After a short break, you’re getting ready to return to your academic routine, and that means having your stationery in order too. Today, we’re going to make a simple pencil topper with your name initial. You can also choose to write your full name, or even a fun, cheeky word or phrase if you like.

It’s a quick little craft you can finish in about 20 minutes, as long as you stay focused and follow each step carefully.

Things you need:

1. Piece of glitter paper (colour of your choice)

2. A piece of paper or a foam sheet of the same colour

3. Piece of white foam sheet

4. Pencil

5. White/clear glue

6. Hot glue (optional)

7. Scissors

Directions:

1. Write the word or your name initial on a piece of white foam sheet and cut it out; picture 2.

2. Cut out two circles, each about 2 inches in diameter. One should be from the foam sheet and the other from the glitter sheet. Make the glitter circle slightly smaller than the foam one; picture 3.

3. Paste the glitter circle onto the foam circle. Then stick the word or initial you cut out on top of it; pictures 4 and 5.

4. Cut a 1.5-inch square piece from the same coloured foam sheet; picture 6.

5. Fold it into a triangle from one side, then fold it again from the other side so you get four triangle creases; picture 7.

6. Cut along any one crease and remove a triangle shape; picture 8.

7. From the opposite side, cut another triangle, but leave a small part attached so it does not come apart; picture 9.

8. Bring the remaining triangle flaps towards the centre to form a bow; picture 10.

9. You will notice a triangle below the bow. Cut the middle slightly so you can shape the bow tails downward; picture 11.

10. Paste a bead in the centre of the bow; picture 12.

11. Attach the name circle to the top of the pencil using hot glue. If you cannot use hot glue, you can use double-sided tape. Then paste the bow just below it; pictures 13 and 14.

The writer can be contacted at ithecraftman@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 28th, 2026