Office Organizing Fun

It's fun to organize your office and enjoy crafting at the same time. These crafty ideas will not only organize your desk but also keep children busy while you finish some of your paperwork.

Rubber Band Balls

There's really no better way to organize rubber bands than to make a fun rubber band ball. They're easy to make, and your children will have fun making and playing with the balls.

Start with a small bouncy ball the size of a gumball, a marble, a wadded piece of aluminum foil, or a knot made out of broken rubber bands. Then, separate your bands by size. Wrap the smallest band around the ball, twisting and doubling it if necessary. Wrap the bands opposite one another; one around the diameter and then another around the diameter that intersects it at 180 degrees. The third band should sit to the side of the first, and the fourth should sit to the side of the second.

It doesn't have to be that organized, but the bands should be randomly wrapped around the ball to give it balance and strength. Make sure they each hug the ball tightly. Finally, continue the wrapping until all of your rubber bands are organized into one large ball.

Paper Clip Chains

If your paper clips are left in a pile or in a messy knot in the magnetic container that they came in, try to create a more decorative craft from them. The colored clips make interesting paper clip chains. Your children can attach the clips one end to another by linking them end to end. This long chain can decorate your office until you need a clip; hang it from a nail, or drape it over a lampshade or picture frame. Making several five foot strands, you could hang them from your doorway to create a retro door curtain or use them as wall art to disguise cracked plaster.

Bottle Cap Clips

To keep your bills and other papers organized in a fun fashion, have your children create large paper clamps. First, wash and dry bottle caps. Next, have your children paint the caps and let them dry. Then, cut out small pictures from magazines that will fit inside the bottle caps, or have the children draw small pictures. Stickers are often the perfect size, and anything from wrapping paper to photos will make interesting sets of clips. Glue the pictures to the inside of the painted caps. Using a strong glue, glue the caps to the top of a spring-loaded clothespin. The clothespin works as a paper clamp with style.

Try creating sets of these clips that can be given as gifts; they can feature pictures of your family or initials. Wooden clothespins can be painted or decorated with markers. For presentation of your gift, cut out a rectangular piece of cardboard and clip the clothespins around the edge. On the cardboard write "Happy Birthday" or "to:/from:".

Magazine Holders

Magazines, folders, or other paper organizers can be made from cereal boxes. Cut the larger two sides of the box at an angle from two inches above the bottom to the opposite top corner of the box. Then either paint the box with tempera paint, cover it with colored paper or children's drawings, or create a photo collage. Fabric coverings add some upscale appeal to your desk, but it requires hot glue or spray adhesive and children should be supervised. The storage boxes can stand upward or lay flat.