How to Make a Mail Tube Pencil Case

You heard me. It was a mail tube. Now it’s a pencil case.

Don’t blink though, cause you might miss it. This thing is so easy to make and your pencils are going to love you for giving them an awesome new home.

A few weeks ago I got an email from the folks at BuzzFeed asking me to create for their new DIY sister-site. They wanted a pencil case. “Something easy.” “Something modern & fresh.” I accepted the challenge confidently …never letting on that I had exactly ZERO ideas for how on earth one creates a modern, fresh & easy to assemble pencil case.

So I started brainstorming: “Things that are shaped like a pencil case, but don’t require sewing because sewing is not terribly easy…and let’s be honest, I sort of suck at sewing.”

Then I came up with this list:

Yeah. That space is intentional. Because my list included precisely nothing. Not a clue what I was going to make…until I went to the post office…where they sell mail tubes…which, coincidently are shaped like pencil cases, and don’t require sewing…because, as I mentioned, I suck at sewing.

Here’s how you do it…

(not pictured: hole punch)

{1} Use a saw or serrated knife to cut the tube into two segments, with one longer than the other. Tip: If your cut is not completely straight, don’t worry! Use sandpaper to smooth the cut edge and even things out.

{2} Use double-sided tape and/or craft glue to adhere the patterned paper around the mail tube.

{3} Roll the cardstock as shown…

{4} then slide it into the bottom portion of the tube, allowing 1/2″- 1″ to extend above the edge of the tube. Adhere this piece of cardstock into place using craft glue.

{5} Use a hole punch to place holes on either side of the top portion of the tube as shown

{6} Place the elastic into the holes as shown and secure the elastic into place with knots or by using eyelets.

{7} Use the hold punch again to place two notches in the bottom edge of the tube (see below)

How’s that for easy, modern & fresh!? With the kiddos going back to school, this is a great craft to make with them. But in all honesty, I’m a grown woman with no kids and I fully plan on keeping these for myself!

Thanks to BuzzFeed for featuring this project along with several others in their DIY post! Because of those guys, I’ll never look at mail tubes in the same way again!

DIY

314 Comments

Hey, I’m Amber Kemp-Gerstel - the crafty brain behind Damask Love, where creativity, color, and a little chaos come together. I’m a suburban mom of two, known for turning up the volume on everyday DIYs and showing up like your colorful, crafty BFF. Over the years, I’ve gone from psychologist to full-time content creator, TV host, and brand partner, with appearances on Making It, Today, and HGTV. When I’m not making stuff or on set, I’m chasing around my two boys, Markus and Maxwell, and laughing my way through the mess.

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314 Comments

8.29.13
Jayme {Jayme Designs} said:

Oh my gosh! I have a mail tube in the garage that I forgot to throw away last night. I’m so going to try this! Thanks for turning my soon-to-be trash into a soon-to-be project!

Reply
8.29.13
Teri said:

What a cute way to transport my colored pencils when we travel, because, of course, they always come with me!! Hmmm… maybe color co-ordidate them… blue paper for blues/purples, pink for pink/reds…. the brain she is a spinnin’! Thanks so much Amber!!!!!
Teri

Reply
8.29.13
Shelly K said:

Oh, this is clever!! LOVE it! 🙂 Just may have to give this a try…! 😉 Thanks for sharing!

Reply
8.30.13
Bev Cole said:

Really cute! Love your blog. I check it regularly. I live in central FL…ever do anything near us?

bev
Artsystamper.como

Reply
8.30.13
Joan said:

Great tutorial! I will have to try this soon. I love the notebook with the Monogram, Did you die cut the book cover and the pink is the inner cardstock? It looks that way and I am already thinking to make my next notebook like that.

Hugs!

Reply
8.30.13
Loly Borda said:

Thank you! You always have the coolest ideas!

Reply
8.30.13
Kathy H said:

You are absolutely awesome! Your house must be wonderful with all these pretty things in it!

Reply
9.4.13
Janet said:

Amber,

You are truly amazing and so talented. I really appreciate your willingness to showcase your craftiness on your blog for us to see and learn from.

Thanks so much.

Reply
9.15.13
Kathy H said:

You make the most wonderful things Amber!

Reply
9.29.13
carlyjcais said:

Gorgeous as always, Amber! Congrats on your feature on Buzzfeed!! 😀 So happy for you!
xo
Carly

Reply
6.15.14
mahnoor zeeshan said:

it is very beautiful

Reply
6.1.15
Ramon said:

Es dificil encontrar a gente con conocimientos sobre este tema y, sin embargo, lo haceis
todo tan facil cuando lo escribis… muchas gracias!
=)

Reply
2.20.18
Ivy Baker said:

Wow, this is such a fun thing to do with a mailing tube. In my free time, I like to paint landscapes. But it can be really difficult bringing all of my brushes into the outdoors. Having a little carrying tube like this would be nice. Do you know where you can get mailing tubes? https://www.mailing-tube.com/products.php

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How to Make a Mail Tube Pencil Case

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