DIY: How to Make a Nutella Pencil Sharpener!

Who doesn’t love Nutella? Whether you spread it on toast or eat it straight from the jar, it’s definitely a comfort treat. If you’ve read my post about how I used to customize my school supplies, you’ll know that when I was little, I made a pencil sharpener shaped like a Nutella jar — and it got tons of compliments at school! I still have that sharpener to this day.

Today I’m going to show you how to make an improved version, with tips that my past self definitely didn’t know:

You’ll need:

• A small jar with a lid
• A tool to make a hole in the lid
• Strong glue
• White and brown paint
• A small plastic pencil sharpener (make sure it fits loosely inside the jar)
• A Nutella label (you can design your own or print the original)
• Varnish

1. Make the hole in the lid

This is the trickiest part of the whole process. Depending on your lid's material, it can be a bit hard to make the hole. Ask someone skilled to help you if needed!

Here’s how I did it with my aluminum lid:

I used a ruler to find the center of the lid and marked it with a pen. Then I measured the opening of the sharpener to figure out how wide the hole should be. I added 1–2 millimeters to the diameter to make sure the pencil would fit easily.

I used nails of different thicknesses (ending with one close to the final size I wanted) and twisted them into the lid to create the hole. You can see exactly how I did it in the video. Once I reached the right size, I had to remove the sharp metal edges left around the hole.

To do that, I used metal sandpaper, smoothing out both the edge of the hole and the outside of the lid — the outside, so the paint would stick better, and the inside, so the glue would hold. Finally, I washed the lid thoroughly to remove any residue.

It’s super important to make sure the edges are smooth — aluminum can cut easily!

2. Paint the lid (if needed)

Since my lid was silver and Nutella jar lids are white, I decided to paint mine white too. I also applied a few coats of varnish to protect the paint. I only painted the outside.

3. Paint the inside of the jar

Time to make your jar look full of Nutella!

I mixed up a brown shade of paint to match the real Nutella color as closely as possible, and added a bit of water to make it thinner (mix it really well to avoid streaks!). Then I poured the paint inside the jar and slowly rotated it until the whole inside was coated. I turned the jar upside down to let the excess paint drip out.

Once it was done dripping, I cleaned the neck of the jar for a cleaner finish and left it upright to dry.

After it was completely dry, I applied varnish. In the video, you’ll see I used the same method I used for the paint — I poured the varnish and rotated the jar — but it didn’t go as well: the varnish formed drips and dried that way. So it’s better to apply the varnish with a brush instead.

4. Glue the sharpener

Now it’s time to attach the sharpener to the lid!

If you haven’t already, sand the inside of the lid and the top of the sharpener (the part where the pencil goes in). Then use strong glue to fix the sharpener inside the lid, making sure the sharpener’s hole lines up perfectly with the one you made in the lid. I used two-part epoxy glue, and it worked great.

5. Add the Nutella label

Time to stick on the label that will leave no doubt — this is a Nutella pencil sharpener! I created a personalized label in Canva with my name, and now you can create your own too! 

Click the button below to open the template on Canva and customize it with your name: 

Edit Nutella-style label on Canva

Just replace the word "Name" with your own name! Note that you'll need to log in to Canva to be able to edit. 

The golden banner that says "Limited Edition" is a premium element, so you'll only be able to use it if you have Canva Pro or if you choose to pay for that element when downloading the label. If you don't want to pay, just delete the banner and use the rest of the design.

Note: This DIY project is for creative and personal use only. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Ferrero or Nutella. Any logos, brand names, or trademarks shown are used for illustrative purposes only and belong to their respective owners. 

You can also find the real Nutella label online and print it. Stick it onto your jar and… voilà! 

What went wrong with my first Nutella sharpener

The original sharpener I made as a kid kept coming off the lid whenever I tried to sharpen a pencil. That happened for two reasons:

• I didn’t sand the lid before gluing
• I used the wrong kind of glue — and honestly, that was the biggest issue.
  If I remember correctly, I first tried hot glue, then switched to simple school glue. But the thing is: whenever you sharpen a pencil, you apply pressure to the sharpener. If the glue isn’t strong enough, it will eventually give in.

With the new tips I used this time, your Nutella sharpener will work much better and last longer!

This Nutella pencil sharpener will add a fun little touch to your study sessions! Who says studying can’t be fun? Imagine learning about World War I or solving math problems with a jar of Nutella to sharpen your pencil!

I bet your friends will love your new sharpener! If you try it, let me know in the comments — I love reading your feedback! And don’t miss the next DIYs for customized school supplies!

See you next time! Ladybug out!