Top 5 Creative Ways to Organize Pens

Pens and pencils and scissors and letter openers and markers overflow in our offices. We can't help it. But creative solutions to organize them are never-ending. Our top suggestions:

Recycle old cans and cover in great wallpaper (shown above, from iHanna's Creative Space)

Make a pen holder from old CD jewel cases (via Craftzine)

Fill up a great small planter (Sarah's suggestion)

Use a small ceramic pitcher (we do this)

Devote one drawer of the FÖRHÖJA wall shelf (we have so many pens and pencils, we do this too)

Any other great ideas?

Comments (8)

I use glass jars for all my pens, pencils, paintbrushes, x-acto knives, colored pencils, markers, etc. with only like stuff going in each jar. They're lined up all neatly and it's easy to find stuff.

Incidentally, B&G pickles make great ones ... they have nice sizes and the jars are plain ... no brand imprint, etc.

posted by ridge_van_winkle on May 15th 2008 at 9:21am
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At conferences everybody gives out logo mugs. Lined up on a shelf, they make great holders for pens, staples, rubber bands, etc.

posted by quiltmaster on May 15th 2008 at 9:54am
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I use an old silver creamer pitcher to hold my pens on my desk.

posted by Signe on May 15th 2008 at 10:07am
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i hang them on a piece of string :)
(only works for pens and mechincal pencils, with the "shit pocket clip")

posted by antimatt on May 15th 2008 at 10:14am
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hahahaha... SHIRT pocket...

posted by antimatt on May 15th 2008 at 10:15am
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I bought the IKEA BYGEL kitchen storage rails and containers for a kitchen with limited storage space, but when I moved I didn't need it in the kitchen anymore so i hung it over my desk and it holds everything from pens to rulers to spray mount.
It also looks really cool!Here are the links to what I have:
Rail:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50072645
Cutlery Caddy:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10072647
Containers:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00115732
Wire Basket:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90072648

posted by marlamischief1 on May 15th 2008 at 10:21am
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I wondered about the first comment antimatt !

I had never heard that one before!

posted by Cally on May 15th 2008 at 3:34pm
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i use old cups & glass jars, but my favorite is the yahtzee dice cup. (i [insert heart here] yahtzee & the dice & scorecards disappeared years ago.)

posted by loislane on May 16th 2008 at 7:46am
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