Super Simple DIY Drawer Organizer Made From Scratch

Organizing craft supplies can get really annoying really quick simply because there’s usually a bunch of small things that can get easily tangled up and messy. Things like tape rolls, ribbon, glue sticks, paint bottles and so on are all useful supplies to have so it’s about time you find a way to store and to organize them. Luckily, you can craft something to solve this issue. This cute cardboard organizer is really cool because it can be customized in lots of different ways and fits easily in a drawer.

craft organizer cabinet
organizing craft supplies

Materials needed to make this organizer:

  • cardboard
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • scissors
  • patterned paper
  • glue stick
  • decor tape/ washi tape
  • regular tape
organizing craft supplies
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

How to craft this organizer:

Step 1: Measure the cut the bottom panel

You’ll basically be crafting a cardboard box from scratch. The first step is to make the bottom panel of the box. We decided to make a square-shaped box so we measured and cut a square piece of cardboard. Use the ruler and the pencil to create the outline, then cut it out using scissors.

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 2: Measure and cut a piece of paper that matches this cardboard panel

The next thing you need to do is to repeat the same process we described before to cut out a piece of patterned paper. It should have the same dimensions as the square piece of cardboard you’re prepared earlier.

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 3: Glue the paper onto the cardboard

Now that you have two matching pieces, one made of cardboard and one made of paper, go ahead and glue them together. Apply a few lines of glue onto the cardboard, then center the paper on top and smooth it out. 

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 4: Measure and cut 4 side panels

The bottom piece of the box is now done and you can proceed to crafting the side panels to complete the box. Go ahead and cut out 4 rectangular pieces of cardboard making sure the length matches the length of the bottom piece. These will later have to be attached together so they need to have matching dimensions.

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 5: Tape the bottom and side panels together

Place one rectangular cardboard panel along each side of the square bottom piece you’ve made earlier. Then one by one go ahead and tape these together on the side that isn’t covered with decorative paper. 

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 6: Cover the side panels with decorative paper

First of all, prepare four pieces of decorative paper just wide enough to match the side panels of the box. Then glue them onto these cardboard panels to cover them completely on both sides. The paper should overlap a bit the bottom panel/ the underside of the box so it all looks cleaner. 

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 7: Lift up the side panels and secure the corners with decorative tape

You’ll want to use some sort of decorative tape for this step because it will be visible. You can also use transparent/ invisible tape. Lift up the side panels to form a 90 degree angle when they meet and secure them with tape. Now your box should start to take shape. 

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 8: Cut out two more pieces of cardboard for the dividers

We decided to divide this box into 3 sections so we needed to make 2 dividers. They needed to be rectangular and to basically match the side panels that we made earlier.

Related: Craft Room Storage And Organization Ideas For Every Budget

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 9: Measure and cut 2 pieces of decorative paper to cover the dividers with

You can use the same type of paper as before or you can use a different type with a different pattern and/ or color. Measure and cut 2 pieces that you can then use to decorate the cardboard pieces you’ve just prepared.

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 10: Glue the decorative paper onto the cardboard dividers

Apply some glue to each of the cardboard dividers, then center the decorative paper on top and use it cover the cardboard on both sides. Do this for both dividers. 

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72

Step 11: Secure the dividers inside the box with glue

Apply glue around 3 sides of the dividers (the exposed ones) and then position them inside the box. Space them out evenly to create 3 sections that have the same dimensions or however else you want. 

Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72
Cardboard DIY Drawer Organizer 72