAAABgP8/iBpFzKtcBXU/Nailing-wooden-box-together-with-nail-gun.jpg?imgmax=800)
Once the box was assembled I used my drill press to put in the pencil holes. You could easily drill the holes by hand. You want them as deep as your bit will allow.
![drill-press-to-make-pencil-holder.jpg Drill press to make pencil holder](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DXW6l7mIHJM/VrfbjETBclI/AAAAAAABgPk/V4q7kv3WgWI/drill-press-to-make-pencil-holder.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Simple-wooden-box-desk-organizer.jpg Simple wooden box desk organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xDcdWr1zHe0/VrhAjc6XQTI/AAAAAAABgQQ/CUXrfIg_DA8/Simple-wooden-box-desk-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Wooden-desk-organizer-box-plans.jpg Wooden desk organizer box plans](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O00lCJWEYLs/VrhAwjLO0vI/AAAAAAABgQc/7Jga70BbmSE/Wooden-desk-organizer-box-plans.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Sanding-and-Coping-Saw-Beginnner-DIY-project.jpg Sanding and Coping Saw Beginnner DIY project](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--JFIpY6kkpA/VrhAZYZrpLI/AAAAAAABgQI/37FsQ1UZUFs/Sanding-and-Coping-Saw-Beginnner-DIY-project.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Grey-painted-wooden-desk-organizing-box.jpg Grey painted wooden desk organizing box](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZfcwQKQ__0k/VrhAG_LjHjI/AAAAAAABgP4/SxuBbyLyxtw/Grey-painted-wooden-desk-organizing-box.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Personalizing-Desk-organizer-with-Silhouette-Cut-Vinyl.jpg Personalizing Desk organizer with Silhouette Cut Vinyl](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IbSagJU1b90/VrhAUXT-yPI/AAAAAAABgQE/Zh2brxGJsXY/Personalizing-Desk-organizer-with-Silhouette-Cut-Vinyl.jpg?imgmax=800)
I plan on keeping mine in my workshop.
![A-pencil-and-a-dream-desk-organizer.jpg A pencil and a dream desk organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xk5PiOo6QKA/VrfbJ0TmgHI/AAAAAAABgPU/NJ3JeE4l0ts/A-pencil-and-a-dream-desk-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Paper-and-pencil-desk-holder-wood-DIY-project.jpg Paper and pencil desk holder wood DIY project](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y393AGR3NW8/VrhAPQpUECI/AAAAAAABgQA/nrQOgCpx_EA/Paper-and-pencil-desk-holder-wood-DIY-project.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Wooden-pencil-holder-and-desk-organizer.jpg Wooden pencil holder and desk organizer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NiuRWeJfQps/VrhA06pIQUI/AAAAAAABgQg/FpuK81mgurk/Wooden-pencil-holder-and-desk-organizer.jpg?imgmax=800)